Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue up Scafell Pike: route map, distance and time

978 m · Lake District

Scafell Pike is England's highest mountain, a bouldery summit above Wasdale and Borrowdale climbed by paths from Wasdale Head, Seathwaite and Great Langdale.

The path follows Lingmell Gill and climbs the steep pitched path of Brown Tongue, then crosses boulders via Lingmell Col to the summit.

Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue at a glance

Distance	5.2 km one way, to the top
Ascent	930 m
Time up	2h 35m by Naismith's rule
There and back	3h 40m, down the same way
Grade	Moderate
Start	Wasdale Head (National Trust car park)
Start grid reference	NY 186 087
Summit grid reference	NY 215 072

Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue map

The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.

Height profile and getting to the start

Start grid ref NY 186 087 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.

How long Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	2h 5m	3h 0m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	2h 35m	3h 40m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	3h 10m	4h 30m

Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.

Today: sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08. Start by 13:28 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 40m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 13:26 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 40m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Scafell Pike summit weather for this route

Good Today Sunday 18 October

Partly cloudy, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 17 mph gusting 21 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08.
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October

Dense drizzle, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 39 mph gusting 49 mph, 51% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06.

Best day of the next seven for Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 21 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 8% (Low), best around 04:00. 7-day inversion outlook.

Hour-by-hour Scafell Pike forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Scafell Pike?

Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.

What to take today

An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -5°C on top.
A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.

About Scafell Pike

Scafell Pike is England's highest mountain, a bouldery summit above Wasdale and Borrowdale climbed by paths from Wasdale Head, Seathwaite and Great Langdale. More about Scafell Pike, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Wainwright, Furth, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, Birkett.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Broad Crag (935 m), 0.5 km north-east
Ill Crag (931 m), 0.8 km east
Symonds Knott (959 m), 0.9 km south-west
Round How (741 m), 0.9 km north
Middleboot Knotts (703 m), 0.9 km north
Scafell (964 m), 1.1 km south-west

Challenges that include Scafell Pike

More walks from Wasdale Head

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

Wasdale Head via Sty Head up Great Gable
Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road up Illgill Head
Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass up Kirk Fell
Wasdale Head direct up Kirk Fell
Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue up Lingmell
Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass up Pillar
High Level Route up Pillar
Wasdale Head via Dore Head up Red Pike
Wasdale Head via Green How up Scafell
Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap up Scoat Fell
Wasdale Head via Scoat Fell up Steeple
Wasdale Head via Dore Head and Stirrup Crag up Yewbarrow

Other routes up Scafell Pike

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Seathwaite via the Corridor Route	7.8 km one way	908 m	3h 5m	Moderate
Great Langdale via Esk Hause	9.3 km one way	—	—	Hard
Seatoller via Stockley Bridge, Grains Gill and Esk Hause	9.9 km one way	950 m	3h 35m	Hard
Seatoller via Stockley Bridge and the Corridor Route	10.0 km one way	920 m	3h 30m	Hard

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 186 087, the summit at NY 215 072), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.

Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue: questions and answers

How far is Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue?

Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue is 5.2 km one way to the summit of Scafell Pike, with 930 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.4 km.

How long does Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue take?

About 2h 35m to the summit of Scafell Pike and 3h 40m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 4h 30m for the round trip.

Where do you park for Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue?

Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue starts from Wasdale Head (National Trust car park). The grid reference is NY 186 087.

Is Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue suitable for beginners?

Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.

What time should I start Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue today?

By 13:28 at the latest. Sunset on Scafell Pike today is 18:08, Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue takes about 3h 40m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue?

Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).