Eskdale via Slight Side up Scafell: route map, distance and time
964 m · Lake District
Scafell is England's second-highest summit, a craggy fell across Mickledore from Scafell Pike, climbed from Wasdale or Eskdale and avoided by its dangerous Broad Stand.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Wha House National Trust car park, Eskdale.
Eskdale via Slight Side starts at about 97 m and gains 847 m over 6.5 km to 941 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 146 m (15%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 5 km, which climbs 230 m at an average of 23%, with a 500 m stretch from 4 km at about 33%. It keeps climbing at 16% to the top. About 25% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Eskdale via Slight Side at a glance
| Distance | 6.5 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 880 m |
| Climb on the track | 847 m up, 6 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 98 m to 941 m (summit 964 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 33%, from 4 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 25% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 45m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 5m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Wha House National Trust car park, Eskdale |
| Start grid reference | NY 200 009 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 206 064 |
| Parking | Wha House National Trust car park, Eskdale |
Eskdale via Slight Side map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Eskdale via Slight Side GPX
Ascent only: plan your way down. A planning track, not checked on the ground; it doesn't show safe scrambling moves. Track data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), heights from a terrain model.
Eskdale via Slight Side kilometre by kilometre
Height, climb and average gradient for each kilometre of the track, with a grid reference at the end of each one to check your position on the map.
| At | Height | Climb | Gradient | Grid ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 243 m | +146 m | 15% | NY 206 016 |
| 2 km | 310 m | +67 m | 7% | NY 207 025 |
| 3 km | 367 m | +58 m | 6% | NY 206 035 |
| 4 km | 520 m | +153 m | 15% | NY 207 044 |
| 5 km | 750 m | +230 m | 23% steep | NY 209 052 |
| 6 km | 868 m | +117 m | 12% | NY 207 061 |
| 6.5 km | 941 m | +73 m | 16% | NY 206 064 |
How long Eskdale via Slight Side takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 15m | 3h 20m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 45m | 4h 5m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 25m | 5h 0m |
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 13:03 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 13:01 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Scafell summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Partly cloudy, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°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 Eskdale via Slight Side: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 21 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 7% (Low), best around 04:00. 7-day inversion outlook.
Hour-by-hour Scafell forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Scafell?
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 -4°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
Scafell is England's second-highest summit, a craggy fell across Mickledore from Scafell Pike, climbed from Wasdale or Eskdale and avoided by its dangerous Broad Stand. More about Scafell, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Furth, Hewitt, Nuttall, HuMP, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Symonds Knott (959 m), 0.3 km north
- Scafell Pike (978 m), 1.1 km north-east
- Slight Side (762 m), 1.5 km south
- Broad Crag (935 m), 1.6 km north-east
- Lingmell (807 m), 1.7 km north
- Middleboot Knotts (703 m), 1.7 km north
Challenges that include Scafell
- Lake District 3000ers · 4
- Bob Graham Round · 42
- Furths · 34
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
- Wainwrights · 214
More walks from Wha House National Trust car park, Eskdale
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Eskdale via Slight Side up Slight Side
Other routes up Scafell
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boot via Slight Side | 8.4 km one way | 968 m | 3h 20m | Moderate |
| Wasdale Head via Green How | 4.5 km one way | 917 m | 2h 25m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 200 009, the summit at NY 206 064), 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.
Eskdale via Slight Side: questions and answers
How far is Eskdale via Slight Side?
Eskdale via Slight Side is 6.5 km one way to the summit of Scafell, with 880 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 13.0 km.
How long does Eskdale via Slight Side take?
About 2h 45m to the summit of Scafell and 4h 5m 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 5h 0m for the round trip.
How steep is Eskdale via Slight Side?
The steepest 500 m averages about 33%, starting 4 km from the start, and 25% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Eskdale via Slight Side climbs 847 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Eskdale via Slight Side?
Eskdale via Slight Side starts from Wha House National Trust car park, Eskdale. The grid reference is NY 200 009. Wha House National Trust car park, Eskdale
Is Eskdale via Slight Side suitable for beginners?
Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first, such as Boot via Slight Side.
What time should I start Eskdale via Slight Side today?
By 13:03 at the latest. Sunset on Scafell today is 18:08, Eskdale via Slight Side takes about 4h 5m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Eskdale via Slight Side?
Yes. Download it from this page. It is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.