Wasdale Head via Green How 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 relentless climb up the grassy and stony slopes of Green How above Wast Water, with little respite until the summit plateau.

Wasdale Head via Green How at a glance

Distance	4.5 km one way, to the top
Ascent	917 m
Time up	2h 25m by Naismith's rule
There and back	3h 20m, down the same way
Grade	Hard
Start	Wasdale Head (National Trust car park)
Start grid reference	NY 186 087
Summit grid reference	NY 206 064

Wasdale Head via Green How 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 Green How takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	2h 0m	2h 45m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	2h 25m	3h 20m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	3h 0m	4h 5m

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 13:48 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 20m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 13:46 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 20m 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 Wasdale Head via Green How: 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

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 Brown Tongue up Scafell Pike
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

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Boot via Slight Side	8.4 km one way	968 m	3h 20m	Moderate
Eskdale via Slight Side	6.5 km one way	880 m	2h 45m	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 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.

Wasdale Head via Green How: questions and answers

How far is Wasdale Head via Green How?

Wasdale Head via Green How is 4.5 km one way to the summit of Scafell, with 917 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 9.0 km.

How long does Wasdale Head via Green How take?

About 2h 25m to the summit of Scafell and 3h 20m 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 5m for the round trip.

Where do you park for Wasdale Head via Green How?

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

Is Wasdale Head via Green How 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 Wasdale Head via Green How today?

By 13:48 at the latest. Sunset on Scafell today is 18:08, Wasdale Head via Green How takes about 3h 20m 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 Green How?

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