Scoat Fell routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX
841 m · Cumbria
Scoat Fell is a high, stony fell in the western Lakes at the head of Mosedale, with a stone wall across its summit and the pointed Steeple close by.
Peakify lists 4 measured routes up Scoat Fell, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.
Scoat Fell routes, easiest to hardest
Sorted by grade, easiest first: Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble. Routes with the same grade keep the order in which Peakify's editors listed them.
| Route | Start | Distance | Ascent | Time up | There and back | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap | Wasdale Head (National Trust car park) | 5.2 km one way | 841 m | 2h 25m | 3h 30m | Moderate |
| Ennerdale via Steeple | Bowness Knott car park, Ennerdale | 8.2 km one way | 765 m | 2h 55m | 4h 35m | Hard |
| Overbeck western walking paths via Dore Head | Overbeck Bridge National Trust car park | 5.9 km one way | 820 m | 2h 35m | 3h 45m | Hard |
| Ennerdale western fell walking paths | Bleach Green car park, Ennerdale | 9.5 km one way | — | — | — | Hard |
Scoat Fell route times by Naismith's rule
The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.
Each Scoat Fell route
Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap
Walk up Mosedale and climb to Wind Gap, then follow the stony ridge south-west to the summit wall. It starts from Wasdale Head (National Trust car park). 5.2 km one way with 841 m of ascent. About 2h 25m to the summit and 3h 30m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.
Ennerdale via Steeple
Walk through the forest along Ennerdale, climb to Steeple and cross the short, narrow ridge to Scoat Fell. It starts from Bowness Knott car park, Ennerdale. 8.2 km one way with 765 m of ascent. About 2h 55m to the summit and 4h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.
Overbeck western walking paths via Dore Head
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Overbeck Bridge National Trust car park. It starts from Overbeck Bridge National Trust car park. 5.9 km one way with 820 m of ascent. About 2h 35m to the summit and 3h 45m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.
Ennerdale western fell walking paths
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Bleach Green car park, Ennerdale. It starts from Bleach Green car park, Ennerdale. 9.5 km one way. Grade: Hard.
Scoat Fell route GPX
Download a GPX for each route with a track: Overbeck western walking paths via Dore Head, Ennerdale western fell walking paths. Each is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.
Before you pick a route
The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Scoat Fell today and the Scoat Fell 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.
Planning a day on Scoat Fell routes
The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.
Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.
Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
If you are new to Scoat Fell, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.
Questions about Scoat Fell
What is the easiest route up Scoat Fell?
Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap has the easiest grade of the 4 routes listed here (Moderate).
How much time does each Scoat Fell route take?
Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap: about 2h 25m up and 3h 30m there and back. Ennerdale via Steeple: about 2h 55m up and 4h 35m there and back. Overbeck western walking paths via Dore Head: about 2h 35m up and 3h 45m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.
Can I get a GPX file for a Scoat Fell route?
Yes. Open a route below and download its GPX: an ascent track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths.