Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap up Scoat Fell: route map, distance and time

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.

Walk up Mosedale and climb to Wind Gap, then follow the stony ridge south-west to the summit wall.

Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap at a glance

Distance	5.2 km one way, to the top
Ascent	841 m
Time up	2h 25m by Naismith's rule
There and back	3h 30m, down the same way
Grade	Moderate
Start	Wasdale Head (National Trust car park)
Start grid reference	NY 186 087
Summit grid reference	NY 159 113

Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap 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 Mosedale and Wind Gap takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	2h 0m	2h 50m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	2h 25m	3h 30m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	3h 0m	4h 15m

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 13:38 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 30m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 13:36 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 30m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Scoat Fell summit weather for this route

Good Today Sunday 18 October

Partly cloudy, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 12 mph gusting 15 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08.
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October

Light drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 44 mph gusting 55 mph, 49% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06.

Best day of the next seven for Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 15 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Hour-by-hour Scoat Fell forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Scoat Fell?

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 Scoat Fell

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. More about Scoat Fell, with the live forecast.

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

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Steeple (819 m), 0.3 km north-west
Black Crag (828 m), 0.7 km north-east
Red Pike (826 m), 1 km south-east
Pillar (892 m), 1.4 km north-east
Haycock (797 m), 1.6 km south-west
Pillar Rock (780 m), 1.6 km north-east

Challenges that include Scoat Fell

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 Brown Tongue up Scafell Pike
Wasdale Head via Scoat Fell up Steeple
Wasdale Head via Dore Head and Stirrup Crag up Yewbarrow

Other routes up Scoat Fell

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Ennerdale via Steeple	8.2 km one way	765 m	2h 55m	Hard
Overbeck western walking paths via Dore Head	5.9 km one way	820 m	2h 35m	Hard
Ennerdale western fell walking paths	9.5 km one way	—	—	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 159 113), 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 Mosedale and Wind Gap: questions and answers

How far is Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap?

Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap is 5.2 km one way to the summit of Scoat Fell, with 841 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.4 km.

How long does Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap take?

About 2h 25m to the summit of Scoat Fell and 3h 30m 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 15m for the round trip.

Where do you park for Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap?

Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap starts from Wasdale Head (National Trust car park). The grid reference is NY 186 087.

Is Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap 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 Mosedale and Wind Gap today?

By 13:38 at the latest. Sunset on Scoat Fell today is 18:08, Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap takes about 3h 30m 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 Mosedale and Wind Gap?

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