(S) Walk down to Wast Water lake from YHA Wasdale Hall and turn right. You may also decide to walk around Low Wood or skip over the slight rise to reach Lund Bridge a bit quicker. Make your way up to the track that comes from Easthwaite Farm, keeping to the edge of the field. Depending on how you've crossed the field, turn left or right to find the path that leads up Greathall Gill. Keep left of the stream and gradually climb the slope until you reach the top path. Here, turn left to climb up to the cairn on Whin Rigg (Wainwright at 537m above sea level).
(1) From the top of Whin Rigg the path follows the edge of The Screes with some stunning views over Wast Water towards Middle Fell, Seatallan, Haycock, Red Pike and round to Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell and Great Gable. Take care not to get too close in bad weather and head for the cairn on the top of Illgill Head (Wainwright at 609m above sea level). From here, the path descends steeply to the junction of four paths, near the ruins of Maiden Castle.
(2) Take the second path that bears right and then drops down gently to Burnmoor Tarn at its head, where you should find the Bulatt Bridge. Before you reach Bulatt Bridge, the route leads off sharp left to cross the plateau before climbing up Hard Rigg, keeping Hardrigg Gill to the right. Follow the gully round to the right climbing all the time, passing a sheepfold (on the left) and up to the cairn and shelter at Sca Fell (Wainwright at 964m above sea level).
(3) The route now heads north-east to Symonds Knott then turns sharp right to head south-east and a steep climb up to Foxes Tarn. Here, the path turns North-East again until we get to a junction. Turn sharp left to head almost due north over Broad Stand and up to Mickledore. Here, turn right, heading north-east to scramble up over the rocks to the summit of Scafell Pike (Wainwright at 978m above sea level) - the highest mountain in England.
(4) Once you have rested, eaten something and drunk some water, unless the day is unusually clear and calm, you'll want to get moving pretty sharpish. The route continues NW to run along the southern flank of Broad Crag. Follow the cairns to take you across the rocks and down to Calf Cove ignoring the path off to the left that goes to _Great End. Carry on down to Esk Hause and the shelter at the cross-roads.
(5) Follow the path down to Angle Tarn. From the Tarn, keep heading SE to climb up Rossett Pike (Wainwright at 651m above sea level).
(6) Go back to the col and turn left to head down the path alongside Rossett Gill. At the confluence of Rossett Gill, Little Gill and Stake Gill cross the footbridge and turn right to follow the Cumbria Way alongside Mickleden Beck.
(7) This path hugs the bottom of Langdale Fell, bending slowly left to pass Middle Fell Farm and then reaching New Dungeon Ghyll.(E)
