Wasdale Head

Western Lakes & Coast · Village

Wasdale Head is a handful of farms, the tiny church of St Olaf (one of England’s smallest), and the Wasdale Head Inn — the birthplace of British rock climbing. Great Gable, Kirk Fell and the Scafe...

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Visitor guide

About Wasdale Head

There is no through road. You come because this is the end of the line, and the start of the high fells.

Famous for

Wasdale Head Inn and climbing history
St Olaf’s church
Packhorse bridge
Direct start for Scafell Pike, Gable and the Mosedale Horseshoe

Lakes & water nearby

Fells & mountains

Great Gable
Kirk Fell
Scafell Pike
Pillar
Red Pike
Yewbarrow

Water from here

Wast Water

Lake · half day+

Angle Tarn (Wasdale Head)

Tarn · 3–6 hrs

Beckhead Tarn

Tarn · 1.5–3 hrs

Blackbeck Tarn

Tarn · 3–6 hrs

Broadcrag Tarn

Tarn · 3–6 hrs

Foxes Tarn

Tarn · 3–6 hrs

Greendale Tarn

Tarn · 3–6 hrs

Kirkfell Tarn

Tarn · 1.5–3 hrs

All lakes, tarns and waterfalls →

Walks from here

Scafell Pike

978 m · 6–8 hrs

Scafell

964 m · 6–8 hrs

Great End

910 m · 6–8 hrs

Bowfell

903 m · 6–8 hrs

Esk Pike

885 m · 6–8 hrs

Crinkle Crags

859 m · 6–8 hrs

Lingmell

807 m · 5–7 hrs

Allen Crags

785 m · 5–7 hrs

All 214 Wainwrights →

Mosedale Horseshoe 7–9 hrs

Kirk Fell, Pillar, Scoat Fell, Red Pike, Yewbarrow — the Wasdale classic.
Great Gable via Sty Head 5–6 hrs

The climbers’ mountain; memorial on the summit.
Church and packhorse bridge 20 min

Even if you don’t go high, walk to the churchyard.