Best Campsites near Scafell Pike in the Lake District

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Best Campsites near Scafell Pike in the Lake District

By Dave Roberts   

on August 23, 2018   5/5 (2)

Posted in Scafell Pike Information

Best Campsites near Scafell Pike in the Lake District

There are a number of excellent campsite options for campers who want to climb Scafell Pike in the Lake District. Here’s a brief rundown of the campsites near Scafell Pike – we’ve limited this to locations that are within walking distance to the start of the walks so car campers who are wiling to drive have even more options to base themselves for their trip up Scafell Pike. For convenience – we’ve noted the main routes that the campsite is convenient for. Remember to check the rules and regulations before booking or planning to stay at the campsite as some have strict rules about who can stay there – especially if you’re in a group and may frown on any late coming and goings from 11 or even 10pm.

Wasdale Head Campsite

Run by the Wasdale Head Inn, there’s a campsite directly opposite. This is the one for those who know they’ll be staying in the pub until it’s turfing out time – just remember that Scafell Pike is no fun with a hangover!

Wasdale National Trust Campsite

An excellent campsite with good facilities for the cost, though I did end up sleeping on gravel in a campervan awning – which would have been a sleepless night were it not for the hospitality enjoyed at the Wasdale Head Inn and a few drams of single malt in the van after! The only down side is that it’s a walk from the pub, which was interesting along the river in the dark and could potentially be dangerous if the river was in spate and you’d overdone it at the pub.

Both these sites are ideal for our many routes up Scafell Pike from Wasdale.

Best Campsites for Scafell Pike in the Lake District
Wasdale National Trust Campsite ideal for the Wasdale Path up Scafell Pike, and a pint at the Wasdale Head Inn.

Great Langdale National Trust Campsite

With two pubs nearby, as well as the National Trust pub – The Sticklebarn, this has to be one of the best places to camp in the Lake District. There’s a shop on site, which is essential unless you want to drive to Ambleside. With the Old Dungeon Ghyll and the New Dungeon Ghyll hotels within walking distance, the camper is well catered for! Ideally placed for the Scafell Pike from Langdale walk, but with a number of other excellent walks such as Bowfell, Langdale Pikes and Lingmoor Fell.

Best Campsites for Scafell Pike in the Lake District

Eskdale Campsite

Situated in Boot in Eskdale, this campsite has camping pods, hookups and a camping barn. There’s a licensed shop on premises and the Boot Inn is nearby and the Woolpack Inn is also reasonably close as is the King George IV Inn in Eskdale Green. This is an ideal base for Scafell Pike via Pen, or any of the Eskdale Routes.

Best Campsites for Scafell Pike in the Lake District

Seathwaite Farm

This is directly at the start of the walk – but with no facilities nearby. This is the one for those who want to camp and walk, with no pub or cushy evening meals to be had. Of course, you can travel down into Borrowdale, where there are a number of pubs, and Keswick isn’t much further along for picking up supplies. If you insist on camping by a pub, there are a number of campsites in Borrowdale – Stonethwaite Farm and Chapel House Farm.  Nearby you’ll find the various hostelries of Scafell Hotel, The Langstrath and the Royal Oak. This makes the perfect base for climbing Scafell Pike via the Corridor Route from Seathwaite.

 

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

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Welcome to Walk up Scafell Pike

Walk up Scafell Pike is the dedicated on-line guidebook for walking routes up Scafell Pike in the English Lake District, with free walking maps and full guides to all the routes to the summit of England’s highest mountain.

Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England at 978m high and is one of the mountains climbed on the Three Peaks Challenge walk. It’s a formidable mountain that needs respect, with no such thing as an easy route up  the mountain to be had. All the walks and hikes are a challenge, and well worth the effort to reach the roof of England.

The Routes to the Top of Scafell Pike page has an interactive map that shows all the walking routes to the summit of Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head, Scafell Pike from Borrowdale and Scafell Pike from Langdale as well as hotels, campsites and pubs near Scafell Pike (add your Lake District business for free), and there’s a page for each walk that shows the route, parking postcode,  a downloadable file for your GPS device as well as details on the weather for the mountain.

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions page for more Scafell Pike facts such as how long will it take to climb Scafell Pike, where can i start the walk from and other questions.

Main Walking Routes up Scafell Pike

Route Name Starting Point Parking Post Code Distance Ascent Walking Time
Scafell Pike from Wasdale or Wasdale Head Wasdale or Wasdale Head  CA20 1EX (Wasdale Head)  4.2km*  900m*  3-4 hours**
Scafell Pike from Seathwaite, Borrowdale (Corridor Route) Borrowdale  CA12 5XJ  15km (round trip)  1000m  6 hours+
Scafell Pike from Langdale Langdale  LA22 9JY 9km  1130m 4 hours**
Scafell Pike from Hardknott (southern approach) Eskdale Hardknott CA19 1TG – for Boot – then continue up Hardkott Pass to GR NY211 011  17km  1000m  6 hours
Scafell Pike Corridor Route from Wasdale Wasdale or Wasdale Head CA20 1EX (Wasdale Head)  7.8km*  970m*  3-4 hours **

*Distance/Ascent noted is for one way only.

**Time is for one way only, and variable. Very fit walkers can walk up and down in 3-4 hours(depending on the route)and will know their own timings and speed. If in doubt, assume the longest duration for your ascent and add the longest for your descent, depending on route. Add a good half hour or more for the summit stop as well.

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