Wast Water Best Views

28 Scafell Pike

The two highest peaks in the Lake District are Scafell Pike (978m) and Scafell (964m) which rise to the east of the head of Wast Water. The view from the top of Scafell Pike is worth the effort, taking in most of the Lake District, with glimpses of Derwent Water to the north and Windermere to the east; on the clearest days it can also include the Isle of Man and parts of Scotland, and even occasionally Wales and Ireland. 

Get the view

Start West end of Hardknott Pass, Eskdale
Grid Reference NY 21416 01177
What3words Reference agrees.handicaps.valuables

Start north over stile walking down-hill towards the River Esk for about ¼ mile, then turn right onto clear path.  Follow path up the valley with the river nearby on left for about 1 ½ miles.  Then follow main path through a sheepfold and across a small footbridge; head straight ahead, going up-hill, keeping river with waterfalls on left.  After about ½ mile the path levels off with views of Scafell Pike ahead, and Throstlehow Crag just on right. 

Best View Grid Reference NY 22639 04401
Best View What3words Reference linen.claw.presuming

30 Wast Water to Great Gable

For dramatic scenery, Wast Water reigns supreme over all the other lakes. Sculpted by an ice age glacier moving down from the head of the valley which sheared off the side of a mountain to create The Screes, and scooped out the hollow of the lake. The pyramid-shaped Great Gable is the Lake District’s seventh highest mountain. 

Get the view

Start Roadside parking west side of the lake
Grid Reference NY 15158 05488
What3words Reference urge.wordplay.messaging

Viewpoint is on the south-west shore of the lake, a very short walk from the roadside parking at the road junction on the west of Wast Water.

Best View Grid Reference NY 15092 05276
Best View What3words Reference button.water.photocopy