Lunch on Scafell

The weather conditions for climbing Scafell were optimal – clear, sunny and coolish, with just a gentle breeze. It was so clear that the Isle of Man was visible on the horizon as we drove from Bassenthwaite to Wass Water. The ascent was the straightforward one, straight up from Wasdale Head. It was relatively busy but not enough for overtaking, and no one except a few fell runner who were coming back down. It took us just over three hours to summit, with plenty of room at the top to find a sheltered spot for lunch.
The descent into Borrowdale was much more challenging, particularly the 450m or so of boulder fields, followed by the Corridor Route. The long easy trek down Sty Head Pass was my favourite part of the walk, very tempted by the impossibly clear pools Grains Gill. The extra is Stockley Bridge, a packhorse bridge originally constructed around 1550, with surely one of the best potential swimming spots a few metres downstream.