Traversing the Scafells ridge

I've always wanted to walk the Lake District's highest ridge but never got round to it - until earlier this month. So here's a quick photo tour of the highlights for me.

Starting from Wasdale Head the day commenced in a relaxed manner, particularly for this Herdwick lamb chilling in the morning sun. 

a quick trip up Styhead Pass delivered us to the foot of Great End, the first fell on the Scafell ridge ... this is a view of Great Gable from The Band on the lower slopes of Great End

A bit further up The Band and there's a nice view of 3 bodies of water - Styhead Tarn (left), Sprinkling Tarn (right, foreground) and in the distant background Derwent Water.

Before leaving Great End's summit a glance back showed clouds drifting over Great Gable 

From the summit of Great End much of  the remaining route can be seen - with the summit of Scafell Pike in the distance . But lurking out of sight, behind the Pike, lies Scafell and the most 'interesting' part of the walk

The walk from Great End to Scafell Pike passes Ill Crag and Broad Crag. The superb craggy scenery viewed from them is well worth the diversions from the main path that most people follow on their quest to reach Englands highest summit.

The summit cairn of Scafell Pike - best visited on a quiet day! 

 looking back along the Scafells ridge - this is a hard place, no sylvan glades here

from Scafell Pike you can see the 'interesting' routes up ahead  to get up Scafell - down to Mickledore ridge(bottom right) followed by Lords Rake (gully, extreme right - currently considered hazardous due to unstable rock) or Foxes Tarn (gully, extreme left - our route for the day)

The mountain rescue stretcher box on Mickledore and, in the background, the cause of some of those rescues - Broad Stand, descending from Scafell.

Another view of Broad Stand - NOT a walking route

Going up Foxes Tarn - 'interesting'

looking back to Scafell Pike from Scafell

The 'back door' to Lords Rake

 After Scafell Pike the purists may continue onto Slight Side to complete the Scafells ridge, but as I'm far from pure we headed down towards Burnmoor Tarn and the return to Wasdale Head

....and finally to end the day a view back up to Scafell looking mean and moody despite  the evening  sun

So, that was it - a great (but long) days walking in the Scafells.