Ullscarf to Illgill Head
NY291121 From Ullscarf to High Raise the handrail line of rusty fence posts continues, with a mostly faint path across some boggy bits and occasional hillocks. There are many distracting braiding paths on the descent to the boggy col between Ullscarf and Greenup Edge – maintain your rough line. Cross the Easedale to Borrowdale path then rise up a stony wet scar to Low White Stones then by fence posts up to the trig point of High Raise.
NY280095 Return to the rough southerly line towards Thunacar Knott. The path veers noticeably left at a slight re-ascent, then cut across to a pile of stones above a tarn. Descend open rough ground across Martcrag Moor on a westerly arc, later briefly following aheadwater stream of the Stake Beck to a short section of path. This soon fades on a north-west descent to a fainter path.
NY265086 At Stake Pass, fork left about 5m before a middling size cairn. From here the path takes a line nearer Mansey Pike than the map implies and the ground is once again rather boggy, especially on the slight descent to Angle Tarn.
NY245077 Take a clear path northwest towards Esk Hause. Fork left after roughly 250m onto a narrower path, which bends its way up Ore Gap. Take a cairned path northwest up Esk Pike and maintain your direction from the double outcrop marking the summit. Descend a rocky cleft and follow the ridgeline to Esk Hause, on an cairned path, bending gently right and along a small ledge.
NY233080 Cross the grassy col of Esk Hause and join the path rising up to the col by Ill Crag. This leads across the intermittently cairned but blocky summit plateau to Broad Crag. The summits of Great End, Ill Crag and Broad Crag are a short (and optional) detour off path.
NY218075 Bend south-west and across the col below Scafell Pike. The far ascent looks very loose and steep, but paths lead over reasonable slightly loose ground to a series of shelter cairns then the summit pillbox. NY215072 Head north-west down the ‘tourist‘ route for roughly 150m where cairns diverge. Fork left towards Sca Fell, passing the stretcher box at Mickledore, where there’s a good view up the notorious Broad Stand scramble. The gap known as Fat Man’s Agony
isn’t the place for a large wild camping rucksack, so for now see if you can spot the route for a future occasion – if you dare!
NY210069 Head down towards Eskdale for about 350m. A small cairn marks the way across scree to a rocky gully (gentle scramble), which leads up to the surprisingly grassy Foxes Tarn. Bear right up scree slopes to the summit rim, then left to the summit of Sca Fell. NY206064 Backtrack roughly 50m to gain a path leading down through screes onto the west flank of Sca Fell. This becomes grassy, then boggy as it descends, following a slight ridgeline down Hard Rigg. At about 320m altitude, bear right onto a contouring path through bracken – this leads to the WasdaleEskdale bridleway by a couple of boggy pools. Turn right along this, then after nearly 100m, fork left and rise to a dry stone wall beside Straighthead Gill.
NY179058 Follow the wall briefly on the far side, soon crossing back again. Steep grassy slopes now lead to the summit of Illgill Head.