Lake District

Greendale and Middle Fell walk

Not far from the busy slopes of Scafell Pike, discover the quieter side of the Western Fells on this circular walk above Wastwater. There's a hidden mountain tarn, superb views over the Wasdale Screes and, if visibility is good, you may see the Isle of Man rising up like Avalon out of the Irish Sea.

Near to

Wasdale

Start point

Greendale, grid ref: NY144056

Trail information

View route

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Difficulty*

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 3.5 (km: 5.6)

Duration3 hours

Dog friendly**

*Moderately rough paths with some steep ascent and descent. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Dogs welcome under close control. For further details, please see Facilities section.

Fell walking

Conditions can change quickly in the mountains. Please wear suitable footwear for the conditions, pack waterproofs and warm layers, and carry a map and compass.

Address
Greendale, Cumbria. Nearest postcode: CA20 1EU.
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Seascale station 7 miles (11km) from Greendale. No public transport links from Seascale to Wasdale, but you can arrange to take bicycles on the train.
National Rail
By road
From A595, take turn for Gosforth and follow signs for Nether Wasdale. Go through Nether Wasdale to Wastwater lakeshore, then take first left. Parking is on grassy area next to first building you arrive at, 0.4 miles (0.8km) from the lake. Nearest postcode: CA20 1EU.
Total stages: 7
Total stages: 7
Start point
Greendale, grid ref: NY144056
Stage 1
Starting from the parking on the grassy roadside at Greendale Cottages, follow the path north, uphill and through the bracken. After a third of a mile you will reach the grassy viewing area. Continue walking north up the path.
Stage 2
There is a path junction at grid ref. NY143061, about 700yd (650m) from the start. Follow the left-hand terraced path, keeping the gill and its pools immediately to your left. Walk for a further half a mile (0.8km).
Stage 3
Where two streams meet at grid ref. NY143064, keep ascending on the path on the right-hand side of the gill, past the rock pools. The path continues gently upwards (crossing some wet ground) for just over half a mile (0.9km), until you arrive at Greendale Tarn.
Stage 4
Follow the narrow path along the east side (right-hand side) of Greendale Tarn, heading north for half a mile (0.8km) until you reach the path among the rocky outcrops at the head of Greendale Valley, at grid ref. NY149079.
Stage 5
From here follow the grassy path uphill south-east for 350yds (321m) and then south for half a mile (0.8km), until you reach the summit of Middle Fell.
Stage 6
The path descends gently south-southwest for 530yd (480m), then descends more steeply, zig-zagging through the small outcrops of rock for half a mile (0.8km). You will arrive at the path junction from Step 2 at grid ref. NY143061.
Stage 7
Descend south, back to the start of the walk for around 700yd (650m).
End point
Greendale, grid ref: NY144056
Trail map
Map of the Greendale and Middle Fell walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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View of the rocky summit of Pillar, a mountain in Wasdale in the Western Lake District

Trail

Pillar trail from Wasdale Head

Few places in the Lake District have views to compete with those from the Pillar summit, but this route there involves a ascent of over 800m so a high level of fitness required.