Lake District
Great Scoat Fell
802M
2631FT
About Great Scoat Fell
Rising at the heart of the Mosedale Horseshoe, this high, boulder-strewn plateau serves as a pivotal junction for the western fells. While the summit itself is broad and dominated by a long drystone wall, it offers a dramatic gateway to the sharp, rocky ridge leading out to the narrow peak of Steeple.
Key Statistics
Rank
62nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Western Fells
Prominence
?
2m
Nearest Town
Wasdale
Geology
You are walking on ancient lava flows and layers of hardened volcanic ash. These rugged rocks were formed by powerful prehistoric eruptions and settling volcanic debris.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY154112
Latitude
54.4892°N
Longitude
3.3066°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Scoat' likely originates from the Old Norse word 'skot', meaning a projection or a 'shoot' of land. This describes the way the fell's northern spur thrusts out into the Ennerdale valley to form the sharp profile of Steeple.
- •The most prominent feature of the summit is a sturdy drystone wall that follows the watershed between Wasdale and Ennerdale. In poor visibility, it acts as a reliable handrail for walkers navigating between the neighbouring peaks of Pillar and Red Pike.
- •Looking east from the summit cairn, the view is dominated by the dark, towering North Face of Pillar, while looking south-east across the Mosedale valley reveals the distinctively craggy profiles of Great Gable and Scafell Pike.
- •Standing at 802 metres, it is included in the Synge classification, a list specifically identifying the peaks in the Lake District that exceed the 2,000-foot mark.
- •The summit plateau is so relentlessly covered in shattered rock that it manages to make the simple act of sitting down for lunch feel like a technical mountaineering challenge.