Scafells

Scafells

Scafells

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The Scafells, or Scafell Massif,[1] are range of fells in the Cumbrian Mountains of England, made up of the remains of a caldera volcano. Fells in the range include Broad Crag, Ill Crag, Scafell, and Scafell Pike, England's tallest mountain. Great End, Lingmell and Slight Side are also usually included within the definition. These hills form part of the Southern Fells.

Slight Side (762m)Scafell East ButtressEsk Crag or Buttress (c. 750m)Sca Fell (964m)Mickledore (c.840m)South Summit (c. 950m)Scafell Pike (978m)Broad Crag (934m)Ill Crag (935m)Great End (910m)Click hyperlink or button to expand
The Scafell range as seen looking west from Crinkle Crags. (Interactive labels.)

Quick Facts Highest point, Elevation ...

Geology

Geologically, parts of the Scafell massif are the remnants of a volcano that erupted in the Ordovician period over 400 million years ago. This volcano, geologically described as a caldera and an "inverse stratovolcano", as well as all other volcanoes of the Lake District, are long since extinct.[2]

The volcano is an example of a piecemeal caldera whose collapse, in contrast with a wholesale piston-like subsidence, occurred in a piece-by-piece fashion along faults and whose measurements suggest formation from an eruption of a VEI-7 magnitude, comparable to the Minoan eruption at Santorini in the Greek Aegean in c. 1600 BCE. The Scafell dacite, between Little Narrowcove and Aaron Crags, is a lava dome formed during the last stages of volcanic activity at Scafell massif.[2]

English Munros

Main article: List of Furth mountains in the British Isles § English Munros

An English Munro (or Furth) is a mountain summit that exceeds 3,000 feet (914.4 m) and has a prominence of more than 30 metres (98 feet). In England there are six peaks that meet that criteria and four of those are part of the Scafell Massif.[lower-alpha 1]

More information Peak, Area ...

(‡) Have the prominence of over 150 metres (492 ft) to qualify as a "Real Munro".

Accident black spots

Scafell and Scafell Pike

Mountain rescue post, Mickledore

The summit of Scafell (964 m) is only 14 m lower than Scafell Pike (978 m); it can sometimes appear to be higher because of its precipitous topography.

The traverse between England's two highest summit's via Mickledore col requires considerable care and caution:

  1. The route via Broad Stand is best avoided because it is dangerous.
  2. There is a safer but longer route available via Foxes Tarn.

. . ."Broad Stand is an extremely dangerous area which has unfortunately seen a number of fatalities.[3]

Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team

References

  1. [1]
    Gannon, Paul (April 2009). Rock Trails Lakeland - A Hillwalker's Guide to the Geology & Scenery. Pesda Press. ISBN 9781906095154. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  2. [2]
    Geology of England and Wales, pp118ff
  3. [3]

Notes

  1. In Scotland there are 442 peaks that meet that criteria. See Lists of mountains and hills in the British Isles > Murdos.
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