Lingmell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lingmell |
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Scafell massif, showing Lingmell on left with summit clear of cloud
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 807 m (2,648 ft) |
| Prominence | c.. 72 m (236 feet) |
| Parent peak | Scafell Pike |
| Listing | Hewitt, Wainwright, Nuttall |
| Geography | |
 Lingmell
Location in Lake District
Lingmell
Location in the Borough of Copeland
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| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Parent range | Lake District, Southern Fells |
| OS grid | NY209081 |
| Topo map | OS Landrangers 89, 90, Explorer OL6 |
Lingmell is a cool mountain, or 'fell', located in the amazing Lake District in England. It stands tall above the village of Wasdale Head. Think of it as a smaller neighbor to Scafell Pike, which is England's highest mountain. Lingmell sits on the northwest side of Scafell Pike.
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Exploring Lingmell's Shape
Even though Lingmell is next to the much taller Scafell Pike, it's a unique mountain all on its own. It has two very different sides. The southern and western slopes are smooth and rounded, even though they are steep. But the northern and eastern sides are rocky cliffs, called 'crags', that drop straight down from the top. The northern crag plunges about a thousand feet towards the valley. Below that, there's another thousand feet of loose rocks, called 'scree'.
How Lingmell Connects to Scafell Pike
Lingmell connects to Scafell Pike through a grassy dip called Lingmell Col. This col is about 2,410 feet high. From this spot, a stream called Lingmell Gill flows west. It goes through an area called Hollow Stones and then reaches Brackenclose, near the top of Wast Water.
Streams and Ravines
East of Lingmell Col, another stream named Piers Gill begins. This stream flows all the way around the northern side of Lingmell. It eventually joins Wast Water as Lingmell Beck, close to where Lingmell Gill enters the lake. Both of these streams have wide, rocky paths. This shows how powerful flash floods can be, carrying rocks down the mountain.
Lingmell also has a long ridge that stretches west between these two streams. The southern side of this ridge is called Lingmell Scars. It's covered in scree that slowly tumbles down into Lingmell Gill. At the top of this ridge, you'll find many rock formations known as Goat Crags.
Piers Gill flows beneath Lingmell's eastern cliffs in a deep, narrow valley called a 'ravine'. This ravine is one of the most impressive in the Lake District. It's usually about 30 feet deep, but much deeper in some places. It winds its way down the hillside before joining another stream, Greta Gill. The views of Piers Gill and Lingmell from the Corridor Route (a path up Scafell Pike) are amazing. There's even a faint path along the eastern side of the gill for closer views. However, regular hikers should never try to follow the ravine itself, as it's very dangerous. Crossing it is also considered impossible for most hikers.
What Lingmell is Made Of
Lingmell is mostly made of ancient lava flows. These flows are from a type of rock called Scafell Dacite. You can also find other rocks mixed in, like andesite.
Reaching the Summit
The very top of Lingmell is right above the cliffs on its eastern side. There's a nice pile of stones, called a 'cairn', built there now. It replaced a smaller column that was there in the 1960s.
From Lingmell's summit, you get one of the best views of Great Gable, which is just over a mile to the north. The Great Napes, a famous spot for rock climbing, looks especially cool from here. Alfred Wainwright, a famous writer about the Lake District, once wrote about how surprising the view of Great Gable was. He said it looked almost perfectly straight up from across the deep valley of Lingmell Beck. From the top of Goat Crags to the south, you can see an equally amazing view of Scafell Crag, another popular climbing area on Scafell.
Climbing Lingmell
Many hikers often pass by Lingmell when they are heading for Scafell Pike or Scafell. But climbing Lingmell on its own is a great adventure! You can also include it as part of a longer hike around the Scafell mountains.
There are two main ways to climb Lingmell from Wasdale Head. You can go via Brown Tongue or Piers Gill. The Piers Gill route offers a better walk and fantastic views of the Piers Gill ravine and Great Gable. If you're coming from Borrowdale and Styhead Tarn, you can use the Corridor Route to reach Lingmell.
