Defeat the Peak | Scafell Pike by Day Challenge

Summit Day

The event venue for this challenge is situated at the end of the Greater Langdale valley, right in the heart of the Lake District National Park.

After registration and a full safety briefing from your challenge leaders you will begin the trek. During the trek you be supported every step of the way by fully qualified Mountain Leaders.

After the elation of reaching the top you must summon up the energy to return to the start where it will be time to relax and celebrate.

After this you are free to depart, re-living your achievements on your way home.

How tough is it?

The Scafell Pike challenge is graded as tough. This is the perfect challenge for participants who are of an adventurous spirit and an open mind and who wish to push themselves in a wild and remote region of one of the UK's most iconic landscapes. You can tell your supporters that on your Scafell Pike Challenge you will be:

• Trekking for around 12 hours in a single day
• Covering 15 miles of mountainous terrain
• Trekking without support, carrying all your food and water for the entire day
• Ascend more 1500m in a single day. That’s more ascent than Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain!
• Summiting the highest mountain in England, Scafell Pike (978m) 

Training

Training advice is readily available.

Group size

There will be one challenge leader for every 12 participants, which means that you can walk at your own speed with others of similar pace.

Dogs

Unfortunately, you are unable to walk with your dog. This is due to safety reasons for your fellow hikers and your dog.

Event HQ

Ambleside
Ambleside
Ambleside
Cumbria
LA22
UK

By car

If you are driving then Ambleside is easily found in the heart of the Lake District.

Public transport

You can also get the train to Windermere and it is approximately 4 miles from the railway station to Ambleside. From there the simplest option is to get a taxi, though if you wish to travel by public transport, you can take bus number 555 or 556 to Ambleside. 

Car sharing

We would encourage you to car-share where possible, or alternatively we can also put participants in touch in order to communicate train times, and share a taxi from Windermere station.

Overview

You will meet your leader team at Langdale for a safety briefing before starting the trek.

The group will ascend via the steep path of Rossett Gill before continuing the slow ascent across to Scafell Pike.

Upon reaching the highest point in England you will have the option to extend your challenge if you wish to tackle a few more peaks! This will be completely at each person's own discretion.

The challenge will end at approximately 7pm with the transfer back to Ambleside.

Map

Terrain

The majority of this challenge takes place over mountain paths within the Lake District, which, although uneven underfoot, are fairly well maintained and regularly used. However, there are a couple of small sections where you will be climbing down over rocks and using your hands to help you up and down. These sections are very few and far between, but may be termed a slight 'scramble'. 

Food and drink

A packed lunch to take with you on the trek is included in the cost however you are encouraged to bring some of your own preferred snacks to keep you going during the challenge. 

Please bring enough bottles to ensure you have 2 litres of water on you at all times. 

Please ensure you have had a substantial breakfast before arriving and that your water bottles are already filled.

This challenge should have a positive impact on the communities visited and is committed to sustainable and responsible tourism. It aims to make sure that impact on the local environment is minimised.

Summary

You can help achieve this goal by:

• Adopting a policy of ‘leave no trace’.
• Taking all litter off the trek with you, including fruit peels and skins.
• Using public toilets when available and take any tissues from ‘wild wees’ home with you.
• Stick to the footpaths at all times and avoid walking on their edges, to help prevent erosion from spreading.
• Only using the car park(s) designated for your event, and not parking on the local streets.
• Keeping noise to a minimum when passing houses in residential areas.
• Leaving rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them. Please don’t take these home with you.
• Avoid transporting and introducing invasive species by cleaning your outdoor gear regularly.
• Contributing to the local economy by paying for parking, staying an additional night in the local area or enjoying a local meal out.
• Being patient and understanding if at points you have to wait or slow down due to others being on the same path.

You are asked to think carefully about any memorial-type activities you may plan for your challenge. It is fully appreciated that this challenge has emotional importance and encourages you to mark that special moment in your own way, whilst ensuring that the natural beauty and protection of the environment you’re in is maintained. Leaving photos or other memorabilia or writing on stones is contrary to the leave no trace principle.

Remember: ‘Take only memories, leave only footprints’.

You'll be part of a unique group of like-minded challengers that will be fundraising to support people living with cancer – creating a friendly, supportive atmosphere for an unforgettable experience.

As part of Team Macmillan, you'll receive:

Before you go

• 12.5% off Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock, and Runners Need
• Support materials (itinerary, kit list, fact file, Q&As, health notes, travel tips, responsible travel policy and guidance)
• Fitness training notes
• Risk assessment and emergency management planning

On your challenge

• All challenge management before, during and post event
• Full back-up support including first-aid qualified staff and first-aid supplies
• Macmillan-branded snood and medal
• Packed lunch

For your fundraising

• A free Macmillan top to wear on the day, plus iron-on letters to customise your kit
• First-class support from the Macmillan Hiking Team, from sign up through to the finish line
• A fundraising pack bursting with fundraising tips and tricks
• Team Macmillan E-newsletters to keep you up to date

Not Included

• Travel to/from the challenge start/finish point
• Clothing and equipment listed on the kit list
• Accommodation if required
• Personal spending money

Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan is needed now more than ever. With every mile you walk and pound you raise, they can be there to provide vital services for people who need it most.

• 3 million people

  There are 3 million people living with cancer in the UK today who urgently need support from Macmillan.

• Hundreds of hikers

  You’ll be joining an incredible community of supporters from across the UK, coming together to make a difference.

• Fundraise

  By raising funds, you’ll be helping Macmillan provide vital cancer services, research and campaign to achieve better cancer care, and support the cancer workforce.

How to fundraise

There are so many fun and easy ways to fundraise. From games to sponsorship forms, Macmillan has got you covered. It's time to kick-start your fundraising for Macmillan!

Resources

• 26 fundraising tips
• Team fundraising guide
• Fundraise while you shop
• Recycling for good causes
• WhatsApp messaging
• Sponsorship form
• Sponsor a mile poster
• Guess My Time poster

Teams

Teams may have a joint fundraising target and joint fundraising page. This means the overall goal is shared. You can fundraise as a team on JustGiving by adding your team members to your page.

eg. a team of 3 will have a target of £900.

Tips

Macmillan helps people get through cancer. Your donations make it happen.

You can take on this challenge from age 14 and above, although all participants aged 14 to 17 will have to always have a parent or guardian with them during the challenge.

Entry fees