Red Screes

Red Screes

Overview

Red Screes is a 778.8 m mountain above Kirkstone Pass in the Lake District’s Eastern Fells. Its catalogue prominence is 260.9 m. The surveyed high point is a rock beside the shelter at NY 39660 08756, 15 m south-east of the trig point. Red Screes Tarn lies nearby. Steep eastern crags contrast with the broad southern ridge towards Ambleside.

Routes

Kirkstone Pass: summit return

Start at the car park opposite Kirkstone Pass Inn, NY401081. Follow the eastern path through pitched stonework, steep rock steps and Kilnshaw Chimney to the summit. Return by the same route to the same car park. WalkLakes describes a 2.5 km return. This short mountain outing includes minor scrambling, and wet or icy rock makes the descent harder.

Ambleside, Scandale and Snarker Pike circuit

Start at the mini-roundabout at the north end of Ambleside. Follow Kirkstone Road to Sweden Bridge Lane, continue up Scandale beside the beck to Scandale Pass, then climb south-east to Red Screes. Descend the southern ridge via Raven Crag and Snarker Pike, meet Kirkstone Road and follow it downhill to your starting point. Cumbria Tourism’s leaflet gives approximately 12.5 km and 5–6 hours. The return has a road section with traffic. This circuit does not descend to the Kirkstone Pass car park.

Summit and views

The trig point stands at NY 39650 08765, close to the higher rock and shelter. In clear weather the outlook takes in Windermere, Brothers Water, Ullswater, the Fairfield group and surrounding Eastern and Central Fells. Cloud can obscure the view and make the broad top difficult to navigate.

Terrain and safety

The Kirkstone path has pitched steps, rock slabs and a wet gully. Scandale can be boggy, and the pass-to-summit climb is steep. Keep away from crag edges and identify the correct return route before leaving the summit. The Ambleside circuit finishes on Kirkstone Road, so watch for traffic.

Carry a map and compass you can use, warm layers, waterproofs, food, water and a headtorch. Check the mountain forecast and leave your route and expected return with someone. Snow and ice can require winter mountaineering skills, suitable boots, an ice axe and crampons. In an emergency call 999, ask for Police and then Mountain Rescue.

Access and facilities

The short ascent uses the car park opposite Kirkstone Pass Inn. Charges were introduced in July 2026; follow the current payment signs. Rydal Road offers paid parking and toilets in Ambleside for the longer circuit. The A592 High Kingate landslip closure ended on 17 July 2026; check current road notices and winter conditions before travelling.

Ambleside has food, shops and toilets. CAMRA lists Kirkstone Pass Inn as closed from 18 August 2026, so confirm directly before depending on its facilities. Bring enough food and drinking water for the complete walk.

Stagecoach 555 and 599 serve Ambleside from Windermere. Seasonal 508 services stop at Kirkstone Pass Inn. Check operating dates, service updates and return times before planning a walk around a bus.

Geology

The fell is part of the Ordovician Borrowdale Volcanic Group, with tuffs, reworked volcanic deposits and igneous intrusions. BGS records tuff and breccia on the northern slopes and a dacite intrusion near NY396084. Its geology is more varied than the former description of andesite lava alone.

Name and history

Red Screes takes its name from the reddish loose rock on its eastern slopes. Scandale once carried people and packhorses between Ambleside and Patterdale, before traffic shifted to the improved Kirkstone road. The mountain appears in Wainwright’s Eastern Fells guide.

Nearby hills

Middle Dodd lies to the north and Little Hart Crag beyond Scandale Pass. Fairfield and St Sunday Crag are other Eastern Fells summits. Adding them requires a separately planned outing; none is included in the two routes above.