Trekking across Britain’s stunning countryside offers a delightful experience that countless people enjoy – and the risks are typically quite manageable, provided one comes equipped with a fully charged mobile and sufficient water supplies.
However, one TikTok user pushed the peril factor to extraordinary heights recently when he tackled one of Britain’s most treacherous walks.
Social media star and TikTok content creator Phil Carr ventured to the Lake District to conquer the hazardous route of Wasdale Screes, a stretch of unstable, loose stones positioned along Wast Water’s edge.
The trail bears more resemblance to mountaineering than casual rambling, with locals and walkers alike frequently cautioning against this route due to the numerous chances for tumbles or sprained ankles.
Climbing the perilous incline, Phil observed: “The scariest path in the UK? This is it, and yes, Wasdale Screes is an actual footpath, and it’s terrifying. Everyone said ‘don’t do it’ and I couldn’t find anybody who’d walked across it more than once in their lives.”
While trails such as Giddy Edge in Derbyshire, which practically follows a cliff’s rim, and The Broomway in Essex, where ramblers can swiftly become cut off by incoming tides, Wasdale presents a completely different threat – numerous precarious boulders strewn across a mountainside above.
Phil continued: “Wasdale Screes is over 1,000 feet of rock slide just above your head. It’s insecure, it’s steep, it can all go at any minute, and the route across it is over a mile.”
The Lake District trail starts misleadingly with rolling emerald hills peppered with sheep and even alpacas, until the route diverts towards Wasdale, where even the National Trust signpost cautions the trek is “not recommended”.
Clad in Mountain Warehouse and having reminded himself how to make an SOS call via his mobile, Phil pressed ahead, observing: “Another massive red flag is that there were quite a lot of people in this part of the Lake District, but none of them were going down the path I was going down.”
Locals cautioned Phil to stay low while traversing the screes, with what seemed like miles of precarious rocks looming above.
The TikTok user went on: “Normally when you’re walking along a scary path you’re worrying about a drop to one side of you, here you’re worrying about what’s above you, it could all come crashing down on me… they wouldn’t even find me.”
Phil seemed rather rattled by the experience. He continued: “It’s not at all rewarding, but it is absolutely terrifying and it is very slow – a mile is a long way when you have to think about every footstep you take.”
Finally, contemplating whether he would tackle the route again, Phil declared: “Well, absolutely not, it’s completely pointless, you don’t get any sense of achievement, the view of the mountains is actually better from the other side of the lake.”
For those seeking a more leisurely and secure stroll around the Lake District, consider these options…
Loughrigg Fell: A favoured and relatively straight-forward walk (6 miles circular route) boasting breathtaking views of the surrounding area, ranked as the top hike in the Lake District on Alltrails.
Orrest Head Walk: A brief 20-minute uphill stroll from Windermere village, offering panoramic vistas of Lake Windermere and the neighbouring mountains. This trail is suitable for beginners and is wheelchair and pushchair accessible.
Catbells Lakeland Walk: Situated near Keswick, this 3-mile walk offers stunning views of Derwentwater and the surrounding countryside. It features an easy-to-follow path and some gentle scrambling.
Castle Crag, Borrowdale: The lowest of Wainwright’s 214 fells, providing impressive views along Derwentwater to Skiddaw. The final section can be slippery on the descent.
Borrowdale Loop: An easy to moderate 14.5km walk through beautiful valleys, perfect for cloudy days. It includes stunning waterfalls like Black Moss Pot and Galleny Force.
Little Langdale & Elterwater: A moderate, 10.6 km walk exploring valleys, featuring waterfalls like Skelwith Force and Colwith Force, and the picturesque Slater Bridge.