Wasdale (pronounced as in was-dale, not waz-dale) is a valley in the western Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. The River Irt flows through the valley to its estuary at Ravenglass. A large part of the main valley floor is occupied by a lake called Wastwater, the deepest lake in England (258 feet). Further down the valley are the villages of Nether Wasdale and Gosforth.

The head of the valley is dominated by the mountains of Great Gable and the highest peak in England, Scafell Pike, which surround the small village of Wasdale Head. Near the village is St Olaf's Church, which is one of the smallest churches in England. Wasdale is famous amongst rock climbers as the home of British rock climbing. A classic route is Napes Needle on Great Gable.

Etymology

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The name came from Old Norse Vatnsdalr = "valley of the water".

External links

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• Wasdale website

Cumbria | Valleys of England