The ascent of Red Screes from Ambleside is, by Lakeland fell walking standards, fairly easy. The route suggested, although short, is that of a classical mountain climb; the valley approach, the climb to a col, followed by the summit section, and then from the isolated top the descent down the long ridge. If the fells have characters, then Red Screes is a friendly mountain, and despite carrying Kirkstone and Scandale Passes on its shoulders it presents a bold front to all sides.
[1] Start at the Market Cross by the Tourist Information Centre and take the narrow North Road. Pass the white walled Unicorn Hotel and at the first junction go right up Kirkstone Road. Then take the first left into Sweden Bridge Lane. At the junction with Belle View Lane keep right. At the junction with Ellerig Road keep left. As the lane climbs, it loses its top coat and becomes a walkers’ track. Pass two drives on the right and, walking along the main track, reach a gate leading to a path between high walls. A second gate leads into a section of woodland. The Scandale Beck can be both heard and seen below as it rushes down to meet the river Rothay. Continue on this track, and soon reach a third gate. From this gate round a corner, and to your left is High Sweden Bridge.
(A)The bridge stands above an impressive series of waterfalls, but perhaps it is the bridge itself which is of the most interest. This is one of the old pack horse bridges, probably built in the period 1660-1760. In summer this area around the bridge is often busy with family groups.
[2] Do not cross the bridge. Instead keep going on between walls until these end at a wooden gate. Keep on across boggy grass, fording tributaries of the beck then the beck itself to get to the left hand end of the wall ahead of you. Follow the wall uphill, then after 200yd go through a wooden gate and keep on, now with the wall on your left. Go through a gap in a cross wall then veer off right up a fairly indistinct path towards the col of Scandale Pass (SD 388096) which is marked by a ladder stile.
[3] Go over the stile and right uphill following the stone wall which leads from the col to within about 150 feet of the summit. Follow the path, distinct for the most part, on the Patterdale side of the wall until, on leaving its protection, the top is gained directly ahead over the open fell.There are three cairns on the summit of Red Screes, a small one ahead of you, a larger one to your right and the true summit to your left marked by a triangulation pillar and a large cairn.
(B)Red Screes is flanked on its southern, eastern and northern sides by the crags and screes that give it its name. In the centre of many interesting fells, the top is a good vantage point, but particularly in winter and spring, when the eastern fells are plastered with snow.
[4] A long ridge leads from the top in a generally southwesterly direction, in other words from the summit past the smaller and larger cairns. Follow this mainly grassy ridge for about a mile past a slight summit on the left (Snarker Pike) to reach a slight rocky mound behind which there is a cross-wall with a ladder stile to the bottom right (SD 387070). Ignore the gaps in the wall.
[5] Cross the stile and go forward down a rough path which quickly becomes a green lane which you follow down until it reaches the ‘Struggle', the Ambleside to Kirkstone road. Turn right, and within a mile regain Ambleside. The quickest way back is to turn left into Fairview Road and then go down Peggy Hill.