How to get to Scafell Pike trails from Windermere

Go to Ambleside , take the local bus to Dungeon Ghyll (Langdale) and then start walking.
http://www.golakes.co.uk/travel/Ramblers.aspx

You are aware that there isn't a waymarked trail up Scafell Pike, aren't you? There is a track of lower than surrounding stones, and a few cairns, but if cloud is low or mist covers fells, you need to be able to use a map and compass, and should carry one when you set out, as even if weather looks fine, it can change with time and altitude. There's good value accommodation, Great Langdale Bunkhouse, beside Sticklebarn Tavern, near Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in Langdale, which would be a good base for more time in hills.

The train line ends at Windermere. Buses throughout the Lake District leave from the Windermere train station, so that is where you would get the bus to Ambleside.

Thank you all for the quick answers. Considering there is a good bus system linking the towns, I will set base camp in Ambleside and save some time to transit to the start of a trail. Is the District crowed in mid-June? Is there any web sites from which I can download the trails into my GPS?

Thanks

The lakes seem to be crowded any time I go there, and will be very busy in June. Best to avoid Windermere as much as possible - it seems the ratio of regular houses to B&Bs is about 1:1.

You are aware that there isn't a waymarked trail up Scafell Pike, aren't you? There is a track of lower than surrounding stones, and a few cairns, but if cloud is low or mist covers fells, you need to be able to use a map and compass, and should carry one when you set out, as even if weather looks fine, it can change with time and altitude.

Certainly there isn't a yellow stick every 100 yards, like I've seen on paths in other countries, but then that's true on all mountains in the lakes. Exact conditions depend upon which exactly which route you take (the most obvious paths are those from Wasdale Head and Borrowdale, which are a long way from Ambleside by public transport). But due to heavy footfall, the paths up SP are mostly very well visible underfoot, except for a few hundred yards near the very top of the mountain which comprises a boulder field. You need to be able to leave the top in the correct direction and find the path again, a distance of a few hundred yards. In the event that you can't orient yourself, provided you haven't gone up there at some ridiculous hour or in ridiculous weather, then before long quite a few other people will arrive, and hopefully before very long someone responsible enough to have brought a compass to point you in the right direction through the fog. But certainly you should take a map and be able to read it, as from Gt Langdale walking up Scafell Pike isn't just a "head straight up the mountain in front of you" walk, at Gt Langdale the mountain isn't in front of you.

SP is on my "to-do" list. A little concerned about the fog thing but if there are other hikkers then that would help. Will look into the map and compass issue too. If I start early morning from Wasdale Head, would I be able to make it up and down within one day?

5 to 6 hours max