Yewbarrow, Red Pike, Scoat Fell, Pillar & Kirk Fell - Tuesday 13 May 2025
Route
Wasdale Head - Down in the Dale - Wastwater - Overbeck Bridge - Bell Rib - Great Door - Bell Crag - Yewbarrow - Dore Head - Chair Cairn - Red Pike - Scoat Fell - Black Crag - Wind Gap - Pillar - Black Sail Pass - Kirk Fell - Highnose Head - Wasdale Head
Parking
The Village Green at Wasdale Head (free). The Grid Reference is NY 18682 08508 and the nearest postcode is CA20 1EX.
Mileage
10.7 miles
Terrain
Very good mountain paths for the most part although care needs to be taken on the ascent of Bell Rib on Yewbarrow which requires careful but not difficult negotiation over loose stone and ideally should be left for a day with dry conditions. The descent of Kirk Fell is extremely steep and the upper section is loose scree therefore care needs to be taken.
Weather
Warm with the lightest of breezes. The visibility was excellent.
Time Taken
9hrs 20mins
Total Ascent
5656 ft (1724m)
Wainwrights
5
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Walkers
Dave with members of Lakeland Meet Ups
Wasdale Head - Down in the Dale - Wastwater - Overbeck Bridge - Bell Rib - Great Door - Bell Crag - Yewbarrow - Dore Head - Chair Cairn - Red Pike - Scoat Fell - Black Crag - Wind Gap - Pillar - Black Sail Pass - Kirk Fell - Highnose Head - Wasdale Head
Parking
The Village Green at Wasdale Head (free). The Grid Reference is NY 18682 08508 and the nearest postcode is CA20 1EX.
Mileage
10.7 miles
Terrain
Very good mountain paths for the most part although care needs to be taken on the ascent of Bell Rib on Yewbarrow which requires careful but not difficult negotiation over loose stone and ideally should be left for a day with dry conditions. The descent of Kirk Fell is extremely steep and the upper section is loose scree therefore care needs to be taken.
Weather
Warm with the lightest of breezes. The visibility was excellent.
Time Taken
9hrs 20mins
Total Ascent
5656 ft (1724m)
Wainwrights
5
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Walkers
Dave with members of Lakeland Meet Ups
GPX Files
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
Route Map
A final check of the kit before the off at Wasdale Head
Twelve of us out today on one of the Lake District's classic routes. The Mosedale Horseshoe is a route I have completed many times and it looked like we were in for a fantastic weather day.
Twelve of us out today on one of the Lake District's classic routes. The Mosedale Horseshoe is a route I have completed many times and it looked like we were in for a fantastic weather day.
From Wasdale Head we made our way down the road to Overbeck Bridge - if you want to include Yewbarrow on the walk then I'm afraid its a mile and a half of tarmac before it starts to get interesting. However one consolation is that the walk along the lakeshore of Wastwater is absolutely delightful, particularly looking over to Illgill Head.
Bell Rib at the top of Yewbarrow's south ridge from Overbeck Bridge
Lingmell, Scafell Pike, Scafell, Slight Side & Illgill Head from the start of the ascent to Yewbarrow
Looking back to Overbeck Bridge as we make the steep ascent to the base of Bell Rib
Lingmell & The Scafells with Slight Side over to the right
Dropping Crag as we make our ascent to Great Door
The fantastic view through Great Door to Scafell & Slight Side - Wastwater sits below
Illgill Head, Whin Rigg & Wastwater with Bell Rib occupying the foreground beyond the cleft of Great Door
Looking over Knott Ends to Middle Fell & Seatallan
Bell Rib from a little further along the ridge
The Scafell group in all their glory with Mickledore dead centre
On a day like today the ascent of the south ridge was an absolute delight - cameras out!!
Kirk Fell & Great Gable with Sty Head to the right
My walking companions on the summit of Yewbarrow
Looking over to Red Pike from Yewbarrow's summit with Wind Gap to the right. We would be climbing the route to the right once we had made our descent to Dore Head.
On a day like today I would ordinarily have continued along the ridge to Yewbarrow's North Top and descended to Dore Head via the tricky scramble down via Stirrup Crag. However, I was leading a group of 11 other people today therefore I utilised the safer side path to Dore Head which is reached approximately 1/4 a mile further north from Yewbarrow's summit. The side path can be located at Grid Reference NY 17461 08806.
Having safely negotiated the side path we arrived at Dore Head - this view is of the descent from Yewbarrow's North Top via Stirrup Crag
A little further around to the north and the fangs of Dore Head come into view with Scafell Pike providing the backdrop
A superb panorama across Mosedale from the ascent to Red Pike - Looking Stead, Black Sail Pass, Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Sty Head, Great End, The Scafells & Yewbarrow
Ascending Red Pike looking back to Yewbarrow with The Scafells beyond - our side path descent from Yewbarrow can just about be seen slanting across the fell side
About a 100 or so yards from the main path at Grid Reference NY 16555 10051 is the Chair Cairn - worth a visit
Low Tarn from the Chair Cairn with Middle Fell beyond
Looking into Mosedale from the summit of Red Pike
Black Crag, Wind Gap & Pillar from Red Pike - we would be over there soon
Looking back to Red Pike from the approach to Scoat Fell
Steeple from the summit of Scoat Fell
The Mosedale Horseshoe can be extended to include an out & back to Steeple - had we not planned to include Kirk Fell today we would have visited this lovely summit.
The Mosedale Horseshoe can be extended to include an out & back to Steeple - had we not planned to include Kirk Fell today we would have visited this lovely summit.
Black Crag & Pillar from Scoat Fell
Steeple across Mirk Cove
Red Pike's impressive eastern face from near Black Crag
The group descends from Black Crag to Wind Gap
Wind Gap with Pillar beyond as we descend from Black Crag
Mosedale from the cairn at Wind Gap and what a view it is. Kirk Fell to the left with Great Gable beyond then the Scafells with Lingmell in the foreground.
Wind Gap from the ascent of Pillar looking back to Black Crag, Scoat Fell & Steeple - the fell distant left is Haycock
The summit of Pillar
My walking companions on the summit of Pillar - still smiling which was comforting!
Looking into Ennerdale to Pillar Rock
Our next summit of Kirk Fell across the head of Mosedale
Approaching the top of the Black Sail Pass with Kirkfell Crags ahead. The main route up the fell follows an old fence line and this is the way we would ascend today. Once we reached the top of the pass, 7 members of the group returned to Wasdale Head via Gatherstone Head & Mosedale whilst the other 5 headed to Kirk Fell.
One of the old fence posts as we follow them up the north face of Kirk Fell - the posts are the remains of the Lonsdale Estate boundary fence which once enclosed much of Ennerdale. The Black Sail Pass is below with Black Crag to the left, Pillar, Looking Stead, the High Stile Ridge and the Grasmoor group in the far right distance.
Continuing along the fence line as we pause for a breather on the ascent of Kirk Fell
Scrambling over, the gradient eases as we approach the summit
Looking Stead, the High Stile Ridge and the Grasmoor group from near Kirk Fell's summit
My now reduced in number walking companions on the summit of Kirk Fell
My finest catalogue pose as I look to Great Gable from Kirk fell's summit
Lingmell & The Scafells from our descent of Kirk Fell
The steep, steep descent down the southern face of Kirk Fell via Highnose Head. I had originally planned to descend to Wasdale via Rib End, Beck Head and the Gavel Neese path. However having never descended via the nose before I was willing to give it a try - thankfully my walking companions were up for it too. The steepness is relentless for just over half a mile and a difficult scree section has to be negotiated however we had perfect conditions for it today.
Wasdale Head sits below as we keep to the right of the final scree section. Once the scree has been left behind, the remainder of the descent is on steep grass. At this moment in time I was really looking forward to a cold beer in the Wasdale Head Inn.
A little further down and the gradient shows no sign of easing
Looking back up our route of descent - photos do not portray how steep this actually is
The intricate wall system of the fields at Wasdale Head with Lingmell beyond
At last - respite from the steepness as we reach the bottom of the descent. A large boulder can be seen up ahead and this is the point where the gradient eases - or increases if you are going the other way. Having now done this route in ascent & descent I know which I prefer - definitely going up!
The old packhorse bridge over Mosedale Beck at Wasdale Head - it was now time for that ice cold beer