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

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.

​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.

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.

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

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