Walk 96 - Pillar ridge

Walk 96 - Pillar Ridge - 28th April 2025
Wainwright's Walking Guide to the Lake District Fells - Book 7 The Western Fells
#36 Haycock (revisit) 2615 ft #35 Scoat Fell (revisit) 2759 ft #212 Steeple 2687 ft #34 Pillar (revisit) 2927 ft	Distance	12.5 miles
	Time	10 hrs
	Lowest Point	205 ft
	Highest Point	2927 ft
	Total Ascent	3854 ft
Walk Rating - tough

Mini Route Map
(larger map at the bottom)

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///glow.grad.winks


	9.14 We set our alarms early and were down for breakfast at 7. Unfortunately it was a Saturday and breakfast didn't start until 8. When we eventually got to Wasdale the few places near Netherbeck were full so we parked at Overbeck. It didn't really make any difference, just slightly less to walk later.

	9.19 Walking back along the road was quite peaceful. I'd forgotten how close it is to the lake at this point.


	9.28 Turning off the road we began the walk uphill. The computer had said three and a half hours to the ridge and eleven for the total walk. We had set the target of reaching the ridge by 12.30, so in theory we were already 15 minutes behind. We knew that the pub in Wasdale Head stopped doing food at 9pm so it was critical to make that. Yewbarrow, Great Gable and the Scafells in the morning light.

	9.37 The path above Netherbeck was a good slope. Steep enough to make progress but not so steep that we had to keep stopping.

	12.39 We settled in for a long steady pace.

	10.17 The path levels off completely for a bit and gets quite close to the beck.

	10.50 As we rise further we spot a group of four people and a dog ahead of us. (We eventually caught them up on Haycock.) We spent a while trying to work out what the fell was directly in front of us. Initially I thought it was Haycock but the path turned left after that large rock so that means it couldn't be because we were ascending to the right of Haycock. It is in fact the south-western corner of Scoat Fell.

	11.12 After making that left turn we now start to rise steeply for a little while. Looking back we can see how much the valley has twisted. Middle Fell and Seatallan in the distance behind us.


	11.54 We reached the ridge at 11.45 - 45mins ahead of schedule. I have just chatted to the guy in the picture who is now heading down the way we came up, and am now heading up Haycock.



	12.09 Panorama 1077 Haycock summit (Wainwright #36 revisit 2615 ft). Very happy to be here for 12 o'clock meaning we are now an hour ahead of schedule.


	12.11 On top of Haycock, near the wall. The weather a lot nicer than last time. At this point we decided to give Caw Fell a miss today which meant that we are now two hours ahead of schedule and can stop worrying about time completely.


	12.17 Descending back down Haycock with Scoat Fell and Steeple ahead.



	12.35 Panorama 1078 Ascending Scoat Fell and looking back at Haycock.


	12.57 Standing on the side of Scoat Fell looking down at Steeple. We left our bags here, weighed down with rocks because it was starting to get quite breezy.


	13.04 The 10 minute trip across to steeple was not too difficult but care was need particularly as the wind was wihistling through the low point.



	13.17 Panorama 1079 Steeple summit. Wainwright #212 2687 ft


	13.18 We met Star on the summit who was completing her 2nd round of Wainwrights - so two medals!

	13.18 Looking down the Steeple ridge towards Ennerdale.

	13.30 The wind had dropped for the trip back to Scoat Fell.


	13.32 Panorama 1080 Scoat Fell summit looking north over Steeple.

	14.01 Panorama 1081 After lunch behind the wall - Scoat Fell summit looking south.


	14.04 Heading across the top of Scoat Fell towards Pillar.

	14.05 Pillar.

	14.05 Looking back at Steeple.

	14.08 Red Pike.


	14.11 Crossing the very rocky section at the edge of Scoat Fell.



	14.14 Panorama 1082 Dropping of Scoat Fell



	14.21 Panorama 1083 Looking at Steeple over Mirk Cove .



	14.23 Panorama 1084 Looking down Mosedale with a bright green Wasdale Head in the distance.



	14.32 Panorama 1085 Black Crag summit.

14.35 Leaving Black Crag.

14.47 Windy Gap. Here we are approaching the most difficult bit of today.This rocky part ahead of us was a steep scramble for a few minutes and I had to put away my camera and poles and use both hands to get up it safely.

You can just make out two people coming down through the rocks on the side of Pillar - a fell runner in black and a man in blue. The man in blue was holding an SLR in one hand as he clambered down and he eventually headed down the scree towards Wasdale Head following the brown mark on the right. That route is generally not recommended by walkers although he did seem to make good progress for as far as we could see.



	15.23 Panorama 1086 Pillar summit looking north.



	15.28 Panorama 1087 Pillar summit looking south.

	15.36 Pillar summit and a comparison with 2018.


	15.47 Pillar in the background.

	15.48 A glimpse of the top of Pillar Rock above the valley.


	15.51 Descending Pillar. We are looking for Looking Stead and making sure we don't miss it, although we are actually still well above it and have another awkward downward scramble to go before we find it.


	16.13 Brandreth and Green Gable on the other side of the valley.

	16.13 Yewbarrow, 2 parts of Wastwater, Burnmoor Tarn and Eel Tarn.

	16.15 Looking Stead comes into view but just beyond those sheep is another steep rocky bit.


	16.39 High Crag, Seat and Scarth Gap on the other side of the valley.


	16.48 Panorama 1088 Looking Stead summit.


	16.50 The sides of Kirk Fell and Yewbarrow grip Mosedale.

	16.54 Looking across at Kirk Fell we are trying to spot the gully that we climbed up in 2021.


	16.54 It is partially hidden from here but certainly looks very steep.



	17.02 Panorama 1089 Another visit to the top of Black Sail Pass.


	17.07 The famous gate with no fence at the top of the pass.

	17.09 Starting down Black Sail Pass towards Wasdale Head.


	17.26 On the side of the fell above Gatherstone Beck.

	17.47 Refreshing the feet as we cross Gatherstone Beck.

	18.29 Approaching Wasdale Head where dinner and a pint awaits.After dinner we walked down the road for 40mins back to Overbeck. Optimistic hitching on the road was unsuccessful as there was virtually no traffic but it was an easy walk and we arrived as the first raindrops fell.