⛰️ Illgill Head

📖 Key Information

Illgill Head at 609m (1,998ft) is the highest point of the famous Wastwater Screes — one of the most dramatic and photographed features in the Lake District. Wainwright described the view from Illgill Head looking down the screes to Wastwater as one of the most awe-inspiring in Lakeland. The screes themselves are best viewed from the opposite shore of the lake. The ascent from Wasdale Head via Burnmoor Tarn gives an excellent approach with fine views of the Scafell group throughout. Combined naturally with Whin Rigg for a circuit above the screes.

🎯 Bonus Birketts within 3 km

These Birkett tops are not Wainwright summits — detour to them on this walk and they are pure profit. Distances are straight-line; allow extra for terrain.

🦶 My hikes over Illgill Head (Strava)

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🅿️ Potential parking

Positions are approximate — zoom the map to confirm. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

🚌 Buses from Penrith / Ambleside / Windermere

No regular bus serves the start points for this fell — this is one for the car (or a long approach from the nearest served valley). The nearest hubs are Penrith (X4/X5 & 508), Ambleside and Windermere (555, 505, 516).

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before relying on a last bus.

🌦️ 7-day summit forecast

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Other fells in this region

• Base Brown
• Brandreth
• Buckbarrow
• Burnbank Fell
• Caw Fell
• Crag Fell
• Fleetwith Pike
• Great Borne
• Great Gable
• Green Gable
• Grey Knotts
• Grike
• Haycock
• Haystacks (Buttermere)
• Hen Comb
• High Crag (Buttermere)
• High Stile
• Kirk Fell
• Lank Rigg
• Mellbreak (Mellbreak South Top)
• Middle Fell
• Pillar
• Red Pike (Buttermere)
• Red Pike (Wasdale)
• Scoat Fell (Little Scoat Fell)
• Seatallan
• Starling Dodd
• Steeple
• Whin Rigg (Wasdale)
• Yewbarrow