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16.86 km · ~682 m ascent · ~4.5–6 h · loop · 2 summits

Home / Routes / Whin Rigg, Illgill Head & the Wastwater Screes
Severe steepnessLoopPlanned

Whin Rigg, Illgill Head & the Wastwater Screes

16.86 km
Distance
~4.5–6 h
Typical time
~682 m
Ascent
2
Summits
Download GPX →Planned route · not yet walked

Key facts

Distance 16.86 km
Ascent ~682 m
Descent ~682 m
Time ~4.5–6 h
Best season Late spring to autumn, in clear and dry conditions. It’s a long, exposed day; near the edge in poor visibility is no place to be, and the tops are boggy in stretches.
Type Loop
Start Easthwaite Farm Car Park
The high, airy walk along the top of the Wastwater Screes — England’s most dramatic lakeshore, seen from directly above. A long Wasdale round over Whin Rigg and Illgill Head, the ground falling away in a single sweep to the deepest lake in the country. Big, wild and exposed, and best saved for a clear, dry day.

✎️ Whin Rigg and Illgill Head are the two fells that cap the Wastwater Screes, looking down England’s deepest lake. A magnificent but serious round — and the rule that matters most: resist any urge to drop down the Screes; the only safe way down is the walking route.

✎️ Planned route — drawn but not personally walked or checked yet. A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass. How to use this guide.

Difficulty profile

LengthHard16.86 km — a long day out.
SteepnessSevereSteepest sustained pull about 44% around the 2.2 km mark.
TerrainModerateGood tops with boggy stretches; the Screes flank is loose and dangerous — not a descent.
NavigationModerateBroadly clear along the tops, but boggy and vague in places — and the tempting line down the Screes must be resisted.
ExposureHardA high edge above the huge drop of the Wastwater Screes — keep well back from the crumbling rim.

Five independent axes, not one score — all field-checked on the ground here, with nothing left as a desk estimate.

Conditions on this route

We score every Lakeland Wainwright each morning on cloud, wind, rain and underfoot, and this route crosses 2 of them. The worst summit governs the verdict — a route is only as kind as its roughest top.

Modelled guidance — not a substitute for the mountain forecast or your own judgement. See how every fell ranks today →

Daylight & turnaround

By bus: the Wasdale Explorer reaches Nether Wasdale at 09:00 and the last one back leaves at 19:00. At a steady pace this walk finishes about 15:00. Be off Illgill Head by 15:16. Runs weekends and bank holiday Mondays in summer only. Check the timetable before you rely on it.

Daylight is short from October to February — check today’s sunrise and sunset before you set off, and carry a head-torch and spare batteries. On short days, decide your turn-back time before you start.

Why this matters: 78% of Mountain Rescue call-outs come after midday — the day runs out on the way home, not on the way up. See also walking in bad weather and today’s conditions.

OpenTopoMap
Elevation profile, shaded by steepness
Elevation profile Rises from about 57 m to 608 m over 16.9 km, with the summits marked in order. The area beneath is shaded by sustained steepness over a 250 m window, in the same four bands as the route’s steepness rating: Easy under 15%, Moderate 15 to 25%, Hard 25 to 35%, Severe above 35%. 608 m 57 m 0 km 16.9 km 12

1 Whin Rigg (Wasdale)2 Illgill Head

Easy 76%Moderate 14%Hard 5%Severe 5%

~682 m
Total ascent
608 m
High point
57 m
Start height

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right).

This walk covers about 16.86 km with around 682 m of ascent, taking in 2 summits. The map above shows the line; the elevation profile and stage notes are below.

Access & barriers

Can a dog, a buggy or dodgy knees manage this route? A quick read from the gates and stiles mapped along the way.

Dog
Mostly gates
Buggy
Not buggy-able
Knees
Tough descent
  • Dog: A stile of unmapped type — a dog may need lifting over.
  • Buggy: Not a pushchair route.
  • Knees: A long, steep ~36% drop around the 7.0 km mark — hard on the knees.

On the line: 14 gates · 1 kissing gate · 2 stiles (type unmapped)

These are mapped barriers, from OpenStreetMap — coverage in the Lakes is good but not guaranteed complete. Spotted a stile or gate we’ve missed? Tell us and we’ll fix it. Barrier data as of 2026-07-12. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).

Pacing

SummitCumulativeAscentTime (fast–steady)
1Whin Rigg (Wasdale)3.7 km493 m1:34–2:05
2Illgill Head6.1 km631 m2:16–3:01
Finish16.9 km682 m4:31–6:00

Naismith-based estimate — a fast/steady range. Your pace will vary. These use Naismith’s textbook constants (5 km/h, 600 m of ascent an hour). Measured against a pace fitted to 41 recorded Lakeland walks they run about 8% slow, and we have left them that way deliberately: a slow estimate strands nobody.

The walk, stage by stage

  1. 1

    Easthwaite Farm Car Park → Whin Rigg (Wasdale) (3.7 km, 493 m)

    Climb of about 493 m over 3.7 km (around 13% average).

    Starting from the southern tip of Wastwater near Easthwaite and Lund Bridge, this route bypasses the famous high peaks to tackle the dramatic southern wall of the valley. The ascent begins by climbing through the woods and intake walls, before breaking out onto the open fellside to tackle the long, grassy southern nose of Whin Rigg. The gradient is a persistent 13% pull over grassy, undulating terrain that gradually steepens as you approach the summit. The true character of the fell remains hidden until you reach the summit cairn, where the ground suddenly vanishes into a terrifying, vertical plunge down to Wastwater

    Waypoints

    Easthwaite / Lund Bridge (approx. 60m): The valley-bottom starting point near the River Irt. Great Bank: The broad, grassy shoulder marking the mid-point of the ascent. Whin Rigg Summit (535m): The top of the fell, marked by a cairn sitting unnervingly close to the edge of the Wastwater Screes

    Decision point

    Miterdale: The quiet, V-shaped valley of Miterdale runs parallel to your right (east) as you climb. The Ridge Line: The topography naturally funnels you upwards; simply keep climbing the path of least resistance until you hit the cliff edge

    Easy to get wrong

    False Summits: The southern approach is a series of grassy steps. You will encounter several false horizons before finally seeing the summit cairn. Summer Bracken: The lower slopes climbing out of the woodland are heavily choked with bracken in the summer, which can obscure the path and hide loose rocks. The Sudden Drop: The transition from a gentle, grassy ascent to a vertical cliff edge at the summit is abrupt and visually shocking. Keep dogs on a tight lead as you crest the top

    If you need to get off

    Before reaching the summit, the escape is incredibly straightforward: turn 180 degrees and walk back down the grassy slopes to the intake walls and the car park

  2. 2

    Whin Rigg (Wasdale) → Illgill Head (2.4 km, 138 m)

    Climb of about 138 m over 2.4 km (around 6% average).

    This is one of the most spectacular and vertigo-inducing ridge walks in Britain. The route connects Whin Rigg to Illgill Head by traversing the absolute lip of the Wastwater Screes. The walking itself is physically easy—a rolling, grassy path with a mild 6% gradient—but the geography is staggering. To your left, the fellside has collapsed, creating a two-mile-long sheer cliff and scree chute that plunges hundreds of feet directly into England's deepest lake

    Waypoints

    The Screes Edge: The continuous, crumbling cliff line connecting the two peaks. Illgill Head Summit (609m): The highest point of the ridge, marked by a cairn and offering unmatched views of the Scafell massif at the head of the valley

    Decision point

    The Cliff Edge: The precipice is an undeniable, immense visual handrail. Keep it to your left, at a safe distance, and follow it all the way to Illgill Head

    Easy to get wrong

    Lethal Drops: The drops to the left (north-west) are sheer, unstable, and fatal. The edge is constantly eroding. Do not stand near the rim for photos, and stay well back in high winds. Winter Cornices: In winter, snow overhangs (cornices) build up over this edge. Walking on them is a death sentence; give the edge a massive berth in snow conditions. Wind Exposure: This ridge forms a massive wall that catches winds funnelling up the lake. Crosswinds here can be fierce enough to knock you off balance

    If you need to get off

    Trap Warning: Under absolutely no circumstances should you attempt to descend the scree chutes directly down to the lake. Safe Route: If the wind becomes dangerous, bail to your right (south-east), dropping down the trackless, grassy slopes into the safe, sheltered valley of Miterdale

  3. Illgill Head → Finish (10.8 km, 51 m)

    About 10.8 km with 51 m of ascent.

    From the summit of Illgill Head, the route drops steadily north-east off the high ridge, descending the grassy slopes toward the head of Wastwater. From here, a massive 10+ kilometer walk-out begins. Depending on the exact GPX path, this long return leg either skirts inland via the tracks of Burnmoor Tarn and Miterdale, or tackles the infamous path along the south-eastern shoreline of Wastwater, right at the base of the Screes, to return to Easthwaite

    Waypoints

    The North-Eastern Descent: The grassy drop off Illgill Head toward Wasdale Head. Wasdale Head Hall Farm: The valley-bottom turning point at the head of the lake. The Return Leg: The massive 10km trek back to the starting point

    Decision point

    Wastwater: If on the shoreline or the road, the immense lake is your absolute handrail all the way back to the southern tip. Burnmoor Tarn Tracks: If returning inland, follow the established, wide bridleways that thread through the moorland between Wasdale and Eskdale

    Easy to get wrong

    The Shoreline Screes Path Hazard: If your GPX routes you along the base of the Screes by the edge of the lake, take extreme caution. This is not a flat walking path. It is a 3-mile, chaotic boulder field of car-sized, shifting rocks plunging directly into deep water. It is a notorious accident blackspot that requires hours of exhausting rock-hopping and scrambling. Mountain Rescue is frequently called for walkers who become trapped or break ankles here. Endurance: Regardless of the routing (whether the lake shore, the road on the opposite side, or the inland Miterdale tracks), a 10.8 km return leg is a massive test of stamina at the end of a mountain day

    If you need to get off

    Once you commit to the return leg, you are locked into a long walk. If you are on the Wastwater Screes shoreline path, there is no escape upwards (due to the cliffs) and no escape downwards (due to the deep lake). You must push through the boulder field to the end. Ensure you have ample daylight before attempting the shoreline route

Summits bagged (2)

  1. 1Whin Rigg (Wasdale)537 mSouthern · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge
  2. 2Illgill Head609 mSouthern · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge, Marilyn

In the order you walk them — the same numbers the elevation profile, the stage notes and the pacing table use.

Getting there & parking

Irton Fell car park — 0.1 km from the start (straight line)
2.0 km from Irton Fell. 40 vehicles (Lee, 9 Aug 2026). 98 m from the Whin Rigg / Illgill Head route start, whose nearest published pin was 2,361 m away. Fees: No pay-and-display machine; donation box (NT, checked Aug 2026). Free for NT members (checked Aug 2026).
Directions Something changed here?
Nether Wasdale car park (free) — 0.1 km from the start (straight line)
Walking base for Whin Rigg (Wasdale) and Illgill Head — the 'Whin Rigg, Illgill Head & the Wastwater Screes' route starts 101 m away. Free (OSM-tagged).
Directions Something changed here?
Roadside Parking, Harrow Head Farm, Wasdale (free) — 1.8 km from the start (straight line)
Nearest fells: Buckbarrow (0.9 km), Glade How (1.0 km). Free (community-reported).
Directions Something changed here?

Positions are approximate. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

Vehicles are left entirely at their owner’s risk. We list places people park; we cannot vouch for any of them. Judge it on the day: take valuables with you, leave nothing on show, and if a spot feels wrong when you get there, park somewhere else.

Every option near this start, on the parking map →

Water, shelter & getting away

💧 possible water source (45 m)🛖 Camping Barn (86 m)🚺 map (53 m)🚌 Nether Wasdale Car Park (105 m)

💧 Treat water from the fell before you drink it. A mapped point is usually a tap or public supply, but never drink untreated from a beck, stream or tarn — even clear-looking hill water can carry giardia or cryptosporidium from livestock or a carcass upstream and leave you seriously ill. Run it through a filter or purifier (a LifeStraw, Sawyer Squeeze or HydraPak) or bring it to a rolling boil first.

On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors — an absent marker does not mean the facility isn’t there.

Buses

We don’t know yet. Wasdale Explorer (seasonal) serves this area, but we don’t hold its stop positions, so we can’t measure the walk from it — and we won’t tell you to drive on the strength of a gap in our own data. Check the operator’s timetable.

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before travelling.

If the parking is full

If the first one is full, these do not all fill together. The 3 below sit in different places or are different kinds of parking, so a busy morning at one does not mean a busy morning at all of them.

  • Nether Wasdale car park (free)
  • Wasdale Head (NT car park)
  • Middle Fell car park

Worked out from the parking we hold within walking reach of this route and the other walks each place serves — two places that serve the same walks fill for the same reasons. We are not saying whether anywhere has spaces today, and we never will: this is what exists, not what is free.

When the sun reaches the tops

Not sunrise — the moment the sun clears the skyline from that summit, which on a fell with high ground to its east can be a good deal later. The two equinoxes are shown because they fall in the walking season, and late December too wherever a top keeps you waiting then; the clock gap between the equinoxes is British Summer Time, not the hill. Rounded to the nearest quarter hour and meant as a general idea, not a schedule.

  • Whin Rigg (Wasdale) — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:30, with the sunrise. In late September, about 07:00. It waits longest in midsummer — about a quarter of an hour after sunrise.
  • Illgill Head — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:30, with the sunrise. In late September, about 07:15. It waits longest in midsummer — about a quarter of an hour after sunrise.

Modelled from a 30 m elevation model against each summit’s own skyline — the same figures the fell pages carry, never observed. Cloud is not in it.

Safety & conditions

  • Do not try to cut the walk short down the Screes to the lake. It looks like a shortcut and is a serious mistake — the Wastwater Screes are steep, loose and boulder-choked, and the shoreline beneath them is a notorious, hazardous boulder-scramble, not an escape. The only safe way off is to finish the route.
  • A high, exposed edge above a huge drop to Wastwater — keep well back from the crumbling rim, especially in wind or poor visibility.
  • A long day (nearly 17 km, 680 m of ascent) with boggy stretches — carry map, compass and enough food and water, and start early.
  • Livestock on the lower fields; keep dogs under close control.

Check live conditions in the “From the fells” panel, on MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast before you set off.

Make it easier or harder

Short version: turn back at about 4.5 km (drop to Easthwaite Farm Car Park) — roughly half the distance.

Download

Download GPX

GPX track for your GPS or phone.

Places to stay near this start

Church Stile Farm And Holiday Park campsite

about 0.6 km from the start, in a straight line

At 0.59 km it is three times closer to this start than anything else in the radius, and it is the only one of the six where a family can walk to the pitch, the shop and a pub without moving the car: swings and climbing frames on site, pods sized for two adults and two children, and Nether Wasdale's two inns a stated two minutes away. Reception is also the shop - bread, local milk and eggs, gas, and a compass if yours is at home - which matters at a valley head with no other retail.

Reception doubles as the farm shop, selling meat produced in Wasdale alongside bread, local milk and eggs - and a small rack of walking kit.

  • Family rooms “Our 3 Pods are recent additions. Sleeping up to 4 (2 adults + 2 children) they offer a warm and dry base from which to explore this wonderful part of England.”
  • Children “Including a children's play area with swings and climbing frames, picnic tables, washroom facilities.”

Worth knowing before you book

These places state on their own site that they do not take children.

What each place says about itself, quoted from their own site. We have not stayed at any of them, and there are no prices, no booking and no affiliate links. Distances are straight lines from the route start, never walking times. Properties found via OpenStreetMap.

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