Whin Rigg
535m (1756ft)
The Southern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
You can find Whin Rigg & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
See Whin Rigg and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
See Whin Rigg and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Maps:
*Walk & bag all 30 Wainwrights in The Southern Fells area of The Lake District in just 11 easy-to-follow circular walks.
*This version is marked with the walk routes you need to follow to Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 walks. Click here for more information.
NB: Whether you print off a copy on to paper or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers Maps will prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal!
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.75ml (14km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,347ft (715m) |
| Time: | 5½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Miterdale Bridge - Porterthwaite - Miterdale Forest - Irton Fell - Greathall Gill - Whin Rigg - Illgill Head - Burnmoor Tarn - Burnmoor Lodge - Eskdale Moor - Ellerhow Moss - Boat How - Low Longrigg - River Mite - Low Place Farm - Miterdale Bridge
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9ml (14.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,402ft (732m) |
| Time: | 5.75hrs |
| Grade: | (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Wasdale Head - (National Trust Campsite) - Wast Water - Lingmell Gill - Illgill Head - Whin Rigg - Greathall Gill - Wasdale Hall Youth Hostel - Wast Water - Wasdale Head
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 15.25ml (24.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,841ft (1,475m) |
| Time: | 10½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Very Hard) |
Route Summary:
Wasdale Head - (National Trust Campsite) - Wast Water - Lingmell Gill - Illgill Head - Whin Rigg - Greathall Gill - Low Wood - Lund Bridge - Woodhow Farm - Woodhow Tarn - Scale Farm - Tosh Tarn - Gill Farm - Gill Beck - Buckbarrow - Cold Well - Nether Wasdale Common - Seatallan - Windscale Hows - Middle Fell (Wasdale) - Greendale Farm - Nether Beck - Overbeck Bridge - Wasdale Head - Wast Water.
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Whin Rigg
Caroline Winter walked up Whin Rigg on October 13th, 2024 [from/via/route] Wasdale road, NT car park, Illgill head, Whinn Rigg, gill, river Irt, Wastwater [with] Solo [weather] Warm, wind 10mph, clear views over Soloway & Wasdale Fells - Change from yesterday of max 44 mph winds in Wasdale Head. Interesting to view mountain face walking along river Irt & nice walk through coppice. Dipped in Wastwater before driving off.
Geoff Hand climbed Whin Rigg on June 29th, 2024 [from/via/route] Walk C440 Whin Rigg, Illgill Head from Miterdale Bridge [with] Claire my daughter [weather] Cold claggy & wet - did the walk as part of the Wainwright Challenge 2024, which was to put someone on top of every Wainwright in one day. Unfortunately it was a wet & miserable day. We didn't get to see a thing. We missed our Boat How as it would have meant walking infront of Burnmoor Tarn which looked really wet & boggy.It is an outlying Wainwright in any case so wouldn't count.
Ian Ashton bagged Whin Rigg on March 29th, 2024 [with] Solo
Pete George hiked Whin Rigg on December 13th, 2023 [from/via/route] Wasdale [with] Roco [weather] Quite pleasant
James Hughes summited Whin Rigg on July 9th, 2023 [from/via/route] From Wasdale Head Inn through NT campsite over Illgill Head & Whinn Rigg, back up Miterdale. [with] Paul [weather] Beautiful day, some cloud to start with & that cleared & was warmer when dropped back into valley. - Couple of Ritson's & an underwhelming Pork Pie before a drive back over Hard Knott Pass - lovely weekend.
Christine Shepherd conquered Whin Rigg on August 18th, 2009 [from/via/route] Walked from Wasdale Head using walk c116 Climbed again from Eskdale on a glorious day on 20.07.2021 Climbed for a third time from Eskdale on a very hot, humid day. 12.6.23 [with] On my own [weather] Rainy & misty
Richard Marchant scaled Whin Rigg on September 29th, 2022 [from/via/route] Parked at a small car park at Porterthwaite in Miterdale. From here I took a NW route up through the forest onto Irton Fell & then I followed the ridge NE up to Whin Rigg. Then I carried on in a NE direction taking the nearest path to the tops of The Screes of Wast Water on to Illgill Head. from here I carried on in a NE direction to the pass then turn to a SW direction & on to Tongue Moor above Burnmoor Tarn & basically back down through Miterdale to the car. [with] On my Own [weather] Sunny clear day with no breeze.
Victoria Bates walked up Whin Rigg on June 1st, 2022 [from/via/route] Irton Fell car park with Whinn Rigg [with] Mark and Tabitha [weather] Cool, no wind or rain
Julie Clough climbed Whin Rigg on October 10th, 2021 [from/via/route] Wastwater shore loop, via Ilgill Head. [with] Myself & my healing broken toe [weather] Sunny but windy - Hard work with toe & lost fitness but stupendous views
Richard Annett bagged Whin Rigg on July 31st, 2021 [from/via/route] Porterthwaite little car park [with] Euan [weather] Cloudy & rainy - Bower House Inn, Akash & Premier Inn. Ludicrous hottie at pub.
Charlotte Hewson hiked Whin Rigg on March 31st, 2021 [from/via/route] Irton car park to Illgill via Whin Rigg [with] Emma (sis) [weather] Tad misty - Longer walk than I thought, slow going
John Fenwick summited Whin Rigg on October 4th, 2020 [from/via/route] Walked from Wasdale head carpark. [with] Romany [weather] Sunny with some clouds & not too windy - Followed Walk c116 to Whin Rig but after talking to a couple of walkers decided not to follow the walk back along the bank of Wast Water due to being too rocky. Instead we continued on strait to Miterdale forest then droped left to return past Burnmoor Tarn.
Richard Beardsley conquered Whin Rigg on September 20th, 2019 [from/via/route] Used part of Route C116 On summiting Illgill Head & Whin Rigg we retraced back to the start point. [with] Gillian. [weather] Lovely sunny day. - Parked at Campsite, (£7 all day), & commenced walk at 0945hrs. Ideal weather conditions attracting lots of walkers for Scafell Pike. Arrived back at 1415hrs after our walk along the ridge above Wast Water. Thoroughly enjoyable day.
Liz Sheerin scaled Whin Rigg on August 27th, 2020 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head [with] Neil [weather] Cloudy, bit misty muzzle rain at the end - Camping in Wasdale Head
Wayne Baxter walked up Whin Rigg on August 12th, 2020 [from/via/route] From Irton Pike cr park straight path up to Whin Rigg & then onto Illgill Head. [with] Sue [weather] Bright sun very hot
Stephen Eddy climbed Whin Rigg on August 8th, 2020 [from/via/route] Boot via Illgill head [with] Mike Woodhouse, Tony Harris, Martin Bayliss [weather] Very hot
Paul Macey bagged Whin Rigg on July 16th, 2020 [from/via/route] After Illgill Head [weather] Low cloud
Andrew Johnson hiked Whin Rigg on February 7th, 2020 [from/via/route] Heather Wasdale [with] Ted [weather] Blue skies
Richard Marshall summited Whin Rigg on November 28th, 2019 [from/via/route] C440 [with] Bo [weather] Cloudy wet start sunny later.
Phillip Bulley conquered Whin Rigg on July 12th, 2019 [from/via/route] Via Illgill Head. [with] Ruby. [weather] Sunny & warm.
Jamie Bryan scaled Whin Rigg on August 13th, 2019 [from/via/route] c116 [weather] Sunny & clear. Can see all the way to the coast & Sellafield
Christina Lander walked up Whin Rigg on June 26th, 2019 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head - Illgill Head - Whin Rigg - The Screes - Wasdale Head [with] Dick & Meg [weather] Warm & dry, sunny spells - The boulder field with the dog was challenging!
Elaine Evans climbed Whin Rigg on May 17th, 2019 [from/via/route] From car park beside Forest Bridge at Nether Wasdale up to Whin Rigg then continued to Illgill Head before retracing our steps to Whin Rigg. Descended on a clear path which tracked diagonally across the fell to join main path through farm & back to car. [with] Sue [weather] Glorious day - sunshine, light breeze. - Amazing views - able to see some tops still to do. Future walks planned.
John Almond bagged Whin Rigg on July 14th, 2018 [from/via/route] Solo walk from Wasdale Head NT car park - Illgill Head - WHIN RIGG - Illgill Head - Wainwright 144 [weather] Warm, but rather cloudy until mid afternoon
Chris Sheard hiked Whin Rigg on April 9th, 2018 [from/via/route] Up from Strands Inn through steep gill to ridge passing through to Ill gill. fabulous day [with] George [weather] Started & finished with broken cloud & sun - Very steep up & nice circuit
Tracey Cowell summited Whin Rigg on March 27th, 2018 [from/via/route] Irton Pike [with] Andy and Billy [weather] cold & cloudy, rain showers
Craig Steeland conquered Whin Rigg on August 30th, 2017 [from/via/route] From car park near Santon Bridge below Irton Pike [with] Sue [weather] Partly cloudy & cool with light winds - Muddy & heavy going underfoot. Not a walk that will be repeated. Took & out & back route rather than walking along the road or along Wasdale Screes.
Simon Boddy scaled Whin Rigg on June 25th, 2017 [from/via/route] Eskdale [with] HF Holidays [weather] Sunny & breezy
John Walter walked up Whin Rigg on May 6th, 2017 [from/via/route] . [with] Tricia
Richard Fulcher climbed Whin Rigg on May 2nd, 2017 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head [with] Jen [weather] Sunny, clear blue sky, windy - The path up from Wasdale Head was well marked & firm under foot. The tops were very pleasant but the walk down Greathall Gill was tricky & it wasn't easy to find the path near the bottom. However, by far the worst part of the walk (sometimes dangerous) was along the shore of the lake with many scree slopes to navigate across - loose boulders & rocks. We were late back after 10.5 hours.
Anthony Scott bagged Whin Rigg on May 2nd, 2017 [from/via/route] YHA Wasdale Hall [with] me [weather] White cloud, lots of sun. Lovely!
John Tippins hiked Whin Rigg on February 14th, 2017 [from/via/route] Scaly Moss [weather] Bright, beautiful, sunny day but with very strong winds gusting at 50mph. Made ascents difficult. - Didn't fancy the return walk along the screes, as suggested on this website. I don't like walking on screes & especially so close to the deepest lake in Cumbria - too eerie. Met a guy on the ridge who confirmed my view. "It's horrible, absolutely horrible", he said. Returned via the ridge. And the wind was still really fierce - kept well away from the edge.
Mark Davidson summited Whin Rigg on April 16th, 2009 [with] Mike [weather] Good - nice & sunny - Had been up both Whin Rigg & Illgill Head before but the main purpose of the walk was to bag Boat How.
Clive Ward conquered Whin Rigg on July 23rd, 2016 [from/via/route] Porterthwaite. Irton Fell, Whin Rigg, Illgill Head then back via Burnmoor Tarn [with] Solo [weather] Fair, some sun. Tops clear - good views down to Wastewater - 3 days after Alexandra arrived. I drove back to lodge from Manchester on 22nd
Dave Eyes scaled Whin Rigg on May 11th, 2016 [from/via/route] Illgill Head [with] Christine Eyes [weather] Sunny
Charlie Housley walked up Whin Rigg on June 2nd, 2016 [from/via/route] Parked up at the car park at the base of Iron Pike & followed the good path along Irton Fell. [with] Solo. [weather] Glorious. Not a cloud in the sky.
Jan Dixon climbed Whin Rigg on October 17th, 2015 [from/via/route] Miterdale [with] Tia and Anya [weather] Sunny but very windy
Tony Rogerson bagged Whin Rigg on March 29th, 2014 [from/via/route] Eskdale Green & Burnmoor Tarn [with] Darren Floss Robbie & Ruby [weather] High cloud
Harry Meijer hiked Whin Rigg on September 3rd, 2015 [from/via/route] The Wasdale Screes [with] The Lake District Walker
David Noble summited Whin Rigg on June 22nd, 2015 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head [with] Solo [weather] Overcast brighter later
Andy Betesta conquered Whin Rigg on June 8th, 2015 [from/via/route] Miterdale Forest [with] Wendy, Jane, Alan, Chris & Derek [weather] Windy but warm
Christine Knowles scaled Whin Rigg on May 11th, 2015 [from/via/route] from Wasdale Head Inn via Ilgill Head [with] Graham [weather] Windy & cloud right down so no views at all, mostly.
Kevin Parnham walked up Whin Rigg on August 6th, 2014 [from/via/route] Illgill Head & back via Wastwater Screes [with] Jo and Charlotte [weather] Generally ok but cloudy on the summit - great views over wastwater
Keith Eastman climbed Whin Rigg on August 4th, 2014 [from/via/route] c116
Derek Parkin bagged Whin Rigg on June 16th, 2014 [from/via/route] wastdale head [with] Lynn Parkin [weather] sunshine little cloud
Steve Frank hiked Whin Rigg on November 3rd, 2007 [from/via/route] Boot [with] Jackie Frank [weather] Windy
Joanne Mcgawley summited Whin Rigg on December 28th, 2013 [from/via/route] Mitredale [with] Rich [weather] Cool, damp & muddy! - 9.34 Miles
Darren Mortimer conquered Whin Rigg on November 2nd, 2013 [from/via/route] Mitterdale [with] Dermot Palmer [weather] Very wet & windy
Andrew Joss scaled Whin Rigg on June 7th, 2013 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head NT car park [with] Mick [weather] Hot & sunny - Fantastic views of Wastwater
Doug Martin walked up Whin Rigg on July 10th, 2013 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head - Illgill Head - Whin Rigg - Greathall Gill - lakeside return - Boulder field [with] Solo [weather] Cloudy & overcast but very humid 24 degrees - sweated buckets. - With high temperatures the cloud was most welcome. Followed Wainwrights crag path once on ridge - views are stunning albeit the cloud reduced visibility towards other peaks. Brightened up considerably later in day by which time I was working my way through the boulder field & screes. Well worth the effort but would not rush to do again - lakeside return that is.
Chris Brookes climbed Whin Rigg on June 29th, 2013 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head [with] Kesh [weather] Cloudy
Chris Bramley bagged Whin Rigg on April 19th, 2013 [from/via/route] Wasdale & illgill head [with] Janet [weather] Fine windy
Dale Verrall hiked Whin Rigg on March 14th, 2012 [from/via/route] Wast water - Walk number c116 [with] Amber [weather] Low cloud
Bill Rowlands summited Whin Rigg on September 29th, 2012 [from/via/route] Miterdale Forest & Irton Fell, on the way to Illgill Head [with] Jake - the chocolate labrador [weather] Cloudy & very windy
Aileen Robinson conquered Whin Rigg on July 7th, 2011 [from/via/route] Wastwater Youth Hostel [with] School, Jude, Linda, Andy S [weather] Sunny, windy
Neil Smith, Patrick Rogozinski, Clare Houlihan, Dawn Roberts, Wendy Sockett, Michael Austin, David Kelley, Melanie Dunn, Jenny Godfrey, David Watson, Adrian Roberts, Steven Waterhouse, David Shaw, Alan Davidson, Carl Abbott, David Butterfield, David Hughes, Phyllis Mcgibbon, Linda Mckeogh, Simon Duerden, Colin Egan, Jonathan Tobin, Paul Booth, Peter Clark, Louis Smith, Raymond Barnett, Tracey Cordes, Paul Henderson, Trevor Williams, Beth Webster, John Kendall, Louise Sandwith, John Cuthbert, Jacqui Smith, Patrick Buckland, Wendy Sockett, Rob Barklamb, David Kelley, Stephen Millington, Jeanette Coward, Sarah Lowe, Ray O'hara, Linda Walker and John Southward have all walked, climbed & bagged Whin Rigg.
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Whin Rigg
The Wasdale Screes below Illgill Head (centre) and Whin Rigg (right) from Ponsonby Fell
The Wasdale Valley featuring Lingmell (left), Illgill Head and Whin Rigg (left of centre in the distance), Wast Water (centre) and Yewbarrow (right) from near Westmorland Cairn on the summit of Great Gable
Wast Water with the Scafel Massive (far left- featuring Ling Mell, Great End, Broad Crag, Ill Crag, Scafell Pike, Symonds Knott and Sca Fell) and Illgill Head (centre) and Whin Rigg (centre right) above the Wast Water screes from Buckbarrow
Illgill Head (left) and Whin Rigg (right) above the Wast Water screes from Buckbarrow
The Scafell Massif, Illgill Head, Whin Rigg and the Wast Water Screes from Buckbarrow
Seatallan, Great Scoat Fell, Little Scoat Fell, Red Pike (Wasdale), Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Whin Rigg from Irton Pike
Yewbarrow, Wasdale Head, Wast Water, Lingmell, Scafell Pike, Mickledore and Sca Fell, Illgill Head and Whin Rigg from below Middle Fell (Wasdale)
Illgill Head and Whin Rigg (left) Wast Water and Yewbarrow and Middle Fell (right) from Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable
Wasdale featuring Lingmell (left), Illgill Head and Whin Rigg (left of centre in the distance), Wast Water (centre) and Yewbarrow (right) from Westmorland Cairn near the summit of Great Gable
. . . see all 23 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Whin Rigg
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