Route outline for walk c116:
Wasdale Head - (National Trust Campsite) - Wast Water - Lingmell Gill - Illgill Head - Whin Rigg - Greathall Gill - Wasdale Hall Youth Hostel - Wast Water - Wasdale Head
Points of Interest/Notes on this walk:
Wasdale Head is a tiny hamlet of agricultural fields and dwellings that claims to be home of the highest mountain in England (Scafell Pike), the deepest lake (Wast Water), the smallest church (Church of St Olaf) and the biggest liar (Will Ritson). There is an excellent National Trust Campsite and a fine pub - the Wasdale Inn - which claims to be the birthplace of British rock climbing. There is also a large free parking area for visitors.
Peaks, Summits and Tops reached on this walk:
![]() 0 English Mountains |
![]() 2 Wainwrights |
![]() 0 English Nuttalls |
![]() 2 English Deweys |
![]() 0 Wainwright Outlying Fells |
![]() 1 Marilyn |
![]() 0 Bridgets |
Peak Bagging Statistics for this walk:
The highest point of this walk is Illgill Head at 609m (1997ft). Illgill Head is classified as an Wainwright (No. 129).
Illgill Head is also known as an English Dewey (2nd highest in England, 4th in England & Wales) and an English Marilyn (52nd highest in England, 757th highest in the UK).
Completing this walk will also take you to the top of Whin Rigg at 535m (1756ft). Whin Rigg is classified as an Wainwright (No. 156).
Whin Rigg is also known as an English Dewey (103rd highest in England, 239th in England & Wales)
You can find more walks near this one 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):
Some Photos and Pictures from Walk c116 Illgill Head and Whin Rigg from Wasdale Head, Wast Water
In no particular order . . .

Britain's Favourite View - Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell, Great End, Sca Fell and the shoulder of Illgill Head (far right) from Wast Water

Yewbarrow (left), the shoulder of Kirk Fell, Great Gable (centre) and Lingmoor Fell (right) from Wast Water

Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell (right) from across Wast Water

Yewbarrow (now conquered!) from the road to the National Trust Camp Site at Wasdale where we were staying

Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow (left), the shoulder of Kirk Fell, Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell (right) from across Wast Water

Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (in cloud centre), Lingmell (centre right) and the Wast Water screes (right) reflected in Wast Water

*From Left to right: Caw Fell, Seatallan, Red Pike, Pillar, Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Lingmell and Sca Fell and Wast Water (foreground) from Illgill Head (NB. Scafell Pike is largely hidden behind Sca Fell)

Wasdale Head with Pillar beyond from the lower slopes of Lingmell & Scafell Pike

Yewbarrow (left), Kirk Fell (partially hidden), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head (right) from across Wast Water

Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (centre), Lingmell (right) and the lower slopes of Scafell Pike (right) from across Wast Water

Black Grag (Pillar), Wind Gap, Pillar and Looking Stead (Pillar) above Mosedale from Wasdale Head

*Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head across Wast Water

Black Crag (Pillar), Wind Gap, Pillar and Looking Stead (Pillar) above Mosedale from Wasdale Head

Wast Water and Wasdale Head from the lower slopes of Great Gable and Kirk Fell

*Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head across Wast Water

Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell from across Wast Water

Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (centre in cloud), Lingmell and the shoulder or Scafell Pike (right) from across Wast Water

Wast Water from Lingmell Gill on the way up Scafell Pike. The fell to the right is Middle Fell

Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell and the shoulder of Scafell Pike from Wast Water

Wast Water, Yewbarrow (left), Kirk Fell (centre left), Great Gable (centre right) and Lingmell Fell (right) from Illgill Head

Red Pike (centre left), Pillar, Yewbarrow (centre), Kirk Fell & Great Gable (right) beyond Wast Water from Whin Rigg

Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell, Scafell Pike and Sca Fell from Wast Water

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

Yewbarrow (left) Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell (right) from across Wast Water in Wasdale

Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable and Lingmell (right) and Scafell Pike (far right) from Wast Water
Send us your photographs and pictures from your walks and hikes
We would love to see your photographs and pictures from walk c116 Illgill Head and Whin Rigg from Wasdale Head, Wast Water. Send them in to us as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name and where the picture was taken to:
and we shall do our best to publish them.
(Guide Resolution = 300dpi. At least = 660 pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).)
You can also submit photos from walk c116 Illgill Head and Whin Rigg from Wasdale Head, Wast Water via our Facebook Page.
NB. Please indicate where each photo was taken.