Wainwright, Dewey & Marilyn Icon

Illgill Head
609m (1997ft)

The Southern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England


Record Illgill Head as Bagged, Climbed & Conquered


Wainwright Icon

Wainwright
(No. 129)

English Dewey Icon

English Dewey
2nd highest in England,
4th in England & Wales

English Marilyn Icon

English Marilyn
52nd highest in England,
757th highest in Great Britain

You can find Illgill Head & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)

The Lake District National Park


1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):

OL6 The English Lakes - South Western area


1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):

89 West Cumbria, Cockermouth & Wast Water


See Illgill Head and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:

See Illgill Head and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Maps:

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!


You can walk to the top of Illgill Head by using any of these 3 easy‑to‑follow route maps:
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c440 Whin Rigg, Illgill Head and Boat How from Miterdale Bridge

Superb views of Wast Water, the Scafell Massif and the southern fells

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 8.75ml (14km)
Ascent:2,347ft (715m)
Time:5½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 6 Icon (Moderate)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c116 Illgill Head and Whin Rigg from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

Superb ridge walk above Lakeland's deepest lake

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 9ml (14.5km)
Ascent:2,402ft (732m)
Time:5.75hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 6 Icon (Moderate)
Walking Boot Print Icon

Walk c423 The Wast Water Round from Wasdale Head, Wast Water

Testing hike around Lakeland's deepest lake

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 15.25ml (24.5km)
Ascent:4,841ft (1,475m)
Time:10½ hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 9 Icon (Very Hard)

Other walkers who hiked, climbed, bagged and summited Illgill Head Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Illgill Head

Pete George walked up Illgill Head on December 13th, 2023 [from/via/route] Wasdale [with] Roco [weather] Quite pleasant

James Hughes climbed Illgill Head 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 bagged Illgill Head on August 18th, 2009 [from/via/route] Wasdale head using walk c116 Climbed again from Eskdale on a gloriously sunny 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] Very wet & misty - Had to rely on my compass quite a lot for this walk. I was a bit worried when I met a totally unprepared couple in' Sunday' shoes coming in the opposite direction. They asked if they were going in the right direction for Wasdale Head. They had a very wet map but no compass. I told them just to make sure they didn't veer too much to the left!!

Richard Marchant hiked Illgill Head 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 summited Illgill Head on June 1st, 2022 [from/via/route] Irton Fell car park [with] Mark, Dominic, Tabitha, Chris and Nadirah [weather] Cool, no wind or rain

John Fenwick conquered Illgill Head 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 scaled Illgill Head 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 walked up Illgill Head 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 climbed Illgill Head 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 bagged Illgill Head on August 8th, 2020 [from/via/route] Boot [with] Mike Woodhouse, Tony Harris, Martin Bayliss [weather] Very hot

To add (or remove) your name and experiences on this page - Log On and edit your Personal Mountain Bagging Record

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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Illgill Head

*Red Pike, Illgill Head, Scafell Pike and Scafell from Haycock

*Red Pike, Illgill Head, Scafell Pike and Scafell from Haycock

Photo: Wayne Hill (7)

Great Gable and Kirk Fell (left) from Illgill Head

Great Gable and Kirk Fell (left) from Illgill Head

Photo: Mick Fox (2)

Yewbarrow from Illgill Head summit cairn

Yewbarrow from Illgill Head summit cairn

Photo: Steven Mostyn (6)

Wasdale Head (left), Burnmoor Tarn, Yewbarrow (front centre), Illgill Head (back) and Wast Water from Pillar

Wasdale Head (left), Burnmoor Tarn, Yewbarrow (front centre), Illgill Head (back) and Wast Water from Pillar

Photo: Paul Johnson (10)

Illgill Head and Whin Rigg (left) Wast Water and Yewbarrow and Middle Fell (right) from Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable

Illgill Head and Whin Rigg (left) Wast Water and Yewbarrow and Middle Fell (right) from Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable

Photo: Ian Mansell (2)

Wast Water from Illgill Head and Whin Rigg

Wast Water from Illgill Head and Whin Rigg

Photo: Mick Fox (1)

Yewbarrow, Wasdale Head, Wast Water, Lingmell, Scafell Pike, Mickledore and Sca Fell, Illgill Head and Whin Rigg from below Middle Fell (Wasdale)

Yewbarrow, Wasdale Head, Wast Water, Lingmell, Scafell Pike, Mickledore and Sca Fell, Illgill Head and Whin Rigg from below Middle Fell (Wasdale)

Photo: Alan Wainwright (72)

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

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

Photo: Wayne Hill (19)

*Illgill Head (left), Wast Water (centre) and Middle Fell (right) from Yewbarrow

*Illgill Head (left), Wast Water (centre) and Middle Fell (right) from Yewbarrow

Photo: Wayne Hill (24)

Climbing Scafell Pike via the Brown Tongue path with Illgill Head (left), Wast Water and Middle Fell (Wasdale) (right) in the background

Climbing Scafell Pike via the Brown Tongue path with Illgill Head (left), Wast Water and Middle Fell (Wasdale) (right) in the background

Photo: Chris Mathieson (3)

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

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

Photo: Andy Malcolm (242)

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

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

Photo: Wayne Hill (32)

Eskdale from Birker Force (Waterfall) with Illgill Head (centre left) and Sca Fell (centre right) on the horizon

Eskdale from Birker Force (Waterfall) with Illgill Head (centre left) and Sca Fell (centre right) on the horizon

Photo: Colin Jenkins (19)

Illgill Head and the Wast Water Screes from Buckbarrow

Illgill Head and the Wast Water Screes from Buckbarrow

Photo: Alan Wainwright (62)

Illgill Head (left) and Whin Rigg (right) above the Wast Water screes from Buckbarrow

Illgill Head (left) and Whin Rigg (right) above the Wast Water screes from Buckbarrow

Photo: Chris Brankin (39)

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

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

Photo: Karen Harding (5)

Yewbarrow and Yewbarrow (North Top) beyond Wast Water from Illgill Head

Yewbarrow and Yewbarrow (North Top) beyond Wast Water from Illgill Head

Photo: Ian Mansell (11)

Illgill Head (left), Wast Water and Middle Fell (right) from Scafell Pike

Illgill Head (left), Wast Water and Middle Fell (right) from Scafell Pike

Photo: Tony Higgs (30)

Illgill Head and Wasdale from Kirk Fell

Illgill Head and Wasdale from Kirk Fell

Photo: Peter Swan (20)

The Scafell Massif, Illgill Head, Whin Rigg and the Wast Water Screes from Buckbarrow

The Scafell Massif, Illgill Head, Whin Rigg and the Wast Water Screes from Buckbarrow

Photo: Alan Wainwright (63)


. . . see all 41 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Illgill Head


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