Illgill Head
609m (1997ft)
The Southern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
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)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
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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:
*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 Illgill Head
Ian Ashton walked up Illgill Head on March 29th, 2024 [with] Solo
Pete George climbed Illgill Head on December 13th, 2023 [from/via/route] Wasdale [with] Roco [weather] Quite pleasant
James Hughes bagged 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 hiked 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 summited 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 conquered 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 scaled 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 walked up 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 climbed 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 bagged 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 hiked Illgill Head on August 8th, 2020 [from/via/route] Boot [with] Mike Woodhouse, Tony Harris, Martin Bayliss [weather] Very hot
Paul Macey summited Illgill Head on July 16th, 2020 [from/via/route] Before Whin Rigg [weather] Low cloud very misty
Andrew Johnson conquered Illgill Head on February 7th, 2020 [from/via/route] Neather Wasdale [with] Ted [weather] Blue skies
Richard Marshall scaled Illgill Head on November 28th, 2019 [from/via/route] C440 [with] Bo [weather] Cloudy wet start sunny later.
Phillip Bulley walked up Illgill Head on July 12th, 2019 [from/via/route] Via Brackenclose car park. [with] Ruby. [weather] Sunny & warm.
Jamie Bryan climbed Illgill Head on August 13th, 2019 [from/via/route] c116 [weather] Sunny & clear. Can see all the way to the coast & Sellafield
Christina Lander bagged Illgill Head 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 hiked Illgill Head 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 summited Illgill Head on July 14th, 2018 [from/via/route] Solo walk from Wasdale Head NT car park - ILLGILL HEAD - Whin Rigg - Illgill Head - Wainwright 143 [weather] Warm, but rather cloudy until mid afternoon
Chris Sheard conquered Illgill Head on April 9th, 2018 [from/via/route] Up from Strands Inn through steep gill to ridge passing through Whin Rigg. fabulous day [with] George [weather] Started & finished with broken cloud & sun - Very steep up & nice circuit
Craig Steeland scaled Illgill Head 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.
Tracey Cowell walked up Illgill Head on August 27th, 2017 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head [with] Andrew Foster/ Billy Foster/ David Miles/ Odin Miles [weather] Cloudy
Simon Boddy climbed Illgill Head on June 25th, 2017 [from/via/route] Eskdale [with] HF Holidays [weather] Sunny & breezy
John Walter bagged Illgill Head on May 6th, 2017 [from/via/route] . [with] Tricia
Richard Fulcher hiked Illgill Head 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 summited Illgill Head on May 2nd, 2017 [from/via/route] YHA Wasdale Hall [with] me [weather] White cloud, lots of sun. Lovely!
John Tippins conquered Illgill Head 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. - Approached by four young men in the car park who asked my advice on doing Scafell Pike - they had about seven hours daylight. I told them I was keeping of the highest peaks because of the high winds but thought they could do it before sunset. They assured me they had everything they needed. I hope they did it OK.
Mark Davidson scaled Illgill Head on April 9th, 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 walked up Illgill Head on July 23rd, 2016 [from/via/route] Porterthwaite. See Whin Rigg for details
Dave Eyes climbed Illgill Head on May 11th, 2016 [from/via/route] Parked by Wastwater & walked up [with] Christine Eyes [weather] Sunny
Charlie Housley bagged Illgill Head on June 2nd, 2016 [from/via/route] Parked up at the car park at the base of Iron Pike & followed the good path along Iron Fell to Whin Rigg & then the ride rout above The Screes. [with] Solo. [weather] Glorious sunshine & not a cloud in the sky.
Jan Dixon hiked Illgill Head on October 17th, 2015 [from/via/route] Miterdale [with] Tia and Anya [weather] Sunny but very windy
Tony Rogerson summited Illgill Head on March 29th, 2014 [from/via/route] Eskdale Green & Burnmoor Tarn [with] Darren Floss Robbie & Ruby [weather] High cloud
Harry Meijer conquered Illgill Head on September 3rd, 2015 [from/via/route] The Wasdale Screes [with] The Lake District Walker
David Noble scaled Illgill Head on June 22nd, 2015 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head [with] Solo [weather] Overcast brighter later
Andy Betesta walked up Illgill Head on June 8th, 2015 [from/via/route] Miterdale Forest & Whin Rigg [with] Wendy, Jane, Alan, Chris & Derek [weather] Windy but warm
Christine Knowles climbed Illgill Head on May 11th, 2015 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head Inn [with] Graham [weather] OK at low level, but very windy, then completely in cloud across the tops.
Kevin Parnham bagged Illgill Head on August 6th, 2014 [from/via/route] From campsite via Burnmoor Tarn Path [with] Jo and Charlotte [weather] cloudy & variable amounts of cloud on summit - Noticed many sheep & birds on summit
Keith Eastman hiked Illgill Head on August 4th, 2014 [from/via/route] c116
Derek Parkin summited Illgill Head on June 16th, 2014 [from/via/route] wastdale head [with] Lynn Parkin [weather] sunshine little cloud
Steve Frank conquered Illgill Head on November 3rd, 2007 [from/via/route] Boot [with] Jackie Frank [weather] Windy on tops
Joanne Mcgawley scaled Illgill Head on December 28th, 2013 [from/via/route] Mitredale [with] Rich [weather] Cool, damp & muddy! - 9.34 miles
Darren Mortimer walked up Illgill Head on November 2nd, 2013 [from/via/route] Mitterdale [with] Dermot Palmer [weather] Very wet & windy - This walk should never be done when the mist has set in. We saw Gable for about 10 seconds coming down from Illgill Head before the mist closed in on us again. Spoilt the walk.
Beth Webster climbed Illgill Head on September 17th, 2012 [with] Hannah Phillips
Andrew Joss bagged Illgill Head on June 7th, 2013 [from/via/route] Wasdale Camp NT car park [with] Mick [weather] Hot & sunny - Fantastic views of Wastwater
Doug Martin hiked Illgill Head on July 10th, 2013 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head - Illgill Head - Whin Rigg - back along lakeside - Boulder Field [with] Solo [weather] Cloudy very muggy 24 degrees - sweat poured off me. - 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 summited Illgill Head on June 29th, 2013 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head [with] Kesh [weather] Cloudy
Chris Bramley conquered Illgill Head on April 19th, 2013 [from/via/route] Wasdale head [with] Janet [weather] Windy fine
Jacqueline Debbie Tonks scaled Illgill Head on February 8th, 2013 [from/via/route] Wasedale Head [with] Pete Tonks [weather] Snow on high ground, sunny blue skies, clear views
Dale Verrall walked up Illgill Head on March 14th, 2012 [from/via/route] Wast Water - Walk number C116 [with] Amber [weather] Low cloud & wet - Really interesting shore walk along the scree slope - not when it is wet as very slippery
Bill Todd climbed Illgill Head on September 12th, 2011 [from/via/route] Wasdale head [with] My Wife [weather] Windy (of course) intermittent rain - Met 2 cyclists doing the Coast to Coast en route to Maiden castle. (Theyb were walking at the time!!!)
Bill Rowlands bagged Illgill Head on September 29th, 2012 [from/via/route] Irton Fell & Whin Rigg [with] Jake - the chocolate labrador [weather] Cloudy & very windy
Aileen Robinson hiked Illgill Head on July 7th, 2011 [from/via/route] Wastwater, Whin Rigg [with] School, Jude, Linda, Andy S [weather] Sunny, windy
Patrick Rogozinski, Dawn Roberts, Wendy Sockett, Michael Austin, Melanie Dunn, David Kelley, 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, John Kendall, Louise Sandwith, John Cuthbert, Jacqui Smith, Patrick Buckland, Wendy Sockett, David Kelley, Stephen Millington, Chris Bede, Rob Barklamb, Mike Walker, Jeanette Coward, Sarah Lowe, Ray O'hara, Linda Walker and John Southward have all walked, climbed & bagged Illgill Head.
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Illgill Head
The Scafell Massif, Illgill Head, Whin Rigg and the Wast Water Screes from Buckbarrow
Eskdale from Birker Force (Waterfall) with Illgill Head (centre left) and Sca Fell (centre right) on the horizon
Lingmell (far right), Scafel Pike, Mickledore, Sca Fell and Illgill Head (centre right) from across Overbeck Bridge, Wast Water
Illgill Head (left) and Whin Rigg (right) above the Wast Water screes from Buckbarrow
The Wasdale Screes below Illgill Head (centre) and Whin Rigg (right) from Ponsonby Fell
Wast Water with Illgill Head (left) and Yewbarrow (right) from Great Gable summit
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
Illgill Head (left) Wasdale, Wast Water and Yewbarrow from Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable
Britain's Favourite View - Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell, Great End, Sca Fell and the shoulder of Illgill Head (far right) from Wast Water
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
*Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head across Wast Water
Wasdale Head (left), Burnmoor Tarn, Yewbarrow (front centre), Illgill Head (back) and Wast Water from Pillar
Wast Water, Yewbarrow (left), Kirk Fell (centre left), Great Gable (centre right) and Lingmell Fell (right) from Illgill Head
Climbing Scafell Pike via the Brown Tongue path with Illgill Head (left), Wast Water and Middle Fell (Wasdale) (right) in the background
Yewbarrow (left), Kirk Fell (partially hidden), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head (right) from across Wast Water
*Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head across 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)
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
The shoulder of Lingmell and snow on Illgill Head (far left), Wasdale and Wast Water (left) and Yewbarrow (right) from Gable Beck Bridge
*Illgill Head (left), Wast Water (centre) and Middle Fell (right) from Yewbarrow
. . . see just 20 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Illgill Head
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