Kirk Fell
802m (2631ft)
The Western Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
You can find Kirk Fell & 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 Maps (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
See Kirk Fell and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
See Kirk Fell and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Maps:
*Walk & bag all 33 Wainwrights in The Western Fells area of The Lake District in just 10 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: | 7.5ml (12km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,289ft (1,002m) |
| Time: | 6 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Honister Pass - Honister Hause - Grey Knotts - Brandreth - Green Gable - Windy Gap - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Beck Head - Beckhead Tarn - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Kirk Fell - Moses' Trod - Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk - Honister Pass
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 7.75ml (12.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,808ft (1,465m) |
| Time: | 7.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Wasdale Head - Kirk Fell - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Black Sail Pass - Looking Stead (Pillar) - High Level Route - Robinson's Cairn - Pillar - Wind Gap - Black Crag (Pillar) - Scoat Fell (Little Scoat Fell) - Steeple - Red Pike (Wasdale) - Dore Head - Mosedale Beck - Wasdale Head - Wast Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.5ml (13.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,260ft (1,298m) |
| Time: | 7.25hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Honister Pass - Honister Hause - Green Crag (Buttermere) - Black Beck - Blackbeck Tarn - Innominate Tarn - Hay Stacks (Haystacks) - Scarth Gap - Ennerdale - River Liza - Black Sail Hut (Youth Hostel) - Black Sail Path - Kirk Fell - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Beckhead Tarn - Beck Head - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Windy Gap - Green Gable - Gillercomb Head - Brandreth - Grey Knotts - Honister Hause.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9ml (14.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,965ft (1,208m) |
| Time: | 7½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Honister Pass - Honister Hause - Grey Knotts - Brandreth - Blackmoor Pols - Base Brown - Mitchell Cove - Green Gable - Windy Gap - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Beck Head - Beckhead Tarn - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Kirk Fell - Moses' Trod - Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk - Honister Pass
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 11.25ml (18km) |
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| Ascent: | 5,819ft (1,773m) |
| Time: | 10 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Very Hard) |
Route Summary:
Wasdale Head - Moses' Trod - Lingmell Beck - Gable Beck Bridge - Sty Head - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Beck Head - Beckhead Tarn - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Kirk Fell - Black Sail Pass - Looking Stead (Pillar) - High Level Route - Robinson's Cairn - Pillar - Wind Gap - Black Crag (Pillar) - Scoat Fell (Little Scoat Fell) - Steeple - Red Pike (Wasdale) - Dore Head - Mosedale Beck - Wasdale Head - Wast Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 18.75ml (30km) |
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| Ascent: | 7,309ft (2,408m) |
| Time: | 14.75hrs |
| Grade: | (Very Hard) |
Route Summary:
Bowness Knott Car Park Ennerdale - Low Gillerthwaite Field Centre - High Gillerthwaite Yourth Hostel - Red Pike (Buttermere) - High Stile - High Crag (Buttermere) - Seat (Buttermere) - Scarth Gap - Hay Stacks (Haystacks) - Innominate Tarn - Blackbeck Tarn - Black Beck - Green Crag (Buttermere) - Great Round How - Brandreth - Gillercomb Head - Green Gable - Windy Gap - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Beck Head - Beckhead Tarn - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Kirk Fell - Black Sail Pass - Looking Stead (Pillar) - High Level Route - Robinson's Cairn - Pillar - Wind Gap - Black Crag (Pillar) - High Beck - Low Beck - Ennerdale.
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Kirk Fell
Christine Shepherd walked up Kirk Fell on June 4th, 2007 [from/via/route] Walked from Honister Slate mine using walk c151 Climbed again on 23.08.2021 from Wasdale, the first fell in a long day's walking using walk c240. [with] On my own [weather] Hot & hazy - Followed the walk route over Kirk fell but didn't climb Great Gable on this occasion as my husband was waiting for me at Honister. On my second visit I descended via the scree slope. An exciting descent but not for the faint hearted. Climbed for a third time on 8.6.23 using walk c417, in gorgeous sunshine with a pleasant breeze.
Ian Ashton climbed Kirk Fell on May 13th, 2023 [with] Jph
Martyn Atherton bagged Kirk Fell on September 20th, 2020 [from/via/route] c338 Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable, Great Gable, Kirk Fell [with] Martyn and Paul [weather] Cloudy at first then very warm & sunny - Great view of the mines
Paul Macey hiked Kirk Fell on June 6th, 2022 [from/via/route] C417 in reverse [with] Luke [weather] Cloudy but cloud above summits
Darren Wilson summited Kirk Fell on June 20th, 2021 [from/via/route] Last Wainright walks Red Pike, Scoat Fell, Steeple, Pillar & Kirk Fell [with] Mike [weather] Sunny dry beautiful day out, steep climb up
Christina Lander conquered Kirk Fell on June 4th, 2021 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head - Kirk Fell - Pillar - Yewbarrow - Wasdale Head [with] Dick [weather] A beautiful, sunny day - During our holiday staying at Station House, Troutbeck, Penrith
Kevin Foster scaled Kirk Fell on May 14th, 2021 [from/via/route] Honister Pass (slate mine). [with] By myself. [weather] Low clouds down on tops gradually lifting. - The true summit of Kirk Fell is a short stroll from the East top across a grassy dip. The descent to Black Sail Pass looks a bit daunting but isn't too bad if taken carefully. Again the views are worth it especially of Lingmell , the Scafell massif & Wasdale.
Caroline Winter walked up Kirk Fell on August 2nd, 2020 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head, Kirkfell, East Top, Kirkfell crags, Mosedale Beck [with] Becky [weather] Rain morning, clearing later - Direct route up steep south side. 2 groups of Bob Graham challengers passed us. I found the steepness quite a struggle. Lunch in shelter at top before finding the sister top. Intended to include Pillar, but decided to add on to our Yewbarrow walk in a few days time. Pleasant descent of Mosedale beck & an early steak dinner at the Inn.
Andrew Johnson climbed Kirk Fell on November 8th, 2019 [from/via/route] Honister [with] Ted [weather] Cloudy
Bay Wan bagged Kirk Fell on August 24th, 2019 [from/via/route] Kirkfell to Great Gable [with] Cocoa dog - 8 yrs old [weather] Sunny summers day. 20 degrees - Lots of scree especialy at the top of Kirkfell.
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Kirk Fell
Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable panorama featuring Kirk Fell (foreground centre), Wast Water, Wasdale and Yewbarrow with Middle Fell and Seatallan beyond (left), Red Pike (Wasdale), Little Scoat Fell and Pillar behind Kirk Fell (centre) and Ennerdale with Red Pike (Buttermere), High Stile, High Crag and Crummock Water (right)
Kirk Fell and Mosedale from Dore Head having just climbed up from Wasdale and heading for Yewbarrow
Great Gable (centre) and Kirk Fell (right) from below Black Sail Hut (Youth Hostel) Ennerdale
Beck Head and Beckhead Tarn with Kirk Fell beyond from below Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable
Lingmell (left) and Kirk Fell in sunlight from near Dropping Crag below Scafell Pike
Kirk Fell with Pillar and Little Scoat Fell beyond from Great Gable summit
Red Pike (centre left), Pillar, Yewbarrow (centre), Kirk Fell & Great Gable (right) beyond Wast Water from Whin Rigg
Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Great End and Lingmell from the summit of Yewbarrow
Innominate Tarn, Hay Stacks with Great Gable, Kirk Fell and Scafell Pike in the distance
*Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head across Wast Water
Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow (left), the shoulder of Kirk Fell, Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell (right) from across Wast Water
Red Pike (Wasdale) and Little Scoat Fell (left), Mosedale, Pillar and Kirk Fell (centre) and Great Gable (right) from the summit of Scafell Pike
Wast Water, Yewbarrow (left), Kirk Fell (centre left), Great Gable (centre right) and Lingmell Fell (right) from Illgill Head
Piers Gill with Lingmell (near left) and Kirk Fell (centre) and Great Gable (right) on the horizon
Great view of Brandreth, Green Gable, Great Gable (the rounded dome), Kirk Fell, Pillar (the highest point), Black Crag and Steeple from Lingcomb Edge just below the summit of Red Pike (Buttermere)
Green Gable (left) and Great Gable (centre left) and the shoulder of Kirk Fell from Loft Beck
Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell and Great Gable from Irton Pike
Looking down Greta Gill to Wasdale from Great End with Red Pike (Wasdale), Little Scoat Fell, Kirk Fell and Great Gable beyond
*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)
Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell from across Wast Water
The Mosedale Horseshoe - Yewbarrow (mid-distance left), Red Pike (Wasdale) and Little Scoat Fell beyond, Pillar (right of centre) and the shoulder of Kirk Fell (mid-distance right) from Scafell Pike
Snow on Yewbarrow (North Top) left, Red Pike (centre right) and the shoulder or Kirk Fell (right) tower above Wasdale from near Sty Head
Yewbarrow with Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Lingmell beyond from Middle Fell (Wasdale)
Yewbarrow (left), Kirk Fell (partially hidden), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head (right) from across Wast Water
On the ridge between Great Borne and Starling Dodd with Great Gable and Kirk Fell in the distance
Innominate Tarn with Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable, Great Gable and Kirk Fell forming the backdrop
Looking NE up Wast Water to featuring Yewbarrow (left), Kirk Fell and Great Gable (right) from near Lund Bridge
Our new addition Neela ( 1st time in the Lakes) on Hay Stacks (Haystacks) with Green Gable (left), Windy Gap, Great Gable and Kirk Fell (right) very clear in the background
Wasdale Head (Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell and Great Gable), Whin Rigg and Eskdale Moor from Irton Pike
*Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head across Wast Water
A grand view overlooking the valley of upper Wasdale from Esk Hause with Pillar, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Green Gable taking centre stage
Yewbarrow (left), the shoulder of Kirk Fell, Great Gable (centre) and Lingmoor Fell (right) from Wast Water
Kirk Fell with Red Pike (Wasdale), Little Scoat Fell and Pillar behind from Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable
Haycock, Little Scoat Fell, Red Pike (Wasdale), Pillar, Top of Stirrup Crag, Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Great End, Lingmell, Scafell Pike, Sca Fell, Slightside, Harter Fell (Eskdale) and Burnmoor Tarn from the summit of Yewbarrow
Green Gable, Great Gable (left of centre), Kirk Fell (centre) and Pillar (right) with the Scafell Massif beyond (centre) from High Crag
Kirk Fell (foreground), Pillar, Ennerdale, Red Pike (Buttermere), High Stile, High Crag and Crummock Water (far right) from Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable
Kirk Fell and the shoulder of Great Gable (right) with the lower slopes of Great End (left) and Red Pike (Wasdale) in the distance from Sty Head
Kirk Fell, Looking Stead & Pillar, Ennerdale, High Stile, High Crag & Hay Stacks, Crummock Water & Buttermere and Grasmoor from Green Gable
Green Gable left), Great Gable (centre) and Kirk Fell (right) with the Scafell Massif beyond (centre) from High Crag (Buttermere)
Wast Water, Wasdale and Yewbarrow with Middle Fell (left) Seatallan (background centre), Red Pike (Wasdale) (right) and the shoulder of Kirk Fell (centre foreground) from Westmorland Cairn on Great Gable
Wast Water and Wasdale Head from the lower slopes of Great Gable and Kirk Fell
Green Gable (left) Great Gable (centre left), Scafell Pike (centre distance) and Kirk Fell (centre right) from Hay Stacks (Haystacks)
Seatallan, Great Scoat Fell, Little Scoat Fell, Red Pike (Wasdale), Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Whin Rigg from Irton Pike
. . . see just 20 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Kirk Fell
Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Kirk Fell
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