Pillar
892m (2928ft)
The Western Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
The summit of Pillar is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 5.25ml (8.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,301ft (701m) |
| Time: | 4½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Black Sail Hut (Youth Hostel) - Ennerdale - Black Sail Beck - Black Sail Pass - Looking Stead (Pillar) - Pillar - Black Sail Pass - Black Sail Beck - Black Sail Hut (Youth Hostel) - Ennerdale.
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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: | 10.25ml (16.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,611ft (1,405m) |
| Time: | 8½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Buttermere - Gatesgarth - Peggy's Bridge - Scarth Gap Pass - Scarth Gap - Black Sail Hut (Youth Hostel) - Black Sail Pass - Looking Stead (Pillar) - High Level Route - Robinson's Cairn - Pillar - Wind Gap - Black Crag (Pillar) - High Beck - Ennerdale - Scarth Gap Pass - Peggy's Bridge - Gatescarth - Buttermere
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 11ml (17km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,001ft (1,219m) |
| Time: | 8 hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Wasdale Head - Mosedale Beck - Black Sail Pass - High Level Route - Robinson's Cairn - Pillar - Wind Gap - Black Crag (Pillar) - Scoat Fell (Little Scoat Fell) - Red Pike (Wasdale) - Dore Head - Over Beck - Wasdale Head - Wast Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 11ml (17.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,782ft (1,457m) |
| Time: | 8.75hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Wasdale Head - Mosedale Beck - 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 - Yewbarrow (North Top) - Yewbarrow - Dropping Crag - Bell Rib - Over Beck - Wasdale Head - Wast Water.
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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.
See Pillar and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
The Western Fells of The Lake District National Park
Less data - quicker to download
The Whole of The Lake District National Park
More data - might take a little longer to download
See Pillar and the surrounding tops on our downloadable Peak Bagging Maps in PDF format:
NB: Whether you print off a copy or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers' Maps might prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal.
*This version is marked with the walk routes you need to follow to Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 walks.
You can find Pillar & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps:
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Maps (pink/magenta covers):
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Pillar
Geoff Hand walked up Pillar on July 3rd, 2025 [from/via/route] Walked the Mosedale round from Burnthwaite Cottage. Pillar, Black Crag, Scoat fell, Steeple, Red Pike & Yewbarrow. One of my toghest days in the lakes, but very enjoyable & rewarding. [with] none [weather] Started off Sunny then cloud, mist, high wind & rain caught me up at Pillar. Some great views before that. - Got a bit confused coming off Scoat fell & picking up the path to Red Pike. Had to use my map compass & watch to find the path.
Ian Ashton climbed Pillar on November 9th, 2024 [with] Solo
Christine Shepherd bagged Pillar on May 15th, 2005 [from/via/route] Walked from Wasdale Head following the route outlined on walk c343. Used walk c240 with Yewbarrow added on on 23.8.21 with Stephen. Used walk c101 with the addi.tion of Haycock between Steeple & Red Pike with Louise on 20.4.24. [with] On my own [weather] Fine but chilly. - Met another lady walking on her own but imagine my surprise when she started unpacking a radio mast from her rucksack. She was a radio ham broadcasting from unusual places! Climbed again using walk c240 on 23.8.21 Added on Yewbarrow at the end.
Sarah Moore hiked Pillar on April 8th, 2023 [from/via/route] c130 / Caw Fell, Haycock & Steeple... with extra! from Ennerdale YHA [with] On my own [weather] Great day for it - almost too hot at points - clear for miles & sunny & beautiful - Couldn't believe how quiet it was for an Easter weekend - remote but incredible
Kevin Foster summited Pillar on July 7th, 2022 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head [with] By myself. [weather] Dry & sunny. - From Looking Stead I followed the climbers path past Robinson cairn & Pillar Rock via the Shamrock Traverse. Had a close look at the Slab & Notch route up Pillar Rock but sensibly decided not to try it solo without ropes. Afterwards I climbed up the steep path to the summit wind shelter to contemplate on my failed Nuttalls challenge.
Tim Winn conquered Pillar on April 2nd, 2022 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head [with] Barry, Paul and Roger [weather] Sunny
Paul Macey scaled Pillar on August 16th, 2021 [from/via/route] C101 [with] L [weather] Cloudy
Michael Austin walked up Pillar on June 18th, 2021 [from/via/route] C130
Darren Wilson climbed Pillar 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
Jeremy Torrance bagged Pillar on October 12th, 2019 [from/via/route] Wasdale [with] Noel, Ash, Tim, Jon, Stu
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Pillar
Pillar (left), Ennerdale Water, Seat (Buttermere), Gamlin End and High Crag (centre), Crummock Water and Grasmoor (right) from the summit of Hay Stacks (Haystacks)
The High Level Route from Looking Stead (Pillar) to Robinson's Cairn, Pillar
Pillar/Currick between Branstree (North East Top) and Branstree (Artlecrag Pike)
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)
Pillar (left) and Ennerdale Water from the summit of Hay Stacks (Haystacks)
Haystacks from Looking Stead (Pillar) with a Herdwick Sheep for company
Robinson's Cairn with Pillar Rock beyond (left of the cairn and to right of the 'notch')
Black Grag (Pillar), Wind Gap, Pillar and Looking Stead (Pillar) above Mosedale from Wasdale Head
A grand view overlooking the valley of upper Wasdale from Esk Hause with Pillar, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Green Gable taking centre stage
Kirk Fell, Looking Stead & Pillar, Ennerdale, High Stile, High Crag & Hay Stacks, Crummock Water & Buttermere and Grasmoor from Green Gable
High Crag, Seat, Scarth Gap and Hay Stacks (Haystacks) from Looking Stead (Pillar)
Stone pillar in the col between Branstree (North East Top) and Branstree (Artlecrag Pike)
*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)
360 degree panorama featuring Great Gable, Green Gable, Little Scoat Fell & Pillar (distance), Brandreth, Dale Head (Newlands), High Spy, Glaramara, Esk Pike, Great End and Scafell Pike from Base Brown
Ennerdale Bridge, Bowness Knott, Great Bourne, Starling Dodd, Red Pike (Buttermere), High Stile and Pillar sourrounding Ennerdale Water from the summit of Crag Fell
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
*Pillar (left), High Stile (centre), Ennerdale, Hay Stacks, Crummock Water, Buttermere and Grasmoor (right) from Green Gable
Pillar, Top of Stirrup Crag and Kirk Fell from the summit of Yewbarrow
Ennerdale with Hay Stacks (Haystacks) and the High Stile ridge (right) and Looking Stead and Pillar (left) from Brandreth
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)
Black Crag (Pillar), Wind Gap, Pillar and Looking Stead (Pillar) above Mosedale from Wasdale Head
Wasdale Head (left), Burnmoor Tarn, Yewbarrow (front centre), Illgill Head (back) and Wast Water from Pillar
Kirk Fell (foreground), Pillar, Ennerdale, Red Pike (Buttermere), High Stile, High Crag and Crummock Water (far right) from Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable
Kirk Fell with Red Pike (Wasdale), Little Scoat Fell and Pillar behind from Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable
Red Pike (Wasdale) and Little Scoat Fell (left), Mosedale, Pillar and Kirk Fell (centre) and Great Gable (right) from the summit of Scafell Pike
Little Scoat Fell and Pillar (distance) with Brandreth (foreground) from Base Brown
Green Gable, Great Gable (left of centre), Kirk Fell (centre) and Pillar (right) with the Scafell Massif beyond (centre) from High Crag
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
Starling Dodd (left), Red Pike (Buttermere), High Stile and Pillar (right) and Ennerdale Water from the summit of Crag Fell
Taking a breather on 'the slab' - about a third of the way up Pillar Rock
The view north from Looking Stead (Pillar) featuring Ennerdale with Red Pike (Buttermere), High Stile, High Crag, Seat, Scarth Gap, Hay Stacks (Haystacks) and Brandreth (far right)
Scarth Gap and Hay stacks (Haystacks) above Ennerdale from The High Level Route, Pillar
Looking Stead (Pillar) and Pillar itself towering above the upper reaches of Ennerdale from Hay Stacks (Haystacks)
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
Red Pike (Buttermere) summit from Lingcomb Edge with Pillar prominent across Ennerdale
Steeple and Long Crag with Crag Fell (sunlit in the distance), Ennerdale Water and Great Borne from Pillar
Looking stead (Pillar) & Pillar behind Green Crag (Buttermere) & Hay Stacks (Haystacks) with High Crag (Buttermere) (right) from near Dubs Quarry
Wasdale Head with Pillar beyond from the lower slopes of Lingmell & Scafell Pike
Pillar Rock beyond (to right of the 'notch') from the High Level Route
. . . see just 20 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Pillar
Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Pillar
If you would like to add your walk photographs and pictures featuring views from, on or of Pillar to this page, please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:
and we shall do our best to publish them.
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You can also submit photos via our Facebook Page.
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