Routes up
Illgill Head routes: 2 ways to the top
Nether Wasdale via Whin RiggHiking · 6.1 km one way · 607 m ascent · ~2h 15m · from Nether WasdaleModerate
A path climbs beside Greathall Gill to Whin Rigg, then follows the grassy ridge north-east along the top of the Screes.
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Full Nether Wasdale via Whin Rigg route guideWasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse roadHiking · 8.2 km one way · 583 m ascent · ~2h 35m · from Wasdale Head (National Trust car park)Moderate
Summit today
Is it safe to climb Illgill Head today?
Loading the summit forecast…
Cloud inversion · 7 days
The chance of standing above a sea of cloud on Illgill Head each morning this week, from overnight temperature, humidity and low cloud below the 609m summit.
Dark sky · 7 days
How dark the sky gets over Illgill Head each night this week, from cloud cover, moonlight and local light pollution.
Snow · 7 days
No snow is forecast at the summit in the next 7 days.
Sun today
Sunrise 07:07, sunset 16:46
9h 39m of daylight. Golden hour ends 08:00 and starts 15:53. From the summit you see the sun 07:01 to 16:51.
Nearby summits
Close to Illgill Head
About Illgill Head
Illgill Head sits at the north-east end of a grassy ridge on the south side of Wast Water. From the Wasdale road you see its other face: the Screes, a wall of crags, gullies and scree that falls into the lake. The top is a broad dome with a few cairns. Whin Rigg, the lower summit of the ridge, lies 2.3km to the south-west, and Yewbarrow, the nearest higher fell, stands 3.6km north across the head of the lake.
Most walkers traverse the ridge from Nether Wasdale, climbing beside Greathall Gill to Whin Rigg and following the edge north-east to Illgill Head. From Wasdale Head you can come up the gentler back slopes by the old corpse road towards Burnmoor Tarn, then turn west onto the fell. The ridge path is grass and short turf, with little rock underfoot.
In mist, keep back from the north-west rim. Gullies cut into the edge of the plateau and drop straight into the Screes, and the path runs close to their heads.
Illgill Head is 609 m (1,997 ft) high with 312 m of prominence. It is in Cumbria, England. It is the 268th highest of the 273 summits Peakify lists in Cumbria. The nearest summits are Whin Rigg (2.3 km), Yewbarrow (3.6 km) and Middle Fell (2.9 km).
Can you walk Illgill Head and Whin Rigg together?
Yes. The two tops sit 2.3km apart on the same ridge, and the traverse from Nether Wasdale takes in both, returning along the valley.
Is Illgill Head a Wainwright?
Yes. It is a Wainwright, a Marilyn and a Birkett.
Is the Wast Water Screes path the same walk as Illgill Head?
No. The Screes path runs along the lake shore at the foot of the cliffs and crosses a long boulder field. It does not go near the summit.
Where do you park for Illgill Head?
Walkers doing the ridge park around Nether Wasdale. For the Burnmoor side, use the National Trust car park at Wasdale Head.
How high is Illgill Head?
Illgill Head is 609 metres high with 312 metres of prominence.
Where is Illgill Head?
Illgill Head is listed in Cumbria, England.
Are there routes for Illgill Head?
Peakify lists 2 routes for Illgill Head, including available distance, ascent, start point, and difficulty details. The easiest is Nether Wasdale via Whin Rigg (6.1 km one way, Moderate).
Is it safe to climb Illgill Head today?
Peakify rates each day on the summit Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. Today's and tomorrow's ratings are at the top of this page. The rating covers the weather only: also check your route, daylight, kit and experience, and in winter whether you need an ice axe and crampons.
What weather information is shown for Illgill Head?
The page includes cached mountain forecast context, snow outlook, dark-sky signals, cloud-inversion information, sunrise, sunset, and summit planning details where available.
Peakify is run by Sam Tyler, who has climbed Yr Wyddfa 22 times. The forecast refreshes every hour; how our forecast works.
