Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road up Illgill Head: route map, distance and time
609 m · Cumbria
Illgill Head is the 609m high point of the ridge above the Wast Water Screes, a Wainwright and Marilyn with a view along the lake to the Scafell range.
Follow the old corpse road towards Burnmoor Tarn, then leave it to climb the grassy eastern slopes to the summit.
Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road at a glance
| Distance | 8.2 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 583 m |
| Time up | 2h 35m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 4h 15m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Wasdale Head (National Trust car park) |
| Start grid reference | NY 186 087 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 168 049 |
Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road map
The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
- Wasdale Head Inn0.1 km
- Public toilets1.3 km
- Public toilets1.4 km
- Wasdale Head Campsite0.1 km
- Wasdale Campsite1.3 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 30m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 35m | 4h 15m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 15m | 5h 15m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08. Start by 12:53 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 15m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 12:51 to be down before dark, allowing 4h 15m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Illgill Head summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Illgill Head right now. The main Illgill Head page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Illgill Head forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Illgill Head
Illgill Head is the 609m high point of the ridge above the Wast Water Screes, a Wainwright and Marilyn with a view along the lake to the Scafell range. More about Illgill Head, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Marilyn, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Whin Rigg (537 m), 2.3 km south-west
- Middle Fell (582 m), 2.9 km north-west
Challenges that include Illgill Head
More walks from Wasdale Head
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Wasdale Head via Sty Head up Great Gable
- Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass up Kirk Fell
- Wasdale Head direct up Kirk Fell
- Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue up Lingmell
- Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass up Pillar
- High Level Route up Pillar
- Wasdale Head via Dore Head up Red Pike
- Wasdale Head via Green How up Scafell
- Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue up Scafell Pike
- Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap up Scoat Fell
- Wasdale Head via Scoat Fell up Steeple
- Wasdale Head via Dore Head and Stirrup Crag up Yewbarrow
Other routes up Illgill Head
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nether Wasdale via Whin Rigg | 6.1 km one way | 607 m | 2h 15m | Moderate |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 186 087, the summit at NY 168 049), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road: questions and answers
How far is Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road?
Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road is 8.2 km one way to the summit of Illgill Head, with 583 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 16.4 km.
How long does Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road take?
About 2h 35m to the summit of Illgill Head and 4h 15m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 5h 15m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road?
Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road starts from Wasdale Head (National Trust car park). The grid reference is NY 186 087.
Is Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.
What time should I start Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road today?
By 12:53 at the latest. Sunset on Illgill Head today is 18:08, Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road takes about 4h 15m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).