High Level Route up Pillar: route map, distance and time
892 m · Cumbria
Pillar is one of the great Lakeland fells, a high summit above Ennerdale and Wasdale named after Pillar Rock, the climbing crag on its northern face.
From Looking Stead, traverse the Ennerdale face past Robinson's Cairn to the foot of Pillar Rock, then climb to the summit.
High Level Route at a glance
| Distance | 5.9 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 913 m |
| Time up | 2h 40m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 55m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Wasdale Head (National Trust car park) |
| Start grid reference | NY 186 087 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 171 121 |
High Level Route 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 the High Level Route takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 10m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 40m | 3h 55m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 20m | 4h 45m |
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 13:13 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 13:11 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Pillar summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Partly cloudy, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 17 mph gusting 21 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08.
-
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Moderate drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 46 mph gusting 58 mph, 51% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06.
Best day of the next seven for the High Level Route: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 21 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Pillar forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Pillar?
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -5°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
- Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
- A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.
About Pillar
Pillar is one of the great Lakeland fells, a high summit above Ennerdale and Wasdale named after Pillar Rock, the climbing crag on its northern face. More about Pillar, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Pillar Rock (780 m), 0.3 km north
- Black Crag (828 m), 0.7 km south-west
- Scoat Fell (841 m), 1.4 km south-west
- Steeple (819 m), 1.4 km west
- Looking Stead (628 m), 1.5 km east
- Red Pike (826 m), 1.6 km south
Challenges that include Pillar
- Ennerdale Horseshoe · 14
- Bob Graham Round · 42
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
- Wainwrights · 214
- Marilyns · 1,555
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 the Burnmoor corpse road up Illgill Head
- 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 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 Pillar
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass | 6.0 km one way | 819 m | 2h 35m | 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 171 121), 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.
High Level Route: questions and answers
How far is the High Level Route?
The High Level Route is 5.9 km one way to the summit of Pillar, with 913 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 11.8 km.
How long does the High Level Route take?
About 2h 40m to the summit of Pillar and 3h 55m 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 4h 45m for the round trip.
Where do you park for the High Level Route?
The High Level Route starts from Wasdale Head (National Trust car park). The grid reference is NY 186 087.
Is the High Level Route suitable for beginners?
Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first, such as Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass.
What time should I start the High Level Route today?
By 13:13 at the latest. Sunset on Pillar today is 18:08, The High Level Route takes about 3h 55m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for the High Level Route?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).