Tallest mountain, smallest church, deepest lake, biggest liar*!  July 1987
Wasdale Wandering Walks with a Camera
Walks with a Camera © Geoff’s Pages 2011
The hills in this walk are Illgill Head and Whin Rigg - but the highlight of the route is the low level scramble along the eastern shore of Wastwater, below the famous screes. Apart from the precipitous crags above the lake, the hills are unexceptional, apart from some fine views.
Level with the foot of the lake, a path descends beside Greathall Gill, and then joins the lakeside path. The route now runs a little above the waterline, up here and down there, sometimes firm, sometimes a little bit loose, sometimes crossing huge boulders - the sort of walk where time passes quickly. All too soon we were back to "normal" paths, and making our way back to the campsite. Time for a clean-up, and a well earned pint at the Wasdale Head Inn, where the "biggest liar" was once the landlord....
Day 1: The Screes
Yes, it was a camping trip (never again!) Lingmell Gill, at the start of the walk Starting to ascend, near Brackenclose Wasdale Head from the path to Illgill Head Crags on the ridge High above the lake (I wouldn't have stood there....) The lakeside path
Day 2: Gable traverse
Level with the foot of the lake, a path descends beside Greathall Gill, and then joins the lakeside path. The route now runs a little above the waterline, up here and down there, sometimes firm, sometimes a little bit loose, sometimes crossing huge boulders - the sort of walk where time passes quickly. All too soon we were back to "normal" paths, and making our way back to the campsite.
Time for a clean-up, and a well earned pint at the Wasdale Head Inn, where the "biggest liar" was once the landlord....
Sty Head tarn, from the path to the traverse On the Gable traverse Misty view into Wasdale View into Ennerdale
Day 3: Mosedale horseshoe
It's all downhill from here! But first - lunch. There isn't too much grass on Pillar's summit - I seem to recall my colleague being harassed by a hungry sheep (it must have thought he was a soft touch). Sufficiently fuelled, we dropped gently down towards Scoat Fell, then turning sharp left we  gained the last side of the horseshoe via Red Pike, to Dore Head, descending here via the scree run back to Mosedale. An excellent day - in fact an excellent three days, despite the skies never really clearing... *check him out on Google
A fine day can be had by traversing the fells which form a horseshoe shape around Mosedale, which branches off Wasdale at Wasdale Head. On gaining the ridge, the path then turns towards Pillar, the highest point of the walk. Two routes are possible - we took the "alternative", the High Level route which contours below the ridge, high above the Ennerdale forests, before ascending steeply beside Pillar Rock.
First few yards of the Black Sail path Peaty pool near the hause, Black Sail pass On the High Level route, climbing beside Pillar Rock A hazy view of Ennerdale Mosedale, seen from Pillar The appropriately named Steeple, seen from Scoat Fell Red Pike and the view towards Scafell Peaty pool near Dore Head, at the end of a fine walk Back to Walks with a Camera Contact Geoff