Pillar
At 892 metres (2,927 feet) this is the eighth-highest mountain in the Lake District.
Plan Around Pillar
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Pillar Details
Pillar is situated between the valleys of Ennerdale to the north and Wasdale to the south. The fell takes its name from Pillar Rock, a prominent feature on the Ennerdale side, regarded as the birthplace of rock climbing in the district. The summit is surprisingly wide and grassy, consisting patches of stones interspersed with short turf. An Ordnance Survey triangulation column stands beside a cairn and wind shelter. At the northern edge of the plateau a further wind shelter marks the descent to the mountain rescue stretcher-box and the High Level Route. The view is excellent with all of the major fells except the Coniston range in sight. Loweswater and Ennerdale Water can be seen, together with Burnmoor Tarn. From the north wind shelter there is a striking view of the summit of Pillar Rock. Pillar is usually climbed from Wasdale Head, by far the nearest road access. The simplest route involves taking the Black Sail Pass, the main foot pass between Wasdale and Ennerdale, to its highest point (around 545 metres), then ascending the mountain's relatively gentle east ridge. Greater interest may be obtained by branching off the ridge onto the "High Level Route", a narrow path which traverses around Pillar's northern crags before approaching the summit from the north, affording good views of Pillar Rock. Many walkers based in Wasdale climb Pillar as part of the Mosedale Horseshoe, a circuit of the skyline one of Wasdale's side valleys, which also includes Scoat Fell, Red Pike and Yewbarrow; Pillar may also be climbed from Ennerdale. From the youth hostel at Black Sail at the head of the valley, it is a fairly short walk (around 1.5 km and 300 m of ascent) to the summit of Black Sail Pass, from where the same routes can be followed as described above. As Black Sail hostel is five or six miles from the nearest public road, this approach is somewhat impractical to day-trippers since the Ennerdale valley is itself remote from the main tourist centres of the Lake District, though attractive to those staying at the hostel. Grid Reference: NY 17124 12108
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
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Region
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Nearby Parks Around Pillar
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Nearby Points of Interest Around Pillar
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2.4 mi away
St. Olaf's Church
The smallest church near the deepest lake and the highest mountain in England.
2.5 mi away
Seathwaite to Sty Head and Grains Gill
You will likely get wet on this tough but ultimately rewarding walk along an old packhorse route into the heights of Borrowdale.
2.9 mi away
Wasdale Campsite
One of the four campsites run by the National Trust.
3.0 mi away
Scafell Pike
Rising 3,209 feet (978 meters) above sea level, Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England and a popular hiker's destination with many routes to the summit.
