There is a small car park
below Fleetwith Pike on land opposite Gatesgarth Farm. (A
pay-and-display machine has now been installed)
(Distance 10.5 miles) |
Cross the road and follow the path down the
side of the farm, continuing on the track to Peggy's Bridge. Cross
the bridge, then follow the path up hill alongside the trees, turning
left where it meets the path coming up from Buttermere Lake.
(photo: Looking up towards Scarth Gap, with Haystacks on the left) |
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The well-worn path now gently climbs up to
Scarth Gap. Continue straight through Scarth Gap, descending into
Ennerdale and to Black Sail Hut.
(photo: View of Pillar from Scarth Gap) |
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| (photo: Heading down towards Black
Sail Hut) |
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Continue past the Black Sail YHA to cross
the bridge over the River Liza. The path now becomes steep as it
climbs alongside Sail Beck to Black Sail Pass.
(photo: Looking west down Ennerdale from the bridge over the River
Liza) |
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Where the path levels at Black Sail Pass, turn right and
continue on the path around to Looking Stead. The path now
meanders up and over a rocky area, where a path branches off right to
Pillar Rock. (Avoid this path)
(photo: A view back down into Ennerdale on the way to Black Sail
Pass. Scarth Gap is the 'V' in the centre) |
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| (photo: Looking Stead with Pillar
hidden behind) |
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A further steepish section is ascended
before reaching the final path to the barren summit of Pillar.
(photo: High Stile ridge from the approach to the slopes of
Pillar) |
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From the summit trig point, head down the
steep rock path which keeps to the left of White Pike. The
path is not easy to see on the rocks, but the direction is for the the
left corner of Ennerdale Wood where it meets High Beck. (Once on the
lower grassy section, a wall leads down to High Beck)
(photo: Pillar Trig Point looking east towards Great Gable and the
Sca Fells) |
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From above High Beck, go through the gate
into the wood and follow the path down through the woods (quite boggy after rain). On meeting the wide forest gravel track, turn right
and follow the track over High Beck and down to where it meets another
track close to the River Liza.
(photo: Ennerdale Water on the way down to High Beck) |
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Just up and right from this junction, cross
the footbridge over the river and climb up to another track. Turn
right, and soon after take the indistinct path off to the left.
The path traverses up the slopes of High Crag and Seat to arrive at
Scarth Gap.
(photo: Haystacks and Wanscale Bottom from Scarth Gap) |
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From Scarth Gap, retrace the route used at
the start of the walk.
(photo: And a view down to Buttermere on the way down from Scarth
Gap |
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| (photo: Fleetwith Pike on the way to
Gatesgarth Farm) |
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