Whin Rigg and Illgill Head
DATE 10.09.2025 | DISTANCE approx 14.5KM approx | HIGHEST POINT 609M
Posted by Matt | Filed under lake district
Download GPX file
The last day of a 5 days in the Lakes. The weatherman was suggesting that if we went out early, we could avoid the heavy rain. We got up around 6ish and were on the road shortly after. The plan was to tick off Whin Rigg and Illgill Head, and it seemed like walking the length of Wast Water was going to make for a decent circuit. The ascent from the lake up the side of Greathall Gill proved to be exhausting this morning. After the initial steep path and onto the fell side, my calves were burning. To be expected after this last week, i guess. The rest of the route along the tops to Whin Rigg and Illhead Head was pretty easy going and the dark clouds looking in the distance never really made their way to use, instead, they hung around the Scafells. The Scafells have a habit of catching the clouds and holding on tight to them. Not a problem today though, they could have it all. The descent from Illgill Head down towards Wasdale Head was really pretty with great views over to Yewbarrow and Kirk Fell. Once at the bottom, we just had the 2.5 mile walk along Wast Water and back to the car. Rain avoided.
