Walk : Kirk Fell (2,630ft) from Wasdale Head via Beck Head

Date : 15^th July 2021

Weather : Cloudless blue sky, hot sun @ 24 °C

Distance : 6.5 miles round trip

Difficulty : 3 to 4 – A steep pull up scree with a moderate scramble up Rib End

(1=easy 5=hard)

Which area of Lakeland is this walk situated?

Terrain Overview

Walk Overview

AW noted in the Kirk Fell section of Book 7 that the climb directly up the nose is the straightest and most direct climb in

Lakeland and also the steepest  - “ a relentless and unremitting treadmill, a turf clutching crawl not a walk”. Having seen

this potential way of ascent up close and personal he was not joking, it seems impossible and on such a boiling hot day

like today, it was not surprising that we didn’t see anyone attempting this route. We opted for one of two possible solutions

to reach the summit … via the flank of Gavel Neese (on Great Gable) to Beck Head and then a short scramble over Rib End

or via the Black Sail Pass and Kirk Fell Crags, both of which present a less steep line of ascent

The free car parking just before you reach the Inn at Wasdale Head is the starting point for this walk. It’s very busy – especially

in weather like this, so you are will not always be guaranteed a space, however road side parking in various wider spots of the

approach road can be used. Kirk Fell and the direct path up its nose can clearly be seen and from this angle looks nothing too

strenuous. Wait until you get closer before deciding to opt for this route!!

As we walk towards the Inn and the start of the walk the days intended route along the Western face of Great Gable up to

Beck Head is shown

Looking towards Pillar from the track

From the car park keep right past the Inn and make a sharp right turn at the signpost towards St Olafs Church

Following the track towards St Olafs Church

St Olafs Church

Past the Church and turn left through the hand gate to get on to the track that leads to Burnthwaite Farm

Heading towards Burnthwaite Farm

Looking across to the steep face of Stirrup Crag on Yewbarrow and Red Pike

Passing through Burnthwaite Farm and keep left as indicated to walk through a hand gate that gives access to the open fell side

Through the gate and turn right

The path heads out towards a footbridge that crosses Gable Beck

Crossing Gable Beck and keep left to get to the obvious path that climbs Gavel Neese

The start of the steep climb up Gavel Neese

Through a hand gate in the retaining wall and turn right

The path up to Beck Head skirts the base of the White Napes on Great Gable

Looking back to Wast Water from the path

The steep Eastern flank of Kirk Fell scarred by the trough of Ill Gill

I started off saying at the beginning of this blog about the nose of Kirk Fell being steep.This shot displays just how steep

The climb up Gavel Neese basically comprises of 2 parts, the very steep grass path at the start followed by the steep scree

path. Fortunately, the grass part has been stepped so as to avoid erosion and assist with the climb

Looking East across to Broad Crag and Lingmell

We now reach the scree section of the climb. Its steep and by and large non too slippy, there are the odd

areas where a little care is needed but nothing too onerous

As Beck Head is approached the scree path levels out a little. The route of ascent to Kirk Fell via Rib End

is seen on the left

Looking over the steep Southern flank of Great Gable across to Scafell and Lingmell

We reach the col at Beck Head and the North Western Fells peep over the horizon

The path up through the crags of Rib End is a lot easier than it looks. There are some parts where a little amount of rock

handling is required

Sue pauses a short while before attempting the final climb up to the summit

After passing through the initial band of rock a grass path leads up to Kirk Fells North top, but this can be bypassed by

keeping left on a decent grass track that leads to the true summit on the South top

Looking back to Great Gable and Green Gable from the grass track to the summit

Looking East to Broad Crag, Scafell Pike, Lingmell and Scafell from the grass track

Fairly soon the South top summit comes into view

Looking South to Wast Water and Burnmoor Tarn

A panoramic view of .. (l to r) Great Gable, Great End, Broad Crag, Scafell Pike, Lingmell and Scafell

The final few yards to the summit lies across a boulder field. The shelter cairn seen in the centre of shot

Made it !!! Sue tries to find some shade in the shelter cairn

A 360-degree view from the summit

Looking across to the High Crag – High Stile – Red Pike ridge

Looking across to the Mosedale Horseshoe

Scafell Pike and a slightly misty Scafell

The magnificent Great Gable

A close up shot of Napes Needle on Great Gable

Team selfie on the summit

I venture over to the summit cairn about 20 yards away from the shelter, whilst Sue strikes her “Christ the Redeemer” pose

Looking down on to Haystacks from the summit cairn

As we journeyed back down we saw this couple who had somehow got lost coming down from Great Gable and ended up

sliding down the steep scree face … Definitely NOT recommended !!

Heading back to Wasdale Head

Almost back down now as the sun starts to drop behind Red Pike and Yewbarrow

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