Kirk Fell

Kirk Fell

Kirk Fell rises directly above Wasdale Head, with Great Gable across Beck Head and Pillar beyond Black Sail Pass. From the valley its southern slope looks almost too steep to have a path. Higher up, the mountain opens into a broad plateau with small tarns and two distinct tops. The main summit is the western one, 802 m high, marked by a substantial stone windshelter.

This is a good fell for close views of its neighbours. Great Gable fills much of the eastern outlook, while the Scafell group, Pillar and the length of Wastwater give plenty of reason to stop. It is also a mountain where the choice of route matters. The direct southern climb is hard work, and the western approach through Kirkfell Crags involves steep, loose scrambling.

From Wasdale Head by Beck Head

The eastern approach is a useful choice for walkers who want to avoid Kirkfell Crags. Start at Wasdale Head and follow the signed path through Burnthwaite Farm to the footbridge over Gable Beck. Beyond the bridge, the climb towards Beck Head takes you onto Gavel Neese and then along the valley beneath Great Gable. Grass gives way to rougher, stony ground as you gain height.

At Beck Head, turn towards Kirk Fell and climb Rib End. There is a passage between the crags, but this is still a steep mountain path with rocky ground to negotiate. Above it, cross the plateau towards the higher western summit, passing the hollow containing Kirkfell Tarn. The lower East Top is a separate summit, 787 m high, rather than the end of the climb to Kirk Fell itself.

Return by the same route. Pick out the entrance to the Rib End descent carefully, especially in cloud, and keep to the planned line back to Beck Head. A direct line towards the valley can lead onto much steeper ground.

A circuit with Great Gable

A more demanding outing starts and finishes at Wasdale Head village green. The 13.2 km circuit has about 1,082 m of ascent: up Mosedale to Black Sail Pass, through Kirkfell Crags to Kirk Fell, then down to Beck Head. It continues through Stone Cove to Windy Gap, climbs Great Gable and returns by Sty Head and Burnthwaite.

The gully above Black Sail Pass is the awkward part of the Kirk Fell ascent. It is steep, contains chockstones and has loose rock underfoot and among the handholds. Stones knocked down by one person can hit those below. This is a route for a group already comfortable with scrambling and rough mountain ground, with enough time and energy for Great Gable and the descent afterwards.

The straight path up Kirk Fell's southern nose is another established approach. Its sustained gradient and scree make it a strenuous option, particularly on the way down. Do not choose it simply because it looks shortest on the map.

The plateau and its rocks

The summit reference is NY194104. A broad hollow separates the main summit from the East Top, with the small waters of Kirkfell Tarn between them. The plateau offers room to pause, but its gentler ground ends at steep slopes and crags. In mist, the right direction off the mountain matters more than finding the next cairn or old fence post.

Kirk Fell belongs to the Borrowdale volcanic landscape. Its rocks include Scafell Dacite, a lava containing garnet, part of the volcanic succession formed during the Ordovician. Later molten rock also entered fractures: a major microgranite dyke running from Kirk Fell towards Great Bank is part of the Lake District's Devonian intrusions. The mountain therefore contains more than one chapter of igneous activity.

Planning the day

Wasdale Head is the starting point for the routes above. Check the signs and available parking when you arrive. The National Trust's Lake Head car park, beside Wasdale campsite at NY182075, is farther down the valley and adds walking to routes measured from the village green. It has public toilets; parking is charged for non-members. Keep roads, passing places and farm access clear.

Black Sail hostel is reached on foot or by bike, not by driving up to a summit-side car park. An Ennerdale approach needs a separate plan for the walk into the valley as well as the climb. Follow local path and forestry notices.

The Wasdale Explorer is seasonal. Its 2026 service finished at the end of August, so check the National Park's current travel information before relying on a bus. Mobile coverage is poor in parts of Wasdale. Carry an offline map and a compass, and know how to use them.

Check a mountain forecast, leave your route with someone and carry waterproofs, warm layers, food, water and a headtorch. Low cloud can make the plateau confusing; strong wind, wet rock, snow and ice can make the steep approaches considerably harder. Choose the route for the least confident member of the group, and turn back before the terrain or conditions exceed their experience.