About the trip
The Inaccessible Pinnacle of the Lake District. The only Lake District summit that requires rock climbing skills. This is proper mountaineering.
Pillar Rock itself sits on the flanks of Pillar, an imposing and serious place looming high above the Ennerdale valley - one of the most remote areas of the Lake District.
This summit alludes many hill walkers and is the crown jewel for those completing the Nuttall's and Birkett's. Pillar Rock and High Man itself stand proud and imposing on the mountainside.
On the day we will:
Walk from Wasdale up the Black Sail Pass to Looking Stead. From here we will pick up the High Level Route to Pillar. The walk in to Pillar Rock is around 2hr 30 mins
The High Level Route is worth doing just in itself and is a fantastic day out.
We can also walk in from Buttermere and Scarth Gap, down into Ennerdale and up via Pillar Cove. We allow up to 3 hours for this walk.
On Arrival at Robinson's Cairn, we will scramble up behind Pisgah to the start of our route of choice - Slab and Notch.
This climb is graded Moderate and is exposed. We will split the climb into sections known as pitches. This makes the route manageable as we climb upwards onto the summit of High Man.
From here, it is required to abseil off into Jordan Gap. We will manage the ropes and control your descent as we lower you into gully below.
From here, we will continue up onto the summit of Pillar itself before returning back to Wasdale.
This route is about 14km and the day will last up 10 hours so expect a big day in the hills.
In misty or rainy conditions we advise caution. The terrain is complex and the rock climbing difficulty increases dramatically in the wet.
Get in touch to plan your adventure onto Pillar Rock.
We also offer guided climbing days on this crag at the prices advertised on this page. If you would like to climb New West Climb. This climb is graded Very Difficult and was first climbed in 1901!!!
Get in touch.
Pillar Rock itself sits on the flanks of Pillar, an imposing and serious place looming high above the Ennerdale valley - one of the most remote areas of the Lake District.
This summit alludes many hill walkers and is the crown jewel for those completing the Nuttall's and Birkett's. Pillar Rock and High Man itself stand proud and imposing on the mountainside.
On the day we will:
Walk from Wasdale up the Black Sail Pass to Looking Stead. From here we will pick up the High Level Route to Pillar. The walk in to Pillar Rock is around 2hr 30 mins
The High Level Route is worth doing just in itself and is a fantastic day out.
We can also walk in from Buttermere and Scarth Gap, down into Ennerdale and up via Pillar Cove. We allow up to 3 hours for this walk.
On Arrival at Robinson's Cairn, we will scramble up behind Pisgah to the start of our route of choice - Slab and Notch.
This climb is graded Moderate and is exposed. We will split the climb into sections known as pitches. This makes the route manageable as we climb upwards onto the summit of High Man.
From here, it is required to abseil off into Jordan Gap. We will manage the ropes and control your descent as we lower you into gully below.
From here, we will continue up onto the summit of Pillar itself before returning back to Wasdale.
This route is about 14km and the day will last up 10 hours so expect a big day in the hills.
In misty or rainy conditions we advise caution. The terrain is complex and the rock climbing difficulty increases dramatically in the wet.
Get in touch to plan your adventure onto Pillar Rock.
We also offer guided climbing days on this crag at the prices advertised on this page. If you would like to climb New West Climb. This climb is graded Very Difficult and was first climbed in 1901!!!
Get in touch.