Scramble Route - Wistow Crags, Lakes

Wistow Crags, Pillar - Lake District

Grade: 2

A different way up a very popular mountain in the Mosedale Horseshoe.

Equipment: Protection and ropes optional.

Online Map link

Views: 3 Technicality: 2 Exposure: 2

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GIBBER FACTOR* 2 *out of five.

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Overview A different way up a very popular mountain in the Mosedale Horseshoe - below. A superb position at the end of Mosedale gives easy access from Wasdale and takes you straight up to Wind Gap by Pillar.

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Approach You don't get many easier or more pleasant walk-ins than this. From behind the Wasdale Head Inn take the path into Mosedale and follow it along the valley floor, aiming directly for Wind Gap. The route starts to the right of the gap and a diagonal path leads you to an obvious double tiered buttress.

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Route A big grass-covered platform at the base of the buttress gives a way onto the easy start, going straight up to the base of a steep face.

Move left to a gully that bypasses the steep wall, or for a harder route take the left edge of the wall using good but poorly spaced holds. Take the rib to the right of the gully on excellent rock followed by boulders.

Cracking Marcus Crompton shot from Pillar - OM album

The angle now gets easier as you top the first tier of the buttress. Start the next tier left of the obvious slab on a broad crest to a ledge. At the left-hand edge of the buttress lie a series of solid slabs at a good angle, and these put you back on lower-angled rock with a mix of walking and climbing giving the way ahead.

Once above the gullies move left to find a series of ribs, and keep right on the ribs to keep to the solid ground. You emerge to the right of Wind Gap, with a short stroll to the summit of Pillar - below.

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Descent From Pillar the choices are endless. For a return to Wasdale the obvious answer is to traverse the Mosedale Horseshoe ridge, descending via either the Black Sail path or take the ridge anti clockwise and eventually descend via Yewbarrow.

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Caution Scrambling is potentially dangerous and, particularly at the higher grades, requires technical skills and equipment to minimise the risk. We suggest that you take professional instruction or climb with an experienced partner.