Kirk Fell

Kirk Fell stands in the Western Lake District between Great Gable and Pillar. It overlooks the valleys of Ennerdale to the west and Wasdale to the south. The fell rises between the headstreams of Mosedale and Lingmell Becks, forming a steep-sided cone with a wide flat summit. Its flanks above Wasdale are almost entirely grass and scree with no breaks. Only one stream, Ill Gill, flows down these slopes from a small depression near the summit. The fell is separated from its higher neighbours by Black Sail and Beck Head passes. Black Sail was once a trade route between Wasdale and Ennerdale, now a well-graded path used for leisure. The summit plateau has a figure-of-eight shape, with the highest ground to the west and a subsidiary top to the east. Between them lie two small tarns, one oval and one with an indented outline. The summit itself is marked by a cairn amid scattered stones. From the top, Great Gable dominates the eastern view while the Scafells rise across Wasdale. To the west, the High Stile and Grasmoor ranges can be seen. The fell can be climbed directly from Wasdale Head, though the path is steep and relentless. More common routes go via Black Sail or Beck Head, or as part of the Mosedale Horseshoe. The fell’s steep faces and remote setting make it a challenging but rewarding climb.