Pillar

Pillar stands on the southern edge of Ennerdale in the western Lake District, a steep-sided fell rising between the valleys of Ennerdale to the north and Wasdale to the south. It is the highest point of a group of fells and reaches 892 metres, making it the eighth-highest mountain in the Lake District. The fell takes its name from Pillar Rock, a tall column of rock on the Ennerdale side that became famous in the early 19th century. Two long tiers of crags run along the fell from Wind Gap in the west to Black Sail Pass in the east. Below the crags lies a narrow terrace called the High Level Route, while the lower slopes carry a belt of conifers extending across the River Liza.

Pillar is worth the journey for its long connection with rock climbing in the Lake District. The first recorded ascent of Pillar Rock was made in 1826 by John Atkinson, and by 1872 four different climbing routes had been pioneered on the rock. George Mallory climbed Pillar Rock in 1913, taking what is now known as Mallory’s Route. Over ninety climbs have been recorded on the rock, including seventeen graded E1 or above. The fell itself is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest, recognised for its geology and ecology.

A visitor reaches the summit by following paths from Wasdale Head or Ennerdale. The summit is a wide, grassy plateau with patches of stones and short turf, marked by an Ordnance Survey column and a windshelter. From the north windshelter there is a striking view of Pillar Rock. The view from the summit includes all the major fells except the Coniston range, with Loweswater, Ennerdale Water and Burnmoor Tarn visible in the distance. Walkers often combine Pillar with nearby fells such as Scoat Fell and Kirk Fell to make longer circuits.