From the Barn Door Shop campsite, Wasdale Head
The Mountain
Pillar is a prominent fell from the upper reaches of Wasdale, dominating the sub-valley of Mosedale and providing an impressive backdrop to the village of Wasdale Head. Pillar is, in fact, the highest fell west of Great Gable, and so the views in that direction are excellent.
However impressive Pillar might look from Wasdale, the Ennerdale face is even better. Here, rising out of the forested valley bottom, the slopes of the mountain rise steeply to the gigantic outcrop of Pillar Rock, a 500 foot high monolith. Pillar Rock, originally known as Pillar Stone, is the site of many early rock-climbs, including a route route first climbed by George Mallory in 1913 (North-West by West, or "Mallory's Route"). Technical difficulty ranges from the relatively easy Grade 3 Notch and Slab, which may be climbed unroped, to more challenging E2s and higher. Walkers and scramblers whose expertise is restricted to easier climbs will do well to avoid Pillar Rock entirely.
Pillar is one of the easiest of the big mountains of Lakeland to climb. Starting at Wasdale Head, walk along the length of Mosedale--on the right-hand side of the beck--and climb the Black Sail Pass as far as the col. This pass is relatively gentle throughout its entire length, and the path is very good underfoot: in fact, I saw a number of people on mountain bikes when I was there. From Black Sail, continue easily up the East Ridge of the mountain until you reach the summit plateau. The entire ascent takes only a couple of hours.
Alternatively, leave the ridge at Looking Stead and find the epic High-Level Route, which may be followed to the summit.
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The High-Level Route
I walked the High-Level Route in descent, but since its gradient is very slight for the most part there's not a great deal of difference either way. From the summit, slither down an unstable scree slope (the only steep section) to emerge at the top of the Shamrock Traverse. This path is located on the edge of a massive tilted shelf of rock, and is an exhiliarating walk.
Before you set off on the Shamrock Traverse, however, take a moment to inspect the huge rear side of Pillar Rock. This is the easiest side, and you can see a polished line leading over the Pisgah buttress: this is the first section of Notch and Slab, the Grade 3 scramble.
Follow the Shamrock traverse, and the subsequent path following on from the end of the Traverse, until you reach a prominent heap of stones. This is Robinson's Cairn, erected in memory of John Wilson Robinson by "one hundred of his comrades and friends" in 1907. The view looking back to Pillar Rock from Robinson's Cairn is absolutely stunning, and gives a real idea of the sheer size of Pillar Rock. Pictures of both the plaque and the view of the Rock can be seen below.
The remainder of the High-Level Route winds its way in between crags and buttresses on the fellside, offering an exciting yet easy walk with superb views of Ennerdale. The Route eventually merges with the regular path near Looking Stead.
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Conclusion
Pillar really is a grand mountain, especially if the High-Level Route is included in the day's walk. By the regular route, Pillar offers a quick, relatively easy climb to a high summit with excellent views. It may also be climbed as part of the epic Mosedale Horseshoe, including Red Pike, Scoat Fell, Steeple, Yewbarrow (and, optionally, Kirk Fell). This is a route I plan to do during the course of Easter 2006.
If you're staying at Wasdale Head for any length of time, you have no excuse not to climb Pillar!
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 From Great Gable |
 Looking big from Steeple |
 Wasdale from Black Sail Pass |
 Gable from Pillar summit |
 Pillar Rock (the easy side) |
 The plaque on Robinson's Cairn |
 Pillar Rock from the cairn |
 On the Black Sail Pass |
