Name of walk	Greendale: Whin Rigg to Illgill Head
Date of walk	2025-06-15

I left Little Greendale just after 7am. The clouds were down over the fells, but I was hoping for a weather window later this morning. I would be walking up to Whin Rigg along the top of the Wasdale Screes to Illgill Head and down to Brackenclose NT car park, then walking back along the lake road to Greendale. A circuit of Wastwater. The walk is ten miles and would take just over six hours.

You don't often see coaches of this size on the narrow roads along Wastwater. It was still here on my return.

The weather at 7.15am was looking promising. I'm hoping the clouds will lift.

I will be walking up there along the edge!

Reflections.

From the path around Low Wood.

The boathouse.

I cross Lund Bridge.

My route is up the left side of Greathall Gill.

I follow the river.

Then take a right and follow the path beside the wall.

It is looking quite sunny to the north and out to sea.

Good views as I gain height.

I can see the cottage.

I follow the grassy track and look back.

I'll soon join the track from Irton Pike.

Irton Pike/Giggle Alley track on the left.

Now I'm heading into mist.

Whin Rigg summit cairn with no view at all.

I always take the edge path, where the views usually are. Never seen much point in taking the main path in the middle unless you are a vertigo sufferer.

I pass the summit tarns.

Then the clag starts to clear.

I can now see Illgill Head in the distance.

I can see the cottage again.

I make for the little pointy bit on the left which always provides a good photo opportunity.

The view down.

A pity I still can't see the surrounding fells.

View from the rock I'm standing on for the next photo.

I use my mini tripod with remote button to take this photo. It shows the precipitous nature of the Wasdale Screes.

View back to Whin Rigg.

My route ahead.

The mist is beginning to return.

It is now totally in mist as I head up to Illgill Head. I was lucky with my weather window.

Summit shelter of Illgill Head, but nothing to see.

I head down out of the cloud as Burnmoor Tarn comes into view.

No views to the Scafells. I continue down.

I'm below the clouds now and can see where I'm going.

I can now see the south end of Wastwater.

I pass the old ruins.

The double footbridge.

Looking back up to Illgill Head.

As I leave Brackenclose NT car park and head along the road for the long walk back to Greendale it starts to rain quite heavily. Luckily it is a weekend so I flag down the Wasdale Explorer free bus which will drop me back at the cottage.

Back at Little Greendale, the weather is set for the rest of the afternoon.

Because I caught the bus back for some of the way the walk only took me five hours and fifteen minutes.

Jo.