Illgill Head

Illgill Head

Infobox Mountain
Name = Illgill Head
Photo = Illgill_Head.jpg
Location = Cumbria, ENG
Range = Lake District, Southern Fells
Elevation = 609 m (1,998 ft)
Prominence = 314 m
Parent peak = Scafell Pike
Topographic
OS "Landranger" 89, "Explorer" OL6
Grid_ref_UK = NY169049
Listing = Marilyn, Wainwright

Illgill Head is a fell in the English Lake District. It is known more commonly as the northern portion of the Wastwater Screes. The fell is 609 metres high and stands along the south-east shore of Wast Water, the deepest lake in England.

Topography

The panorama of the Wastwater Screes across Wast Water is one of the most famous and awe-inspiring views in England. Poet Norman Nicholson described the Screes as "like the inverted arches of a Gothic Cathedral".

The title Wastwater Screes applies to the scree-covered north-western fellside which plunges dramatically down into Wast Water. This also includes Illgill Head's neighbour Whin Rigg, the continuation of the ridge to the south-west. The scree slope continues beneath the lake to a depth of 79 metres. The screes were formed as a result of ice and weathering erosion on the rocks. Geologically, Illgill Head and Whin Rigg are part of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, typical for the southern-western area of the Lake District.

In marked contrast to the north-western slope, the opposite flank of the fell, which descends to Burnmoor Tarn and Miterdale is much gentler and covered in heather and bracken.

Geology

The summit area has outcropping tuff, lapilli-tuff and breccia of the Lingmell Formation amid the drift deposits. The crags atop the screes reveal the plagioclase-phyric andesite lavas of the Birker Fell Formation.British Geological Survey: 1:50,000 series maps, "England & Wales Sheet 38": BGS (1998)]

ummit and View

The summit is a flat sheepwalk, giving no clue to the drama of the Screes. North west from the cairn the grassy plateau gradually tilts, until a few yards away it simply disappears over the brink. Illgill Head is a fine viewpoint for Wasdale Head, the surrounding fells all appearing as they soar up from the dalehead. Nearer views, with care, are possible down the Screes themselves.

Walks

Illgill Head is commonly ascended from Wasdale Head over the north-eastern shoulder of the fell, skirting the edge of the Screes. There is also an ascent from Boot in Eskdale either over Whin Rigg or direct via Burnmoor Tarn.

A lakeside path along the south-eastern shore of Wast Water starts at Wasdale Head Hall and continues through the boulder field with exhilarating close-up views of the Screes.

References

* A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, The Southern Fells, Alfred Wainwright, ISBN 0-7112-2230-4


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Dale Head — seen from the neighbouring hill of High Spy Elevation 753 m (2,470 ft) …   Wikipedia

  • List of fells in the Lake District — This is a list of fells, hills, mountains, groups of mountains and subsidiary summits and tops in the Lake District, England. Alphabetical list A *Allen Crags *Angletarn Pikes *Ard Crags *Armboth Fell *Arnison Crag *Arthur s Pike B *Bakestall… …   Wikipedia

  • Scafell Pike — viewed from Wastwater Elevation 978 m (3,209 ft) …   Wikipedia

  • Old Man of Coniston — Old Man of Coniston …   Wikipedia

  • Crinkle Crags — from Cold Pike. The fell on the far right in sunlight is Bowfell Elevation …   Wikipedia

  • Muncaster Fell — The view west from Hardknott Pass in upper Eskdale, toward Muncaster Fell. Elevation …   Wikipedia

  • Whin Rigg — Infobox Mountain Name = Whin Rigg Photo = Whin Rigg and Wast Water from Yewbarrow.jpg Caption = Whin Rigg and The Screes seen across Wast Water from Yewbarrow. Location = Cumbria, ENG Range = Lake District, Southern Fells Elevation = 535 m (1,755 …   Wikipedia

  • Great Gable — from Wasdale. The cliff at centre is the Napes of Great Gable. Elevation 899 m (2,949 ft) …   Wikipedia

  • Kirk Fell — Infobox Mountain Photo= Kirk Fell Crags.jpg Caption=Kirk Fell from Moses Trod by [http://www.madaboutmountains.com/ Ann Bowker] Location = Cumbria, ENG | Range=Lake District, Western Fells| Name=Kirk Fell Translation=Hill above the church… …   Wikipedia

  • Wainwright (Berg) — Als Wainwright werden Berge (Fells) im nordenglischen Nationalpark Lake District bezeichnet, die in dem siebenbändigen Werk Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells des Autors und Illustrators Alfred Wainwright erwähnt werden. Insgesamt sind 214… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”