(S) Leaving YHA Ennerdale behind you, stride out along the track heading up the valley. The River Liza will keep you company, on the right, and the great mass of White Pike will tower above you. At the first opportunity, cross over the River Liza on the footbridge that takes you into the Ennerdale Fell Plantations. Climb up the track through the pine trees, in a SE direction. At the end of the plantation, climb steadily on the right of a stream or beck to reach Pillar Rock. From here there's an even steeper climb up to the summit of Pillar (Wainwright at 892m above sea level).
(1) Getting up to Pillar is no easy task but the views from here are spectacular (on a clear day). If it's windy, there is a pretty good shelter on top and it's a good place to eat something and drink some water. Then, refreshed and invigorated, it's time to move on, heading South-West to Windy Gap and on to Little Scoat Fell and Scoat Fell (Wainwright at 841m above sea level).
(2) From the cairn (on top of the wall!!) head north for 10 mins to reach the cairn on top of Steeple (Wainwright at 819m above sea level). Go back to the wall at Scoat Fell, with Scoat Tarn directly ahead, in the valley between Red Pike and Little Lad Crag, and Low Tarn further down towards Over Beck. Head SW to Great Scoat Fell and along the Ennerdale Fence wall to reach Haycock (Wainwright at 797m above sea level).
(3) From Haycock, the route turns left, directly south, down the side of Gowder Crag and over High Pikehow. Carry on to Pots of Ashness and a short climb up to the summit of Seatallan (Wainwright at 692m above sea level).
(4) Head south again, then bear right over Nether Wasdale Common over Cat Bields and pass the Buck Stone. From here, bear left to reach the cairn at Glade How. Then follow the path along the crags to Buckbarrow (Wainwright at 423m above sea level).
(5) Head south to Pike Crag then west passing the split boulder and down to Long Crag where you should see the "Big Sheepfold". Continue down to cross an unamed beck and keep going down Gill Beck, below the waterfalls, coming out onto the road opposite the track that leads to Ghyll Farm and Tosh Tarn.
(6) Past the farm, head on down to the campsite at Nether Wasdale (ignore the tracks that run off left and right). Nether Wasdale has a number of watering holes, including The Strands & Screes Inn and Brewery. Don't linger too long as the day is probably coming to a close and the light might be fading. At the road, turn left and head for Cinderdale Bridge which crosses the River Irt.
(7) Once over the bridge turn almost immediately left to follow a track to Easthwaite Farm. Past the farm, take a left turn through a gate and over the fields to Lund Bridge. Here you have a choice (depending on the light) to either go straight through Low Wood or take the circular path to the right that follows the river round to the left and out into the lake. Wast Water stretches out before you and there are a couple of benches along the path that will give you the opportunity to sit and wonder at the beauty of the scene. You can also slip down to the water's edge to capture that magic moment with your camera. Follow the path along the edge of the lake and before too long you'll see, through the trees, YHA Wasdale Hall.(E)
