Grey Knotts to Pillar
1 NY209134 The easiest option is to head east and then south on footpaths for an indirect route to Grey Knotts. But, for a shorter and more intrepid option, you can head south-east over pathless slopes for a direct ascent. Exit the bothy, turn right and head south-east into the boggy hollow of Dubs Bottom. Follow the beck upstream. A trod emerges, sticking to the left of the stream as you follow it south-east. Exit Dubs Bottom and climb south-east following the left fork of the stream. The pathless, heathery slopes are tough going in places, but not excessively difficult. Cross a wide footpath and climb southeast over further pathless terrain to Grey Knotts. Descend south, passing small tarns, and follow a grassy path south to a bend in a fence. Cross the fence at a gate and climb gently ahead to Brandreth.
2 NY214119 Descend south along a line of old metal fence posts to the tarn-dotted col of Gillercomb Head. Continue to follow the fence posts as you climb south. At a path junction to the north-east of Green Gable, turn left and descend a rocky path to a col before climbing easily to Base Brown, a bonus out-and-back summit. Re-trace your steps and follow the clear path south-west, guided by a series of large cairns, to the summit of Green Gable. Turn left and descend red-ish scree to Windy Gap. Ascend steeply south-west over boulder-strewn terrain to Great Gable’s summit.
3 NY211103 Scramble steeply over boulders down the north-west ridge. At a junction, veer left to descend west over scree to Beck Head. Climb west up Rib End and emerge onto a broad plateau. Continue west following a line of metal posts and pass over a rise in the terrain. Descend briefly to pass to the right of Kirkfell Tarn before climbing steadily south-west over easier ground and then boulder fields to Kirk Fell’s summit.
4 NY194104 Descend gently north-west, guided by a line of old metal posts. Veer right slightly and head north over initially easy terrain before the gradient steepens significantly at Kirkfell Crags. The descent is a scramble with a few rocky steps to negotiate, but there is little exposure. Fork right just before the large cairn on the Black Sail Pass and take the higher of two paths heading up Looking
Stead. Pass a small tarn and veer right off the path, sticking to higher ground. Pass another tarn and climb to Looking Stead’s summit. Turn left and descend briefly to rejoin main path. Ascend steeply west over craggy ground. Skirt left on lower ground to the south of the ridge, before veering northwest. Ignore a trod to the left and instead ascend steeply west. Beyond the steepest section, follow a line of cairns to pass to the left of a subsidiary top before climbing northwest to Pillar’s summit.
5 NY171121 Re-trace your steps and descend east and south-east back to Black Sail Pass. Turn left and descend north-east on a path following Sail Beck. Cross the footbridge over the River Liza, fork right and follow the river south-east briefly. Veer east and then north-east, climbing alongside Loft Beck. After the path veers east again, arrive at a path junction. Turn left, head north and pass to the west of Great Round How’s crags. Arrive at a path junction marked by a cairn. Turn right and follow the path as it loops north. At the next junction fork left and descend briefly, before peeling off left again on one of a few trods that descend north-west over rugged terrain to the bothy at NY204132.