The classic view of Yewbarrow over Wast Water

Yewbarrow

Height627m (2,057ft)

Prominence142m (466ft)

RegionWestern Fells

Climbed2 Times

"Many mountains have been described as having the shape of the inverted hull of a boat, but none of them more fittingly than Yewbarrow, which extends along the west side of Wasdale for two miles as a high and narrow ridge, the prow and the stern coming sharply down to the valley level with many barnacled incrustations." — A. Wainwright

Dominating the western flank of Wast Water, Yewbarrow forms the left-hand anchor in the iconic calendar view of the Wasdale valley alongside Great Gable. The name stems from the ancient presence of yew trees on its slopes combined with its distinctive "barrow" shape, mirroring an inverted ship's keel.

Despite its modest height compared to surrounding giants, accessing the summit via standard ridge routes from either end requires hands-on scrambling over steep, loose rock—notably at Bell Rib and Stirrup Crag.

The summit looking towards Sty Head

In contrast to its precipitous flanks, the narrow high ridge levels out onto a pleasant, grassy plateau marked by a small stone cairn. Situated centrally at the head of Wasdale, the summit provides an unrivalled, panoramic perspective across to the Scafell range, Great Gable, Kirk Fell, and Pillar.

Trip Reports

Pillar Rock & the Mosedale Horseshoe19/04/2019

The Mosedale Horseshoe24/05/2015

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