Kirk Fell sits between Great Gable and Pillar — both of which are higher, more dramatic, and better known — which means it rarely gets climbed on its own. That's not entirely unfair: it's a broad, slightly featureless summit compared to its neighbours. But it earns its place as part of a longer round.
The best approach combines it with Great Gable, dropping to Beck Head in the col between the two. The descent from Kirk Fell to Beck Head is steep, with a short section of easy scrambling on loose ground. From there, the pull up to Great Gable is more direct and more satisfying. The full round from Wasdale Head takes four to five hours and covers some of the finest terrain in the Lake District.