Pillar is one of the Lake District's most rewarding fells. At 892 metres it ranks among the highest in Ennerdale, and its northern face is steep and craggy, dominated by the great pinnacle of Pillar Rock — a separate summit significant enough to appear in most lists of Lakeland two-thousanders, though not in the Marilyn list.
The best route is the High Level Traverse, which contours along the northern flank from Black Sail Pass to Robinson's Cairn, then threads through dramatic rocky terrain to the col between Pillar Rock and the main summit. The views into Ennerdale and across to Great Gable are outstanding. Pillar Rock itself requires a 'moderate' grade rock climb by the easiest route and should not be attempted without ropes.