Western Lake District
Wasdale Head

The principle dwelling at Wasdale Head is the Wasdale Head Inn – the birthplace of British rock climbing at the end of the 19th century. It was in 1886 when one of the pioneers of rock climbers Haskett-Smith scaled Napes Needle, which lies further up the valley on the flanks of Great Gable. The landlord of the Inn around that time, Will Ritson, a champion liar, was also a fearless mountaineer, and pinned to the walls of the inn are a selection of black and white photographs of him scaling various routes.