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Black Sails
745m (2445ft)

The Southern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England


Record Black Sails as Bagged, Climbed & Conquered


English Mountain Icon

English Mountain
71st highest in England,
125th in England & Wales

English Nuttall Icon

English Nuttall
88th highest in England,
153rd in England & Wales

Walk Black Sails walking UK Mountains in The Southern Fells The Lake District National Park Cumbria, England

Black Sails Summit

Photo: David Elliott

You can find Black Sails & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)

The Lake District National Park


1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):

OL6 The English Lakes - South Western area


1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Maps (the ones with pink/magenta covers):

89 West Cumbria, Cockermouth & Wast Water


90 Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside


See Black Sails and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:

See Black Sails and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Maps:

NB: Whether you print off a copy on to paper or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers Maps will prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal!


You can walk to the top of Black Sails by using any of these 5 easy‑to‑follow route maps:
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Walk c303 Swirl How and Wetherlam from Little Langdale

A quieter alternative to the Coniston crowds.

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 8ml (12km)
Ascent:3,042ft (927m)
Time:5.75hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 6 Icon (Moderate)
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Walk c167 Wetherlam and Swirl How from Low Tilberthwaite

A quiet alternative to the usual honey pots

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 8.75ml (14km)
Ascent:3,584ft (1,092m)
Time:6.75hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c306 The Old Man of Coniston and Wetherlam from Coniston

Superb views of Coniston Water

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 9.75ml (15.5km)
Ascent:3,664ft (1,117m)
Time:7.25hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c222 Swirl How and Wetherlam from Coniston

The Consiton fells without the crowds

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 10ml (16km)
Ascent:3,584ft (1,092m)
Time:7 hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 7 Icon (Hard)
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Walk c420 The Coniston Fells from Walna Scar Road, Coniston

Superb high level route

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Vital Statistics:

Length: 12.75ml (20.5km)
Ascent:4,191ft (1,277m)
Time:8.75hrs
Grade:Walk Grade 8 Icon (Hard)

Other walkers who hiked, climbed, bagged and summited Black Sails Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Black Sails

Paul Macey walked up Black Sails on August 13th, 2012 [with] Luke Macey

Martin Woods climbed Black Sails on March 4th, 2023 [from/via/route] Old man of Coniston to Swirl How, Black Sails & Wetherlam c306 [with] N/A [weather] Overcast, 7 degerees in the valley cold on the tops - Be careful of navigation towards Swirl How easy to forget where you are up to

Kevin Foster bagged Black Sails on September 6th, 2021 [from/via/route] Low Tilberthwaite. [with] By myself. [weather] Cloudy. Summits mostly covered. Good visibility on lower slopes. - An interesting route onto Wetherlam via Steel Edge. The one Wainwright doesn't mention in his books for some reason? Don't know why because it's a cracking way up. Sadly on Prison Band the cloud level was reached & the rest of the walk was view less. Of interest on route was the war memorial & Halifax bomber crash site between Swirl How & Great Carrs. The views opened up again on the descent of wet side edge & the clouds & sunshine poking through made for some great photos.

Alan Smith hiked Black Sails on September 15th, 2020 [from/via/route] From Coniston. With kev. Hot sunny day [with] kevin [weather] Sunny

Caroline Winter summited Black Sails on April 11th, 2018 [from/via/route] Wrynose pass, Great Carrs, Grey Friar, Swirl How, Black sails, Wetherlam [with] Becky [weather] Cloud lifted & great views late morning/afternoon, breezy on ascent to Hell Gill Pike - Busy up here. Some off to Coniston from Swirl Hawse, we some how missed plane debris on Great Carrs! Lost time on descent of Prison Band & detour off path to Black Sails. Also, after rocky scramble decent.....ended up on the minor track to the mines, & boy was it steep & never ending. We were in dismay at another climb to get back over to Wet Side. Late for booked meal, but fantastic circuit

Anthony Scott conquered Black Sails on September 22nd, 2015 [with] me

Graham Coules scaled Black Sails on April 23rd, 2017 [from/via/route] Nel Foot bridge [weather] Perfect

Louis Smith walked up Black Sails on July 12th, 2015 [from/via/route] temperature inversion

Mark Davidson has climbed Black Sails [with] Theresa [weather] Can't remember - Can't remember the date but would have been the late 1990's

Rob Cheshire bagged Black Sails on August 23rd, 2015 [from/via/route] From Three Shire Stone, horseshoe route including Great Carrs, Swirl How, Black Sails & Wetherlam. [with] Solo [weather] Warm & Sunny, with a moderate haze.

To add (or remove) your name and experiences on this page - Log On and edit your Personal Mountain Bagging Record

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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Black Sails

Black Sails and The Furness Fells from the summit of Swirl How

Black Sails and The Furness Fells from the summit of Swirl How

Photo: Ian Gaylard (18)

Levers Water and The Old Man of Coniston from Black Sails summit cairn

Levers Water and The Old Man of Coniston from Black Sails summit cairn

Photo: Jon Nuttalls (14)

Coniston Old Man from Black Sails in the snow

Coniston Old Man from Black Sails in the snow

Photo: David Elliott (2)


Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Black Sails

If you would like to add your walk photographs and pictures featuring views from, on or of Black Sails to this page, please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:



and we shall do our best to publish them.

(Guide Resolution = 300dpi. At least = 660pixels (wide) x 440 pixels (high).)

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NB. Please indicate where each photo was taken.






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