Lake District
Black Sails
745M
2444FT
About Black Sails
Tucked away on the northern shoulder of the Wetherlam massif, this rugged Birkett summit offers a quieter perspective on the Coniston Fells. It overlooks the deep trench of the Greenburn valley, providing a dramatic vantage point for studying the iconic profile of the Langdale Pikes and the distant Helvellyn range.
Key Statistics
Rank
112th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Fells
Prominence
?
38
Nearest Town
Coniston
Geology
The ground consists of ancient volcanic ash and small stones. These layers were created by explosive eruptions within the Long Top and Oxendale formations.
Find It
Latitude
54.3972°N
Longitude
3.1060°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is thought to derive from the dark, triangular crags on its eastern face, which were said by valley dwellers in Little Langdale to resemble the dark sails of a ship.
- •While it was omitted from Alfred Wainwright’s main Pictorial Guides, it is recognized as a distinct summit by both Bill Birkett and Timothy Synge, marking it as an essential stop for those completing the 'Birketts'.
- •The most rewarding approach is via the rocky scramble of Steel Edge, a sharp ridge that rises steeply from the Greenburn valley and deposits walkers directly onto the high summit plateau.
- •From the summit cairn, you earn a perfectly framed view of the 'thimble' of Pike of Stickle, standing prominently across the Great Langdale divide to the north.
- •The lower eastern slopes bear the scars of the Greenburn Copper Mine; the ruins of the 19th-century engine house and the massive wheel pit are still clearly visible from the ascent.
- •The summit plateau is deceptively broad and featureless in poor visibility, making it remarkably easy to wander back toward the main bulk of Wetherlam while convinced you are heading for the valley.