Lake District
Haystacks (Tilberthwaite)
423M
1388FT
About Haystacks (Tilberthwaite)
Often overshadowed by its famous Buttermere namesake, this rugged Birkett offers a quintessential Lakeland scramble on a smaller scale. Located in the Yewdale Fells near Coniston, its rocky, heather-clad summit provides an intimate perspective of Wetherlam’s towering eastern crags and the sprawling waters of Coniston Water and Windermere.
Key Statistics
Rank
553rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Fells
Prominence
?
19m
Nearest Town
Little Langdale
Geology
You are hiking over ancient layers of hardened volcanic ash, sand, and stony fragments. These durable deposits form the rugged foundation of the fell beneath your feet.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
54.4032°N
Longitude
3.0789°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a literal description of its profile, likely derived from the Old Norse 'stakkr', meaning a haystack. This descriptive naming was common among Norse-settler farmers for hills with steep, symmetrical sides that resembled traditional agricultural stacks.
- •While it shares a name with Wainwright’s favourite fell in Buttermere, this summit is a 'Birkett-only' peak. Bill Birkett championed these lesser-visited tops in his 1994 guidebook, noting that their rugged, rock-strewn character often rivals the more famous 214 Wainwrights.
- •The summit offers a spectacular, close-quarters view of the 'Steel Edge' ridge on Wetherlam. Looking south, the full length of Coniston Water is visible, framed by the lower wooded slopes of the Furness Fells.
- •The approach from Tilberthwaite is a journey through industrial archaeology. The route passes the massive spoil heaps and deep, water-filled caverns of the Tilberthwaite Slate Quarries, which were once a primary source of Westmorland Green slate.
- •Climbing this hill is a guaranteed way to confuse your walking partners; just ensure you specify 'Tilberthwaite' on the invitation, or someone will inevitably turn up forty minutes away in Buttermere.