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.

• •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.