Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass up Kirk Fell: route map, distance and time

802 m · Cumbria

Kirk Fell is the steep fell behind Wasdale Head between Great Gable and Pillar, known for a direct ascent that climbs straight up its southern face.

Walk up Mosedale to Black Sail Pass, then follow the ridge east over rocky outcrops to the summit.

Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass at a glance

Distance	4.8 km one way, to the top
Ascent	727 m
Time up	2h 10m by Naismith's rule
There and back	3h 10m, down the same way
Grade	Moderate
Start	Wasdale Head (National Trust car park)
Start grid reference	NY 186 087
Summit grid reference	NY 194 104

Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass map

The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.

Height profile and getting to the start

Start grid ref NY 186 087 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.

How long Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	1h 45m	2h 35m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	2h 10m	3h 10m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	2h 40m	3h 50m

Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.

Today: sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08. Start by 13:58 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 10m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 13:56 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 10m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Kirk Fell summit weather for this route

Good Today Sunday 18 October

Overcast, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 11 mph gusting 15 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08.
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October

Light drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 41 mph gusting 52 mph, 49% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06.

Best day of the next seven for Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 15 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Hour-by-hour Kirk Fell forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Kirk Fell?

Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.

What to take today

An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -4°C on top.
A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.

About Kirk Fell

Kirk Fell is the steep fell behind Wasdale Head between Great Gable and Pillar, known for a direct ascent that climbs straight up its southern face. More about Kirk Fell, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, Birkett.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Kirk Fell East Top (787 m), 0.5 km north-east
Great Gable (899 m), 1.6 km east
Looking Stead (628 m), 1.6 km north-west
Green Gable (800 m), 2 km east
Yewbarrow North Top (617 m), 2.3 km south-west
Brandreth (715 m), 2.4 km north-east

Challenges that include Kirk Fell

More walks from Wasdale Head

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

Wasdale Head via Sty Head up Great Gable
Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road up Illgill Head
Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue up Lingmell
Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass up Pillar
High Level Route up Pillar
Wasdale Head via Dore Head up Red Pike
Wasdale Head via Green How up Scafell
Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue up Scafell Pike
Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap up Scoat Fell
Wasdale Head via Scoat Fell up Steeple
Wasdale Head via Dore Head and Stirrup Crag up Yewbarrow

Other routes up Kirk Fell

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Wasdale Head direct	2.1 km one way	719 m	1h 35m	Hard
Wasdale via Beck Head	5.8 km one way	750 m	2h 25m	Hard

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 186 087, the summit at NY 194 104), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.

Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass: questions and answers

How far is Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass?

Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass is 4.8 km one way to the summit of Kirk Fell, with 727 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 9.6 km.

How long does Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass take?

About 2h 10m to the summit of Kirk Fell and 3h 10m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 3h 50m for the round trip.

Where do you park for Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass?

Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass starts from Wasdale Head (National Trust car park). The grid reference is NY 186 087.

Is Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass suitable for beginners?

Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.

What time should I start Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass today?

By 13:58 at the latest. Sunset on Kirk Fell today is 18:08, Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass takes about 3h 10m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass?

Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).