Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge up Looking Stead: route map, distance and time
628 m · Cumbria
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Lake Head National Trust car park, Wasdale.
The Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge starts at about 67 m and gains 782 m over 5.4 km to 594 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 3%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3 km, which climbs 494 m at an average of 49%, with a 500 m stretch from 2.2 km at about 53%. The final 0.4 km eases to the top. About 30% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge at a glance
| Distance | 5.4 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Climb on the track | 782 m up, 253 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 63 m to 798 m (summit 628 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 53%, from 2.2 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 30% of the way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Lake Head National Trust car park, Wasdale, CA20 1EX |
| Start grid reference | NY 181 074 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 186 117 |
| Parking | Lake Head National Trust car park, Wasdale |
Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
- Wasdale Head Inn1.3 km
- Public toilets0.0 km
- Public toilets0.2 km
- Wasdale Campsite0.1 km
- Wasdale Head Campsite1.3 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge GPX
Ascent only: plan your way down. A planning track, not checked on the ground; it doesn't show safe scrambling moves. Track data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), heights from a terrain model.
Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge kilometre by kilometre
Height, climb and average gradient for each kilometre of the track, with a grid reference at the end of each one to check your position on the map.
| At | Height | Climb | Gradient | Grid ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 75 m | +8 m | 1% | NY 184 083 |
| 2 km | 114 m | +39 m | 4% | NY 187 091 |
| 3 km | 609 m | +494 m | 49% steep | NY 191 100 |
| 4 km | 742 m | +134 m | 13% | NY 193 108 |
| 5 km | 571 m | -171 m | -17% | NY 189 116 |
| 5.4 km | 594 m | +22 m | 5% | NY 186 117 |
How long the Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 55m | 2h 50m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 25m | 3h 30m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 55m | 4h 15m |
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.
Looking Stead summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Monday 19 October
Light drizzle, up to 9°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 0°C, summit wind 24 mph gusting 30 mph, 29% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October
Dense drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 1°C, summit wind 24 mph gusting 30 mph, 69% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:04.
Best day of the next seven for the Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge: Monday 19 October, with summit gusts around 30 mph and a 29% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Looking Stead forecast
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 0°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 30 mph.
- 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 Looking Stead
More about Looking Stead, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Looking Stead
More walks from Lake Head National Trust car park, Wasdale
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Wasdale via Beck Head up Great Gable
- Wasdale via Beck Head up Kirk Fell
- Wasdale via Beck Head up Kirk Fell East Top
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 181 074, the summit at NY 186 117), 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 via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge: questions and answers
How far is the Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge?
The Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge is 5.4 km one way to the summit of Looking Stead. There and back by the same way is about 10.8 km.
How steep is the Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge?
The steepest 500 m averages about 53%, starting 2.2 km from the start, and 30% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge climbs 782 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge?
The Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge starts from Lake Head National Trust car park, Wasdale (postcode CA20 1EX). The grid reference is NY 181 074. Lake Head National Trust car park, Wasdale
Is the Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge suitable for beginners?
Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first.
Is there a GPX for the Wasdale via Black Sail Pass and the western ridge?
Yes. Download it from this page. It is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.