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

892 m · Cumbria

Pillar is one of the great Lakeland fells, a high summit above Ennerdale and Wasdale named after Pillar Rock, the climbing crag on its northern face.

Walk up Mosedale to Black Sail Pass, then follow the ridge west over Looking Stead to the summit.

Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass at a glance

Distance	6.0 km one way, to the top
Ascent	819 m
Time up	2h 35m by Naismith's rule
There and back	3h 45m, down the same way
Grade	Moderate
Start	Wasdale Head (National Trust car park)
Start grid reference	NY 186 087
Summit grid reference	NY 171 121

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	2h 5m	3h 5m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	2h 35m	3h 45m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	3h 10m	4h 40m

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 13:23 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 13:21 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Pillar summit weather for this route

Good Today Sunday 18 October

Partly cloudy, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 17 mph gusting 21 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08.
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October

Moderate drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 46 mph gusting 58 mph, 51% 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 21 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

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

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 -5°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 Pillar

Pillar is one of the great Lakeland fells, a high summit above Ennerdale and Wasdale named after Pillar Rock, the climbing crag on its northern face. More about Pillar, with the live forecast.

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

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Pillar Rock (780 m), 0.3 km north
Black Crag (828 m), 0.7 km south-west
Scoat Fell (841 m), 1.4 km south-west
Steeple (819 m), 1.4 km west
Looking Stead (628 m), 1.5 km east
Red Pike (826 m), 1.6 km south

Challenges that include Pillar

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 Black Sail Pass up Kirk Fell
Wasdale Head direct up Kirk Fell
Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue up Lingmell
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 Pillar

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
High Level Route	5.9 km one way	913 m	2h 40m	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 171 121), 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 6.0 km one way to the summit of Pillar, with 819 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.0 km.

How long does Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass take?

About 2h 35m to the summit of Pillar and 3h 45m 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 4h 40m 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 13:23 at the latest. Sunset on Pillar today is 18:08, Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass takes about 3h 45m 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).