Sail routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX
773 m · Cumbria
Sail is a grassy fell on the Coledale ridge between Scar Crags and Crag Hill, climbed by a zigzag path from Sail Pass.
Peakify lists 4 measured routes up Sail, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.
Sail routes, easiest to hardest
Sorted by grade, easiest first: Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble. Routes with the same grade keep the order in which Peakify's editors listed them.
| Route | Start | Distance | Ascent | Time up | There and back | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stair via Sail Pass | Stair (Newlands valley) | 5.3 km one way | 758 m | 2h 20m | 3h 25m | Moderate |
| Braithwaite via Causey Pike ridge | Braithwaite village | 6.3 km one way | 780 m | 2h 35m | 3h 50m | Moderate |
| Braithwaite via Coledale Hause | Braithwaite / lower Whinlatter Pass car park | 7.0 km one way | — | — | — | Hard |
| Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause | Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park | 7.2 km one way | — | — | — | Hard |
Sail route times by Naismith's rule
The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.
Each Sail route
Stair via Sail Pass
Climb to Sail Pass between Scar Crags and Sail, then follow the zigzag path up the eastern slope. It starts from Stair (Newlands valley). 5.3 km one way with 758 m of ascent. About 2h 20m to the summit and 3h 25m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.
Braithwaite via Causey Pike ridge
Climb Causey Pike and follow the ridge west over Scar Crags and Sail Pass to Sail. It starts from Braithwaite village. 6.3 km one way with 780 m of ascent. About 2h 35m to the summit and 3h 50m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.
Braithwaite via Coledale Hause
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Braithwaite / lower Whinlatter Pass car park. It starts from Braithwaite / lower Whinlatter Pass car park. 7.0 km one way. Grade: Hard.
Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park. It starts from Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park. 7.2 km one way. Grade: Hard.
Sail route GPX
Download a GPX for each route with a track: Braithwaite via Coledale Hause, Lanthwaite via Gasgale Gill and Coledale Hause. Each is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.
Before you pick a route
The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Sail today and the Sail 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.
Planning a day on Sail routes
The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.
Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.
Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
If you are new to Sail, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.
Questions about Sail
What is the easiest route up Sail?
From Stair, climb to Sail Pass and follow the zigzag path up the eastern slope to the summit.
How much time does each Sail route take?
Stair via Sail Pass: about 2h 20m up and 3h 25m there and back. Braithwaite via Causey Pike ridge: about 2h 35m up and 3h 50m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.
Can I get a GPX file for a Sail route?
Yes. Open a route below and download its GPX: an ascent track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths.