Black Sails & Great How

The walk, stage by stage

1. 1

   Wrynose Pass Car Park → Hell Gill Pike (1.5 km, 283 m)

   Climb of about 283 m over 1.5 km (around 19% average).

   Depart the Three Shire Stone at Wrynose Pass, striking directly south up the steep, craggy spur of Wet Side Edge. The path weaves heavily through rocky outcrops and boggy patches, making a relentless, aggressive climb until the gradient momentarily eases at the minor rocky tor of Hell Gill Pike

   Waypoints

   Wrynose Pass (Three Shire Stone), Wet Side Edge, Hell Gill Pike (approx 660m)

   Decision point

   The sheer drop into the Wrynose Bottom valley on your right (west) and the deep cut of Greenburn to your left (east) act as massive natural funnels. The heavily worn, rocky path is obvious, pointing directly up the spine of the ridge

   Easy to get wrong

   A 19% gradient right out of the car park is a shock to the lungs. The path up Wet Side Edge is heavily eroded and crisscrosses small, slick rock slabs that become treacherous in wet or icy conditions. Exposure to the wind increases drastically the moment you clear the shelter of the pass

   If you need to get off

   Simply turn 180 degrees and carefully downclimb the rocky path of Wet Side Edge straight back to the car park at Wrynose Pass

2. 2

   Hell Gill Pike → Little Carrs (0.2 km, 13 m)

   Undulating section of about 0.2 km.

   Continue south-east along the ridge, enjoying a very brief, almost level stroll across rocky ground and short turf, hopping over a minor depression before stepping up onto the small, stony rise of Little Carrs

   Waypoints

   Hell Gill Pike, Little Carrs (690m)

   Decision point

   Keep heading directly toward the massive, looming bulk of Great Carrs immediately ahead. The ridge line is distinct and impossible to lose in clear weather

   Easy to get wrong

   This section is mercifully short but remains fully exposed to the elements. The rock here is blocky and uneven, requiring you to keep an eye on your foot placement rather than the expansive views over the Duddon Valley

   If you need to get off

   Retreat south over Hell Gill Pike and descend Wet Side Edge to the start. Do not attempt to bail laterally off this high, steep-sided ridge

3. 3

   Little Carrs → Great Carrs (0.6 km, 92 m)

   Climb of about 92 m over 0.6 km (around 15% average).

   From Little Carrs, tackle the steep, rocky final pull up the ridge. The path zigzags through shattered crags, eventually leveling out onto a broad, stony plateau just past the haunting wreckage and memorial of the WWII Halifax bomber, delivering you to the summit cairn of Great Carrs

   Waypoints

   Halifax bomber memorial, Broad Slack (vicinity), Great Carrs summit (785m)

   Decision point

   The path threads naturally through the rocks towards the highest ground. The wooden cross and metal debris of the aircraft memorial act as a solemn, unmistakable waypoint just before the summit

   Easy to get wrong

   The final ascent requires minor scrambling over loose stones and blocky steps. The bomber crash site is situated near a precipitous drop overlooking the Greenburn valley; the edges of the crags here are frequently corniced in winter and inherently unstable year-round

   If you need to get off

   Reverse your route down Wet Side Edge. If weather forces a retreat from the summit plateau, ensure you take a strict southerly bearing to hit the correct descent ridge, avoiding the sheer drops to the east and north

4. 4

   Great Carrs → Swirl How (0.6 km, 23 m)

   Undulating section of about 0.6 km.

   Bear south, enjoying a magnificent, high-level ridge traverse over a broad, stony plateau. The route crosses a shallow depression at Broad Slack before making a very slight, easy rise to the impressive summit cairn of Swirl How

   Waypoints

   Broad Slack (saddle), Swirl How summit (802m)

   Decision point

   Keep the dramatic, plunging cliffs of the Greenburn basin to your right (south) as a continuous handrail. In low visibility, rely on pacing and a south-easterly compass bearing to cross Broad Slack accurately

   Easy to get wrong

   This is one of the highest and most exposed plateaus in the southern fells. While the gradient is negligible, the terrain is a chaotic jumble of stones that can be harsh on the ankles. In thick hill fog, this broad, stony expanse is highly disorienting

   If you need to get off

   There are no immediate safe escapes from this high plateau. Pushing forward to utilize the Prison Band descent towards Wetherlam, or retreating to Great Carrs and down Wet Side Edge, are your only viable options

5. 5

   Swirl How → Great How (Swirl Band) (0.6 km, 2 m)

   Undulating section of about 0.6 km.

   Drop steeply off the summit of Swirl How, heading south-east down the narrow, rocky arête of the Prison Band. Carefully navigate the zig-zagging, heavily eroded path through the crags to reach the minor, rocky bump of Great How situated mid-way down the ridge

   Waypoints

   Swirl How descent, Prison Band, Great How summit (Swirl Band)

   Decision point

   The Prison Band is a sharp, unmistakable ridge line dropping towards Swirl Hawse. Follow the heavy wear on the rocks directly down the spine of the arête; the terrain falls away precipitously on both sides, making the correct route obvious

   Easy to get wrong

   The descent down the Prison Band is aggressively steep, loose, and frequently requires the use of hands for balance on the rock steps. The rock becomes notoriously greasy when wet. The ridge narrows significantly here, funneling crosswinds that can violently buffet descending walkers

   If you need to get off

   You are committed to the Prison Band descent. Continue carefully down the ridge until you reach the major crossroads of Swirl Hawse, from which you can safely bail into the valleys

6. 6

   Great How (Swirl Band) → Black Sails (2.5 km, 179 m)

   Climb of about 179 m over 2.5 km (around 7% average).

   Continue descending the Prison Band to the saddle of Swirl Hawse, then bear right (south) to leave the main paths. Embark on a rough, undulating traverse across pathless, lumpy moorland, skirting above the Greenburn valley to eventually climb onto the broad, grassy ridge of Black Sails

   Waypoints

   Swirl Hawse, Greenburn upper basin, Black Sails summit (745m)

   Decision point

   Keep the deep trench of the Greenburn valley clearly to your right (west/south-west) as a continuous handrail. The ridge of Black Sails runs parallel to the Wetherlam massif; use the high ground of Wetherlam to your left (east) to keep your bearing straight

   Easy to get wrong

   Leaving the engineered paths at Swirl Hawse plunges you back into trackless, energy-sapping terrain. The traverse towards Black Sails is heavily rutted with peat hags and hidden bogs. The 7% average climb masks a frustrating series of minor, steep undulations across the rough fellside

   If you need to get off

   From Swirl Hawse, you can bail north-east down to Levers Water and Coniston, though this takes you away from your car. Alternatively, drop into the Greenburn valley to pick up the old mine tracks leading back towards Wrynose

7. Black Sails → Finish (4.7 km, 183 m)

   Climb of about 183 m over 4.7 km (around 4% average).

   Descend the grassy spine of Black Sails heading south-west, dropping steadily over rolling, pathless terrain. Intersect the old copper mine tracks in the Greenburn valley, and follow these undulating, stony paths as they wind their way back up the valley to finally close the loop at the Wrynose Pass car park

   Waypoints

   Black Sails descent, Greenburn mine ruins, Greenburn Beck, Wrynose Pass road (finish)

   Decision point

   Aim for the highly visible, ruined stone buildings of the Greenburn copper mines in the valley below. Once you hit the valley floor, the old mining tracks provide an unmistakable, continuous linear handrail all the way back to the Wrynose pass road

   Easy to get wrong

   The initial descent off Black Sails is steep grass that becomes a dangerous slip-hazard in wet weather. The long 4.7 km walk-out along the valley floor involves a deceptive amount of re-ascent (183m) on hard, stony mining tracks, which feels particularly punishing on tired legs at the very end of the day

   If you need to get off

   You are on the final escape route. Stick strictly to the established mine tracks along the valley floor, avoiding any temptation to cut across the marshy banks of Greenburn Beck