The day on the hill
A fine day on Black Sails: dry, with light winds and clear tops for most of the day.
Wind
On the summit expect an easterly wind of around 5–15 mph first thing, easing to 0–10 mph by mid-afternoon, with gusts of 15–25 mph at the windiest. Lower down on the open hillside the wind will be light, under 10 mph.
Cloud and visibility
The tops are likely to stay mostly clear of cloud, though brief patches cannot be ruled out. The air should be clear, so expect far-reaching views as long as the tops stay clear.
Rain and ground
It should stay dry.
Warmth and kit
On the tops it will be around 0 to 4°C, feeling like -6 to -2°C in the wind. The freezing level is above the summits. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.
Daylight
A short day, with only about 9 hours of daylight. Sunset is around 4:20pm, so allow time to get off the hill before dark, and carry a head torch.
Sunshine context Model-grid estimate, not summit sunshine
The surrounding model grid indicates 7 h of sunshine. This is not a forecast of time in sunshine on the summit. Use the cloud and views outlook above for the conditions on this mountain.
- Early
- 2 h
- Midday
- 4 h
- Later
- 0 h
Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaA poor night to camp on open ground: a frost, down to -1°C. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full overnight outlook
A poor night to camp on open ground. Gusts reach about 30 mph on open ground, so peg out well and use the guylines. Look for shelter from the northwest. It should stay dry. A frost at every height we checked (300-600 m), down to about -1°C. A warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag rated to about -4°C comfort, and a warm mat, should do. Allow more if you sleep cold.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 11 mph / 26 mph
- Typical / low
- 3.5°C / -0.4°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Low
- Wind / gust
- 13 mph / 32 mph
- Typical / low
- 2.7°C / -1.2°C · much of the night
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Low
Warmth planning: As a broad starting point, consider a warm 3-season or 3–4 season bag with an ISO/EN comfort rating at or below about -4°C. Allow more margin if you sleep cold or expect fatigue, and use an adequate insulated mat. Dampness is possible, so keep the sleep system dry and ensure its insulation remains effective if damp.
Open-hillside reference. A sheltered pitch may be calmer; cols and ridges may be much windier. Tent design and the exact pitch still matter. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.
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Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaExcellent conditions for exposed scrambling. Excellent95 View detailsHide details
Full climbing & scrambling outlook
Excellent conditions for exposed scrambling. The rock should be mostly dry, though drainage lines and shaded holds may still be damp. The rock around the summit is mostly volcanic tuff, rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. These are general notes for each rock type, taken from geological maps around the summit, so the rock on your line may differ.
Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly. These are general notes for each rock type, from geological map samples at and around the summit. The rock on your line can differ, and lichen, vegetation and seepage all change how it feels underfoot.
Rock groups along the sampled routes
These are mapped rock groups, not separate weather forecasts or a ranking of route safety.
Wainwright Coniston Round
sandstone or gritstone, volcanic rock
Geological detail and BGS records
7 rock types appear in the mapped samples
Samples around the summit inform the main rock-response profile, with the summit pin shown separately where it differs. Route samples add further context, but this is not a continuous geological survey.
Volcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.
BGS recordVolcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.
BGS recordVolcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.
BGS recordVolcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.
BGS recordVolcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.
BGS recordAndesite is a hard volcanic rock. It grips well when dry and is fair when wet, though polished holds on popular routes get slippery. It is generally solid, but shattered in gullies and on broken ground.
BGS recordVolcanic tuff is rock formed from compacted volcanic ash and debris. It is rough and grippy when dry and usually still grips reasonably when wet. It is mostly solid, in slabs and ledges, though weathered patches can be crumbly.
BGS recordGeneric exposed scrambling terrain; BGS summit-area bedrock samples are included where available, but route grade, exact rock, polish, drainage and escape options remain unresolved. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.
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Overnight · Aurora, stars & meteorsAfter darkBetaNight-sky guidance is unavailable for this night. View forecastClose forecast
After dark: aurora and stargazing
Night-sky guidance is unavailable for this night. This does not mean clear skies or no aurora.
Explore the dedicated aurora forecast, meteor shower forecast or dark-sky and astrophotography forecast.
Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit
For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.
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