Yorkshire 3 Peaks Ben Nevis by the CMD Arete All Ben Nevis Routes Snowdon & Crib Goch All Snowdon Routes All Routes Outside the Lake District The Wasdale approach is more direct, but as Borrowdale is easier to get to for most people it is described below. From Styhead Tarn we headed down to Seathwaite by following Styhead Gill downstream to Greenhow Knott and then continued our descent on the stepped footpath to Stockley Bridge. To her credit she did so and with a mix of steep climbing and scrambling headed enthusiastically but cautiously up the Gill. We hiked up Great Gable from Honister Pass, much quieter route than from Seathwaite it seemed. Ascent: 2,900 feet. Brands Only. We soon reached the top plateau and walked close to the summit. She was eager now. In conclusion this is a classic walk with awesome views, requires a head for heights and some hands on scrambling, and is best tackled in fine and dry weather. Great Gable is one of the most popular mountains in the Lake District for climbers. We made our way up alongside Sourmilk Gill and regularly stopped to take in the views which were opening out for us. Hiking to Great Gable is always strenuous; it is steep on all sides. Suitably impressed she wanted us to live to walk again and so after taking in more views of the Great Napes and the Scafells we searched for the path and once located we headed down the long stepped path to Styhead Tarn. And this time, unlike the last when we stopped near the spot seven years ago, Lil was fully ready and able to go on. R evering Great Gable as an icon of the Lakes seems to be the done thing, yet most walkers' routes up this big squat lump are undistinguished plods that fail to do it justice. It connects with Kirk Fell (qv) via a steep broad NW ridge down to … Richard Marchant bagged on November 23rd, 1993 [from/via/route] This was a two day trip with an overnight camp at Beckhead Tarn below Great Gable. Green Gable is a fell in the English Lake District often traversed by walkers en route to its more famous neighbour Great Gable.It can be ascended from Honister Pass, Seathwaite in Borrowdale, or Ennerdale.There are good views of Gable Crag, Scafell Pike and the Buttermere valley from the summit. Great Gable Pillar High Stile Haystacks Haycock All Western Fells Walking Weekends Evening Walks Scottish Walks Welsh Walks Yorkshire Walks Challenge Events. The Walk Sometimes described as the cheats way to the summit of Great Gable (due to its high start), I find it a sensible alternative to the unending steep slopes from which the summit is gained from all other directions. This circular walk starts at the car park at Seathwaite and ascends to Stockley Bridge following Grains Gill along the way. Approaches from famously beautiful Wasdale show you Gable’s classic pyramidal profile rising above Wast Water, an iconic image. The scrambling was fun, never too challenging but very enjoyable. Gillercomb feels very remote I thought? Great Gable is rated by most Lakeland walkers as one of the best mountains. This is the route you could have come down if you wanted too. Oh, and after numerous checks, wallet, coins and car keys! The signs were good for it was a fantastic morning as we drove from Cockermouth through Lorton Dale and over the Honiston Pass. Back on the Climbers Path a fairly steady descent continues on with some great views to be had. Paid parking is available at Seathwwaite Farm – £5 at the time of writing. Select Brand . With memories of that painful first time Lil was a little apprehensive but this time I promised her I would not blaze ahead. Summary: Great Gable is rated by most Lakeland walkers as one of the best mountains. 100m metres SW of the summit is Westmorland cairn, erected by two brothers in 1876 to mark what they believed to be the best view in the Lake District. Walkers: Andrew. A head for heights, some scrambling skills and a good weather window are suggested for this route. Then I turned my thoughts to making the descent. But not before the yukkie designer gear gang had completed their first irksome break. Great Gable Pillar High Stile Haystacks Haycock All Western Fells Walking Weekends Evening Walks Scottish Walks Welsh Walks Yorkshire Walks Challenge Events. It's a steep ascent with rugged paths, a fair amount of scrambling and some of the most spectacular rock scenery in the Lake District. Active JR. Alasdair Shaw. Area: Western Lake District. We just knew they were irritating, both Lil and I knew. Route: Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable and Great Gable. Weather: warm and sunny, rather hazy. You’ll also pass one of the most photographed natural attractions in the Lake District and a popular wild camping spot. Did you experience the epic vista from Great Gable – or was the summit shrouded in cloud? The approach of Great Gable from Honister is excellent with good views and an interesting varied descent over three more Wainwrights. Great Gable is one of the Lake District's best mountains and there are many classic routes to the summit. The stunning panorama of views from the top are breathtaking. Recently did it starting from the car park at Honister Slate Mine. It is possible to avoid the worst by starting at Honister Pass but this is a bit of a cheat and still involves a rocky pull from Windy Gap. We headed westwards along a track to the foot of Sourmilk Gill. SELECTED SECTION: ROUTE STATISTICS. Ascent - 2400 feet / 727 metres . Find out more > X. There are various routes up the Gill, the easiest being a grade 1 scramble – note, in wet or icy conditions it can obviously become more challenging. The other 2 main routes of ascent are hard work, whether the start point is Wasdale or Borrowdale. The most common walk to Great Gable from Borrowdale is up past Taylor Gill Force and Sty Head. Seven years ago I had taken my girlfriend Lil on her first real Lake District walk. You’ll soon see a route heading up towards Great Gable again on your left-hand side once you’ve passed the majority of Great Gable. Date of walk: 2nd November 2017. Outside the Lake District. On a clear day the views here are sublime, in high winds a couple of stone windbreaks also provide a welcome sight and a chance refuel. Parking – Limited free layby parking at the end of Styhead pass in Seathwaite. The route offers views of Napes Needle, Sphinx Rock and many other climbing locations. Community Content. From sweeping single-track to steep hills, rutted... You'll need your bog trotting skills as you take on this popular Peak District circular walk starting from Edale and incorporating... Sublime single-track and epic views await at Whinlatter, the UKs only mountain forest and home to 16 miles of purpose-built mountain... Wild Blighty is using cookies to help give you the best experience we can. It is possibly the most painted and photographed of all the Lake District mountains for it sits spectacularly in a central position when looking to it from Wast Water. Premium maps are available in this area. ROUTE PROFILE FOR: HONISTER-GREAT GABLE. Be the first one to write one. Quite rightly too for it is an awesome sight to behold. Engineers slabs, and I would imagine most of the other mixed climbs on the N face of great gable was in good condition for at least a month during the last winter. Great Gable; Find a place. Alison Mackenzie. This strenuous lakeland route takes you through the heart of the English Lake District and takes in two English classic mountains seldom visited in the same day. Did you head up to Napes Needle (and see any climbers?) And there was much more besides. Distance: 10.1 km (6.3 miles) / Elev Gain: 872m (2,862ft)High Point: Great Gable - 899mMap: Lake District BMC MapGPS Download: Great Gable from SeathwaiteStarting Point: Seathwaite Farm, Highlights: Sourmilk Gill / Gillercomb / Green Gable / Great Gable / Climbers Path / The Napes (Napes Needle) / Styhead Tarn. The walk is now straight forward really, following Styhead Gill down the valley back towards Seathwaite farm. While that's an overused description that's practically a cliche. You are now … Then it was a case of take a deep breath and scramble up onto Great Gable itself. Gable Crag on Great Gable’s northern slopes. As we skirted south below Gillercomb Head the climbing resumed but both Lil and I took it in our stride and it was not long before we met the intersection path which walkers from Honister and Brandreth will have taken. Summary: This route from Wasdale Head to Great Gable begins with an easy ascent to Sty Head on the Moses Trod path. The lower peak just to the left of Great Gable is Green Gable. One of Lils failures the last time was that she raced up the Gill trying to beat me and on reaching the top was exhausted and dehydrated never to fully recover. Other notable summits include Pillar, Red Pike (Wasdale), the High Stile Ridge above Buttermere, Fleetwith Pike and, despite is relative low height, Yewbarrow. Time - 6 hours 0 minutes. This strenuous lakeland route takes you through the heart of the English Lake District and takes in two English classic mountains seldom visited in the same day. Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District Western Fells. This is the companion to Dan Bailey's Scotland's Mountain Ridges - A Guide to Scrambles and Climbs. From the summit the route drops steeply towards Beck Head, go south and join the start/top of the Climbers Path, marked by a small cairn at the col. A final walk alongside the rapids of Grains Gill took us back to the car and to the end of a real good walk. Update results. CATEGORISED CLIMBS. She was enjoying herself Ascent: 2,800 feet . It was during the May Bank Holiday weekend break in the Lake District and just after a significant birthday milestone when I decided that seven years was too long a spell not to have ventured up Great Gable. From the summit the route drops steeply towards Beck Head, go south and join the start/top of the Climbers Path, marked by a small cairn at the col. Weather: Sunny . Yet for this walk we found a pleasant ascent route on its north easterly spur having bypassed the more difficult direct route up through Gable Crags from Beck End. Summit Helvellyn via the quieter and most direct path on this classic and challenging circular walk. Distance: 7.6 miles. Eventually we reached Seathwaite Slabs and rested a while. Around the perimeter we also looked across to Scafell Pike and to Scafell. Napes Needle and Needle Ridge, Great Gable. There are no reviews yet. As you get higher the view back over the Borrowdale valley opens up, presenting the first of many photo opportunities. Walking routes to Great Gable are possible from every point of the compass. From Sty Head the going gets tougher with a traverse walk to the Great Napes on the airy Gable Traverse path which is sometimes difficult to follow as it climbs over boulder fields, scree slopes and jutting outcrops. The scenery along the way is terrific and it only gets better at the summit. The summit boasts spectacular, panoramic views of Wast Water, Crummock Water, Buttermere and Haystacks. The steep scrambly path up beside Sour Milk Gill and onwards via Gillercombe makes a better outward route. With this route you are already quite high and you can take in Grey Knotts, Brandreth and Green Gable, then down to Windy Gap before the final ascent to Great Gable. Napes Needle and Needle Ridge, Great Gable are route 13 in: The Ridges of England, Wales and Ireland - Scrambles and Climbs by Dan Bailey published by Cicerone.. Turning left here just before the tarn to find a faint and meandering path across the moist undulating top of Seathwaite Fell. Follow this lane to a footbridge over the River Derwent. This path traverses the upper south side of Great Gable, and forms part of Wainwright’s Gable Girdle route, albeit in reverse on this occasion. Type. The long descent is a bit of a quad burner however the good views will hopefully take your mind of that! Last time we had been on this descent Lil was really jiggered. After the phone call we resumed our walk to the top of Green Gable and prepared to drop down and across Windy Gap. It is a superb route but relatively easy and because of its ease is best reserved for descent. The north traverse similarly runs beneath Gable Crag to Windy Gap. The views from Great Gable are legendary. Richard Marchant bagged on November 23rd, 1993 [from/via/route] This was a two day trip with an overnight camp at Beckhead Tarn below Great Gable. But for anyone willing to get a bit hands-on there is one glaring exception. It was quite daunting how strong it was. Ridges of England, Wales and Ireland - Scrambles and Climbs by Dan Bailey The Great Gable group of mountains is amongst the finest in England with this iconic summit the centrepiece of a range of high-quality fells. From the summit of Green Gable you drop down to a trail intersection named Windy Gap, no doubt called such due to the insanely strong winds that can funnel up from the valley floor. It has something of a fearsome reputation of being a difficult fell for walkers. I always take longer, but then I do end up the packhorse with provisions, change clothing, maps, compasses, GPS and everything else. Turn about and look due south to the Scafells. We parked up close to Seathwaite Farm, always a benefit as it means we had beaten the crowds in this most popular venue for starting walks. Distance: 7.6 miles. From Sty Head the going gets tougher with a traverse walk to the Great Napes on the airy Gable Traverse path which is sometimes difficult to follow as it climbs over boulder fields, scree slopes and jutting outcrops. Lil felt better when she heard over the radio that we had a promise of good weather. Starting Point – Seathwaite Farm (Postcode CA12 5XJ) is located in the small hamlet of Seathwaite at the end of Styhead pass, within Borrowdale valley. You will see Sourmilk Gill rising ahead, tumbling down the hillside; this is the route … Don’t get confused with the east side of Kirk Fell thinking it’s the summit. This time I told her to pace herself better. The path not always obvious though the direction of travel should be. To the north west are brilliant views into Ennerdale and Crummockdale with the complementary ridges which include Pillar, Looking Stead, Haycock, etc to the south of Ennerdale and then the Haystacks, High Crag, High Stile and Red Pike ridge to the north. A bunch of cairns lead up to the summit of Green Gable, the first high point of the day at 801m (2627 ft) above sea level. The route levelled out and we proceeded to the summit, in what must have been the worst wind we had ever experienced at the summit of any previous climb. Turn left at the junction and, keeping Styhead Tarn on the left, follow the path to reach the footbridge. Route: Base Brown, Green Gable and Great Gable. Length - 7.3 miles / 11.8 km. The first 2.5 miles are pretty much all uphill, starting with a steep scramble at Sourmilk Gill (waterfalls). And also head up. The stunning panorama of views from the top are breathtaking. Weather: warm and sunny, rather hazy. After a false start by walking past the turning in the farm we were on our way. 7). Great Gable is perhaps the most iconic mountain in the Lake District. From Wast Water Great Gable's iconic triangular form catches the eye. Alessandria e Monferrato Agenzia Turistica Locale. Lil had got it right and we walked through by bisecting the farm buildings. Great views from Green Gable, with Hay Stacks, High Crag and High Stile on the right of the valley and Kirk Fell, Looking Stead and Pillar on the left. The Great Napes (aka The Napes) crag is home to the much photographed Napes Needle, an awe-inspiring rock pinnacle which holds mythical status amongst rock climbers and is regarded as the birthplace of British rock climbing – see here for info. Great Gable from Honister Pass Introduction to Walk 1112. Area: Western Lake District. Other Notes – there is a public toilet at the farm. And this time she had much better footwear. Likewise its N face, with Gable Crag, dominates upper Eskdale. Upgrade your experience! Alfred Wainwright described the 'Gable Girdle', a circuit around the fell at mid height. It was a tough introduction for her back then and she struggled. This time Lil accompanied me again, for her second Lake District walk, this time as my wife. After an epic day walking in the mountains you find the perfect wild camping location, far from civilisation and with awesome... Delamere Forest is home to an extensive network of trails perfect for mountain biking. Great Gable has a domed stony summit which is surrounded by steeper rock, and some simple scrambling is required to reach the summit by all routes. Descending the easy south-easterly ridge gives great views of Sty Head and the Scafell range. It was good for both of us. Our path, the Tourist or Breast Route, heads due north-west to the summit of Great Gable: Broad Crag, Scafell Pike and Lingmell from Sty Head: Starting up the Breast Route, a … … The cairn helps locate the path through the lower crags when making a descent of this route Not to the summit though as the chattering boys had camped themselves there. (Note – if you need to bail out for some reason here is where you do it, head down the steep rocky path (‘Aaron Slack’ on the map) to Styhead tarn and rejoin the route). Quite rightly too for it is an awesome sight to behold. AA Publishing. What did you think of the route? The highest point of this walk is Great Gable at 899m (2951ft). … With this route you are already quite high and you can take in Grey Knotts, Brandreth and Green Gable, then down to Windy Gap before the final ascent to Great Gable. Me, I took longer. Great Gable is one of the Lake District's best mountains and there are many classic routes to the summit. We lunched just out of earshot and enjoyed looking out at the excellent views north and west to Ennerdale, Buttermere, Crummock Water and beyond to the Scottish Hills on the far side of the Solway Firth. In addition, lots of the easier mixed routes follow vegetated chimneys, much like lots of mixed climbs in scotland always have done. This path traverses the upper south side of Great Gable, and forms part of Wainwright’s Gable Girdle route, albeit in reverse on this occasion. Approaches to Pillar also include the lonely walk in from Ennerdale. This circular walk starts from the small hamlet of Seathwaite in the Borrowdale valley. From Honister and Ennerdale, the mountain appears as a great dome, like the apex of some vast, rocky cathedral. Oh, and we both got a really impressive sun tan during the walk. After making an early start I drove up the Honister Pass and parked at the Honister Slate Mine, well worth a visit in its own right. You’ll walk steadily up into the valley (marked Gillercomb on the map) passing behind Base Brown (646m), here there is some great wild mountain scenery as you look back down the valley and to the ridge line of Grey Knotts (697m) and its slightly taller neighbour Brandreth (715m). And the way up from Seathwaite by Sourmilk Gill and Windy Gap is my favourite. The position of the peak in the Lake District gives it spectacular views in all directions. It has to be climbed, without a doubt, and if you have not been up yet then you have got to climb it sooner than later. We both felt better than we expected. Ascent: 2,800 feet. Date of walk: 12th May 2016. It dominates upper Wasdale, its SW slopes rising 800m in unbroken steep scree surmounted by the Napes Crags. We eventually reached Styhead Tarn. In terms of maps I use the Harvey BMC Lake District map, along with the ViewRanger app. To the north west are brilliant views into Ennerdale and Crummockdale … In the west the two traverses are joined … Summary: This route from Wasdale Head to Great Gable begins with an easy ascent to Sty Head on the Moses Trod path. we think that in Great Gable is classified as a English Mountain (Hewitt) (9th highest in England, 25th highest in England & Wales) and a Wainwright (No. It was sunny, quiet and beautiful as we took a drinks and energy bar break by the stream of clear running water. Return the same way or follow … For a proper look at Napes Needle you’ll need to take a detour scrambling uphill over loose scree, more often than not there will be climbers about if you’re struggling to find it. Length - miles Publisher. Please leave a rating and review of the walk below! Walkers: Andrew. It is such a lovely spot. Not soon, but not long either, then I was ready, laden up and we were off. Grade: Napes Needle 18m HS; Needle Ridge 100m VDiff Distance: 8km (taking the long route home over Great Gable) Ascent: 830m (as above) Time: 7 hours (ditto) Start/finish: Of several possible bases the obvious two are Wasdale and Borrowdale. It was time for quiet reflection, a lovely peaceful section before the next ascent to Green Gable. Great Gable is quite rightly one of the most iconic fells in the Lake District. Outside the Lake District. No problem I said. It was a glorious November morning as I drove over the Honister Pass and parked on the roadside verge before the … Who needs the Mediterranean. 20 degrees - Lots of scree especialy at the top of Kirkfell. All rights reserved. The closest town is Keswick. The view north-east from Green Gable with Base Brown just in sight. Author - Lou Johnson. The faint scree path initially heads uphill for a few hundred metres to the base of a crag. It was a challenging hike at times but well worth it. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are cool with that. Styhead tarn is a popular wild camping spot if you fancy a night under the stars – although you’ll likely not be alone! Yorkshire 3 Peaks Ben Nevis by the CMD Arete All Ben Nevis Routes Snowdon & Crib Goch All Snowdon Routes All Routes Outside the Lake District Ahead is the final push to the summit of Great Gable, this rocky face appears somewhat intimidating, however you can pick a scramble to suit your capabilities – no worries. The faint scree path initially heads uphill for a few hundred metres to the base of a crag. This links a number of existing paths, namely the north and south traverses, Styhead Pass, Aaron Slack and Moses Trod. Date of walk: 12th May 2016. Bay Wan climbed on August 24th, 2019 [from/via/route] Kirkfell to Great Gable [with] Cocoa dog - 8 yrs old [weather] Sunny summers day. The south traverse climbs westward from Sty Headand provides access to the Napes and Kern Knotts for rock climbers. Great Gable can be approached from Wasdale, Seathwaite or Honister Pass, and can be combined with other tops for a challenging day in the hills. This time she was not too fatigued and apart from a slip into a pool which caused her an embarrassing wet backside she smiled and even broke into tune on her way down the path, thoroughly enjoying her day. Grade - hard. From the summit, head south east, following the rocky footpath to Sty Head, with great views of Great End and the Scafell range in the distance. The area of ground at the summit of Great Gable is quite minimal compared to others, which is perhaps why the wind is felt so much. You’ll eventually reach an intersection of paths, here head towards Styhead tarn and past the Mountain Rescue stretcher box. Best Walking Routes in Great Gable. The route then heads down to Sty Head, across, and up to Sprinkling Tarn. We then turned our attention to Wast Water and Wasdale. It is possibly the most painted and photographed of all the Lake District mountains for it sits spectacularly in a central position when looking to it from Wast Water. Escape the crowds and nail some Wainwrights on this undulating 10 mile walk amongst exceptional Lakeland scenery. Area: Western Lake District. Route: Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable and Great Gable. For walkers attempting Great Gable this means one thing. It has something of a fearsome reputation of being a difficult fell for walkers. County/Area - Cumbria. Lil quickly changed and prepared for the off. 1 – At the farm, enter the yard but take a right through an archway which gives access to a walled lane. From Wast Water Great Gable's iconic triangular form catches the eye. CUSTOM LABELS. Excellent views all the way! And true enough our solitude was compromised at the intersection firstly by a group of about 10 designer gear yukkie walkers who were to be our irritation and secondly by a colleague of mine who, not realising I was on leave, asked if I was available to attend and present at a meeting when back at work the following week. Copyright © 2003-2021 Walking Englishman. This Great Gable walk is a classic encompassing hands on scrambling, wild mountain scenery and breathtaking summit vistas. After lunch we walked around the summit perimeter and peered down at the impressive natural rock needles of the Great Napes, such a stunning feature of Great Gable. Recently did it starting from the car park at Honister Slate Mine. Walkers: Andrew. 0 Routes Found. Great Gable from the path through the crags A small cairn set on a rock marks the end of the initial steep section of the climb. The junction and, keeping Styhead Tarn on the left, follow the path down and across Gap! 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