Weather: warm and sunny, rather hazy. Walkers: Andrew. 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. You are now … 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. Great Gable is classified as a English Mountain (Hewitt) (9th highest in England, 25th highest in England & Wales) and a Wainwright (No. Great Gable is one of the most popular mountains in the Lake District for climbers. It was quite daunting how strong it was. Grade - hard. 1 – At the farm, enter the yard but take a right through an archway which gives access to a walled lane. The High Stile ridge is usually walked from Buttermere from where ascents of Fleetwith Pike and Yewbarrow can also be started. The most common walk to Great Gable from Borrowdale is up past Taylor Gill Force and Sty Head. 7). Ascent - 2400 feet / 727 metres . You are now high above Wasdale Head and will no doubt be aware of the exposure and somewhat tricky terrain underfoot! She was eager now. The cairn helps locate the path through the lower crags when making a descent of this route We just knew they were irritating, both Lil and I knew. 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 … 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. In the west the two traverses are joined … The views from Great Gable are legendary. Ascent: 2,800 feet. 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. The lower peak just to the left of Great Gable is Green Gable. Recently did it starting from the car park at Honister Slate Mine. 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. Type. The south traverse climbs westward from Sty Headand provides access to the Napes and Kern Knotts for rock climbers. A head for heights, some scrambling skills and a good weather window are suggested for this route. Oh, and after numerous checks, wallet, coins and car keys! With memories of that painful first time Lil was a little apprehensive but this time I promised her I would not blaze ahead. Author - Lou Johnson. And there was much more besides. The highest point of this walk is Great Gable at 899m (2951ft). Bay Wan climbed on August 24th, 2019 [from/via/route] Kirkfell to Great Gable [with] Cocoa dog - 8 yrs old [weather] Sunny summers day. You’ll eventually reach an intersection of paths, here head towards Styhead tarn and past the Mountain Rescue stretcher box. 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. What did you think of the route? 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. 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. The signs were good for it was a fantastic morning as we drove from Cockermouth through Lorton Dale and over the Honiston Pass. CATEGORISED CLIMBS. Starting and ending in Seathwaite in Borrowdale it involves an ascent of Green Gable, Great Gable, Kirk Fell and Pillar with a return to Seathwaite via Wasdale Head and Styhead Tarn. 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. 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. The Wasdale approach is more direct, but as Borrowdale is easier to get to for most people it is described below. Bay Wan climbed on August 24th, 2019 [from/via/route] Kirkfell to Great Gable [with] Cocoa dog - 8 yrs old [weather] Sunny summers day. 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. 0 Routes Found. But not before the yukkie designer gear gang had completed their first irksome break. 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 Weather: Sunny . Alison Mackenzie. We eventually reached Styhead Tarn. 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. Don’t get confused with the east side of Kirk Fell thinking it’s the summit. While that's an overused description that's practically a cliche. It connects with Kirk Fell (qv) via a steep broad NW ridge down to … We then turned our attention to Wast Water and Wasdale. Escape the crowds and nail some Wainwrights on this undulating 10 mile walk amongst exceptional Lakeland scenery. You will see Sourmilk Gill rising ahead, tumbling down the hillside; this is the route … The steep scrambly path up beside Sour Milk Gill and onwards via Gillercombe makes a better outward route. 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 views from the summit of Great Gable are both exceptional and panoramic, and if you only get your camera out once on the walk this is place to do it! Find out more > X. This is the companion to Dan Bailey's Scotland's Mountain Ridges - A Guide to Scrambles and Climbs. It is such a lovely spot. 20 degrees - Lots of scree especialy at the top of Kirkfell. Summit Helvellyn via the quieter and most direct path on this classic and challenging circular walk. 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. Walkers: Andrew. 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. This time Lil accompanied me again, for her second Lake District walk, this time as my wife. 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. 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. Descending the easy south-easterly ridge gives great views of Sty Head and the Scafell range. A final walk alongside the rapids of Grains Gill took us back to the car and to the end of a real good walk. The other 2 main routes of ascent are hard work, whether the start point is Wasdale or Borrowdale. We both felt better than we expected. In terms of maps I use the Harvey BMC Lake District map, along with the ViewRanger app. 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. Gable Crag on Great Gable’s northern slopes. Outside the Lake District. Excellent views all the way! Great Gable from Honister Pass Introduction to Walk 1112. Copyright © 2003-2021 Walking Englishman. To her credit she did so and with a mix of steep climbing and scrambling headed enthusiastically but cautiously up the Gill. … 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.. It was sunny, quiet and beautiful as we took a drinks and energy bar break by the stream of clear running water. 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. Active JR. Alasdair Shaw. The walk is now straight forward really, following Styhead Gill down the valley back towards Seathwaite farm. Seven years ago I had taken my girlfriend Lil on her first real Lake District walk. After a false start by walking past the turning in the farm we were on our way. The county of Cheshire is awash with beautiful countryside perfect for walking. Great Gable Walking Guide and Walks. Great Gable Pillar High Stile Haystacks Haycock All Western Fells Walking Weekends Evening Walks Scottish Walks Welsh Walks Yorkshire Walks Challenge Events. This Lake District walk to Great Gable's summit is a classic Lakeland route. 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. 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. This Great Gable walk is a classic encompassing hands on scrambling, wild mountain scenery and breathtaking summit vistas. Outside the Lake District. The walking levelled off for a spell now as we rounded Base Brown via Gillercomb. (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). we think that in The north traverse similarly runs beneath Gable Crag to Windy Gap. 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. Community Content. Lil felt better when she heard over the radio that we had a promise of good weather. 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. Oh, and we both got a really impressive sun tan during the walk. 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. Alessandria e Monferrato Agenzia Turistica Locale. Turning left here just before the tarn to find a faint and meandering path across the moist undulating top of Seathwaite Fell. Turn about and look due south to the Scafells. The first 2.5 miles are pretty much all uphill, starting with a steep scramble at Sourmilk Gill (waterfalls). 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. And this time, unlike the last when we stopped near the spot seven years ago, Lil was fully ready and able to go on. Area: Western Lake District. Length - miles Publisher. 20 degrees - Lots of scree especialy at the top of Kirkfell. Upgrade your experience! In addition, lots of the easier mixed routes follow vegetated chimneys, much like lots of mixed climbs in scotland always have done. Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District Western Fells. Was it windy at Windy Gap ?! Starting Point – Seathwaite Farm (Postcode CA12 5XJ) is located in the small hamlet of Seathwaite at the end of Styhead pass, within Borrowdale valley. The summit boasts spectacular, panoramic views of Wast Water, Crummock Water, Buttermere and Haystacks. Walkers: Andrew. ROUTE PROFILE FOR: HONISTER-GREAT GABLE. This time I told her to pace herself better. too much to end it all! Approaches to Pillar also include the lonely walk in from Ennerdale. It dominates upper Wasdale, its SW slopes rising 800m in unbroken steep scree surmounted by the Napes Crags. 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. 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. Update results. From Honister and Ennerdale, the mountain appears as a great dome, like the apex of some vast, rocky cathedral. 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. 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). 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. 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. Ascent: 2,800 feet . Paid parking is available at Seathwwaite Farm – £5 at the time of writing. We made our way up alongside Sourmilk Gill and regularly stopped to take in the views which were opening out for us. 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. The scenery along the way is terrific and it only gets better at the summit. 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. All rights reserved. Be the first one to write one. Did you experience the epic vista from Great Gable – or was the summit shrouded in cloud? This links a number of existing paths, namely the north and south traverses, Styhead Pass, Aaron Slack and Moses Trod. It is a superb route but relatively easy and because of its ease is best reserved for descent. Other notable summits include Pillar, Red Pike (Wasdale), the High Stile Ridge above Buttermere, Fleetwith Pike and, despite is relative low height, Yewbarrow. Lil quickly changed and prepared for the off. The route then heads down to Sty Head, across, and up to Sprinkling Tarn. Date of walk: 12th May 2016. The faint scree path initially heads uphill for a few hundred metres to the base of a crag. Route: Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable and Great Gable. Premium maps are available in this area. The view north-east from Green Gable with Base Brown just in sight. Area: Western Lake District. CUSTOM LABELS. I could tell she was enjoying the climb up. 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. SELECTED SECTION: ROUTE STATISTICS. 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. 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. We headed westwards along a track to the foot of Sourmilk Gill. Starting and ending in Seathwaite in Borrowdale it involves an ascent of Green Gable, Great Gable, Kirk Fell and Pillar with a return to Seathwaite via Wasdale Head and Styhead Tarn. And also head up. Area: Western Lake District. 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. From Wast Water Great Gable's iconic triangular form catches the eye. And this time she had much better footwear. It was time for quiet reflection, a lovely peaceful section before the next ascent to Green Gable. Walk up Great Gable From Seathwaite Route Description. Great Gable Pillar High Stile Haystacks Haycock All Western Fells Walking Weekends Evening Walks Scottish Walks Welsh Walks Yorkshire Walks Challenge Events. It was a challenging hike at times but well worth it. 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. AA Publishing. No problem I said. Recently did it starting from the car park at Honister Slate Mine. Me, I took longer. Ascent: 2,900 feet. Who needs the Mediterranean. Not soon, but not long either, then I was ready, laden up and we were off. Walking routes to Great Gable are possible from every point of the compass. Summary: This route from Wasdale Head to Great Gable begins with an easy ascent to Sty Head on the Moses Trod path. After the phone call we resumed our walk to the top of Green Gable and prepared to drop down and across Windy Gap. Last time we had been on this descent Lil was really jiggered. The position of the peak in the Lake District gives it spectacular views in all directions. 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. Then it was a case of take a deep breath and scramble up onto Great Gable itself. Great Gable is one of the Lake District's best mountains and there are many classic routes to the summit. Did you head up to Napes Needle (and see any climbers?) 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. Brands Only. Best Walking Routes in Great Gable. 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. Great Gable; Find a place. 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