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Base Brown -
Borrowdale, Lakes
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Grade: 2 or 3
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Overview: A less frequented but
fascinating scramble that picks its way up one of the lesser
known Wainwrights, Base Brown. It catches the sun and gives
great views back down over Borrowdale. A superb scramble
start to a day on Great Gable or the Scafell
range.
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Equipment: Rope, slings and nuts/hexes
essential.
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On line
map link
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Views: 3* - great views back over
Borrowdale then towards Sty Head from top.
Technicality: 2 - nothing desperate
Exposure: 3 - broken nature of route limits airiness
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GIBBER FACTOR*
*out of
five.
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Base Brown - map
- is one of the lesser known Wainwrights, lying between the
Honister to Great Gable ridge to the west and Glaramara to the east.
The route climbs over 1,000ft as it picks a way from outcrop to
outcrop, with short grassy walks between.
Even at the busiest times this route avoids the crowds, and gives
a superb alternative approach to Sty Head. The rock is generally
sound and coarse, and the south-east facing aspect gives both good
light and warmth while helping dry out any surface water.
Approach
Park as close to the end of the road as possible in Seathwaite -
NY
235 121. Follow the path from the farm that goes under the
arch on the right. Cross the stream and bear left, following Grains
Gill to where Taylor Gill Force appears on your right. To reach the
start of the scramble you now need to drop down off the path to the
foot of the steep slabs on your left.
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Lovely views back down
Borrowdale during the ascent
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Route
From the base of the route take the slabs back uphill, using a
holly tree part way up as a guideline. You should start about 30ft to
the right of the holly tree and ascend pretty much straight up the
slabs. Easy, but steep, scrambling leads to a grassy ledge, then move
right on the easier ground to reach a path with a gate. Beyond the
gate is an obvious short groove/chimney, which although appearing
steep has good holds. The groove leads to another short wall then out
onto the south east rib of Base Brown.
Follow as close to the edge of the south east rib as you feel
like, choosing your ground according to how you feel. Ascend the
obvious nose on its right then a grassy walk leads to another short
steep section. Take this on its left hand side for the best rock
&endash; with great views down the length of Borrowdale. The rock
gets a little looser on the next section, but keeping left again
gives an easy climb over a series of large, but loose, blocks.
Another short walk now brings you to the foot of a difficult looking
buttress. This is the point to choose whether you want Grade 2 or
Grade 3!
For the Grade 3 finish take the buttress direct on its
right hand side to emerge 200ft from the summit of Base Brown.
For the Grade 2 finish, which in many ways is a better
ending, walk left past the obvious juniper patch then follow a gulley
up to the base of an easy slab. Climb the slab on good holds to the
base of the final steep section.
Again you have the option of a direct finish at Grade 3, or the
better choice of a traverse left. A tree on the left marks the point
for gaining a ledge that takes you to the edge of an impressive drop
into a large gulley that falls 1000ft down to Taylor Gill Force. An
exposed step here can be protected by a nut on the right hand wall,
then climb up on good, but small, holds onto the final rib.
A short pull up here brings you out onto the grassy slopes up the
final 150ft to the summit. From the top, on a good day, you get
stunning views in every direction. Sty Head Tarn lies ahead and
below, offering a route onwards if you choose to Great Gable or the
Scafell Range.
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Views over to Sty Head
crown a lovely scramble
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Caution Scrambling is potentially dangerous and, particularly
at the higher grades, requires technical skills and equipment to
minimise the risk. We suggest that you take professional instruction
or climb with an experienced partner.
