One of Lakeland's classic peaks by its most accessible route with added possibilities for a multi-day start or just a linear walk to the Wasdale Head perhaps...
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Honister Pass > Brandreth
> Great Gable > Brandreth > Honister
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Distance: 5.5miles
(9.7Km)
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Height Gain: 3600 ft
(1100m)
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Overview: Great Gable is one the most
iconic of Lake District mountains, and this route takes you
up from the highest point easily accessible by
road.
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Maps: Ordnance Survey: OL 4
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 2
Technicality: 1
Photogenic Grade: 4
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Start Point: NY
225 135
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Great Gable is one the most iconic of Lake District mountains,
and this route takes you up from the highest point easily accessible
from the road. The ridge from Honister to Great Gable gives
ever-changing views over Buttermere, Ennerdale, Wasdale and
Borrowdale.
Although a circular route, keeping to the high ground most of the
way, the outbound section of the route could be used as the start of
routes into any of these valleys in a linear walk or as the first day
of a multi-day backpack.
Section 1 - Honister to Brandreth
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Distance: 1.85 miles
(3Km)
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Height Gain: 1213ft
(370m)
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From the car park at
Honister Slate Mine take the
obvious steep path up towards the southern skyline. Once at the top
you meet a junction in the path marked by a cairn. To the left lies
the path up to the summit of Grey Knotts, but our route heads west
towards Fleetwith PIke and the obvious Honister Quarries.
This is part of the well known Moses Trod path, allegedly
once used for the transportaion of illegal alcohol. Cross a wooden
walkway then turn left up towards the ridge to the south, crossing
the abandoned tramway at Drum House. Initially the path is steep, but
it eases as you contour the western flanks of Grey Knotts.
The path turns right as you reach level ground, and at this point
you need to keep an eye open for the fence ahead. Bear left uphill,
rather than contouring, to find a small stile and continue south east
to the summit of Brandreth.
Section 2 - Brandreth to Great Gable
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Distance: 1.2 miles
(2Km)
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Height Gain: 939ft
(286m)
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From Brandreth to Great Gable the route is obvious, hugging
the high ground over
Gillercombe Head with expansive views
over Base Brown to Glaramara. Initially the ridge line drops a couple
of hundred feet, before rising again to a well worn track up the
steep slopes of Green Gable.
The summit of Green Gable is an ideal place to stop a
moment and take in the views. With the steep incline of Windy Gap
ahead Great Gable towers in front of you, but to the left lies
Styhead Tarn and the Scafell peaks dominating the view between Great
Gable and Styhead. Windy Gap drops 170 feet down a rough, scree and
stone covered path to its base before the climb of almost 500ft up
the other side.
The ascent to the summit of Great Gable involves climbing
over more unstable scree covered ground, taking any one of the
multitude of routes from halfway up. At last the summit appears
ahead, and a welcome rest, though it's a good idea to go the extra
yards to the Westmoreland Cairn and the impressive views down into
Wasdale.
Section 3 - Great Gable to Honister
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Distance: 2.4 miles
(4Km)
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Height Gain: 366ft
(111m)
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The return route follows the outbound route as far as the
summit of
Brandreth, but along the way there are a multitude
of options to drop down either side of the ridge to Borrowdale or
Buttermere.
Once on the top of Brandreth ignore your ascent route but instead
continue north following the line of cairns that take you directly
along the ridge. Cross the fence ahead to reach the west summit of
Grey Knotts, and continue on to the east summit - the true
summit for Wainwright baggers.
From here you have the option of continuing straight on and down a
steep gill to the car park or taking a less steep path diagonally off
to the left to rejoin the outbound path west of Drum House and a
return down the incline to your start point.
