Great Gable
Trail guides you up the main ascents of one of England’s most iconic mountains.
The name says it all. This isn’t just a good mountain, it’s a great one. And not just in stature and visual appeal, but also in the variety it offers anyone who sets foot on it.
Great Gable is home to not only some of the best hillwalking routes in England, but is also known as the birthplace of British rock-climbing thanks to the Victorian climbers who picked their way up its shattered south-western crags, culminating in W.P. Haskett Smith’s daring first ascent of Napes Needle.
And then there are the views. At 899m Gable is far from the highest peak among Lakeland’s western giants, but it is the centrepiece of the region’s big mountain country. From its domed summit you get a 360° panorama taking in everything from the nearby Scafells and Wast Water to almost every major summit in the National Park.
And for walkers, the bounty is endless. You can stroll it straight from the Wasdale valley, starting by England’s deepest lake in the shadow of England’s highest mountain; but you can also approach its rocky top from almost any point on the compass. Tiptoeing narrow traverse paths, scrambling ridges, exploring wooded valleys, walking beside waterfalls, all leading to a summit once voted Britain’s best viewpoint.
1 GABLE BECK
MEDIUM ■ 2 hours ■ 4km ■ 830m ascent
Start Wasdale Head, grid ref NY187088 Terrain Pasture, steep sided gill, scree, open col, rounded rocky ridge
From the Wasdale Head Inn, take the Moses’ Trod Path roughly east to Gable Beck, then across the beck take the path steeply north-east to Beck Head. From the col head east, then south-east up the rocky north-west ridge of Great Gable to the summit.
2 CLIMBERS’ TRAVERSE
HARD ■ 3 hours ■ 5.5km ■ 970m ascent
Start Wasdale Head, grid ref NY187088 Terrain Pasture, scree-covered fellside, high mountain pass, crags, steep scree gully, rocky summit slope, optional Grade 2 scrambling
From Wasdale Head take the Moses’ Trod Path east towards Sty Head pass. Just before it reaches Sty Head double back and take the narrow path that climbs towards Kern Knotts. Continue traversing west-north-west to the Crags of Great Napes. Past the gully of Great Hell Gate, look out for Napes Needle. Here you have the option to ‘Thread the Needle’ with some exposed Grade 2 scrambling on polished rock, or continue on the Climbers’ Traverse on a very narrow and exposed path to Little Hell Gate. Climb the steep scree of Little Hell Gate, trending left at the top to a narrow ridge. Follow the ridge north-east to Gable’s summit.
3 BLACK SAIL PASS
HARD ■ 4½ hours ■ 13.5km ■ 1045m ascent
Start Bowness Knott, grid ref NY109153
Terrain Long forested valley, steep fellside, scree, open col, rounded rocky ridge
Follow the access track the entire length of Ennerdale to the Black Sail Hut. Continue south-east past the hut, then take the bridleway south then south-west to Black Sail Pass. From the pass, take the narrow path that contours east then south-east around the base of Boat How Crags to the col at Beck Head. From the col head east, then south-east up the rocky north-west ridge of Great Gable to the summit.
4 BUTTERMERE
MEDIUM ■ 3 hours ■ 6.5km ■ 950m ascent
Start Gatesgarth, Buttermere, grid ref NY195149
Terrain Steep-sided valley, craggy fellside, boggy ground, rounded ridge, exposed col, rocky summit slope
Follow the bridleway south-east across Warnscale Bottom, then take the footpath across Warnscale (footbridge) and follow the path as it zigzags uphill – as the gradient eases the path becomes less distinct. Head generally south-east past Little Round How and Great Round How to Brandreth. Turn south and follow the main path over Green Gable to Windy Gap, then from the col climb south-west to Gable’s summit rocks.
5 HONISTER PASS
MEDIUM ■ 2 hours ■ 5km ■ 600m ascent
Start Honister Pass, NY224136 Terrain Steep fellside, rounded ridge, exposed col and rocky summit slope
From the quarry buildings, climb the path west to the broad col (Fleetwith). Turn south and follow the main path over Brandreth and Green Gable to Windy Gap. From the col climb south-west to Gable’s summit.
6 SOUR MILK GILL
MEDIUM ■ 2½ hours ■ 4km ■ 830m ascent
Start Seathwaite, grid ref NY236122 Terrain Steep rocky gill, hanging valley, rounded summit, exposed col, rocky summit
From Seathwaite take the path west between the farm buildings to the foot of Sour Milk Gill. Climbing the gill direct is a Grade 2 scramble, but this can be avoided with a path on its south side. At the top of the gill head into Gillercomb and join the path to the col between Green Gable and Base Brown. From the col climb west to Green Gable, then descend south to Windy Gap. From the col climb south-west to Gable’s summit rocks.
7 AARON SLACK
MEDIUM ■ 2½ hours ■ 4.5km ■ 775m ascent
Start Seathwaite, grid ref NY236122 Terrain Steep-sided valleys, scree-filled gill, exposed col, rocky summit slope
Take the bridleway south from Seathwaite then follow it west then south-west up to the bottom of Aaron Slack near the north end of Styhead Tarn. Climb the steep scree path north-west up Aaron Slack to Windy Gap. From the col climb south-west to Gable’s summit rocks.
8 SOUTH-EAST RIDGE
MEDIUM ■ 3½ hours ■ 4.5km ■ 815m ascent
Start Wasdale Head, grid ref NY187088 Terrain Pasture, scree-covered fellside, high mountain pass, rocky ridge
From Wasdale Head take the Moses’ Trod Path east towards Sty Head pass. From the Stretcher Box at Sty Head, climb the long rounded crest of the south-east ridge all the way to the summit of Great Gable.