Route: Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable and Great Gable
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 12th May 2016
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 7.6 miles
Ascent: 2,800 feet
Weather: warm and sunny, rather hazy
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. The climb up to Grey Knotts from the car park starts immediately and once at the top the next three fells can be seen in a line, with Great Gable at the far end
Once on the summit ridge there are a few easy ups and downs to the next two fells, Brandreth and Green Gable, with Great Gable looming ahead ever larger. I descended from Green Gable to Windy Gap, which was living up to its name today, and then started the short but steep climb up to Great Gable. Hands are needed in places but it’s not difficult, and is more of a clamber than a scramble. From the summit I walked west for a short distance in order to admire the view over Wasdale – although it was sunny, the light wasn’t very good and the valley wasn’t seen at its best
After the steep descent from the fell I made my way across to Moses Trod where a recent path diversion caused a little confusion, and I then walked back towards the mines and followed the track back to Honister Slate Mine
This is one of the classic walks in lakeland – I have fond memories of it from previous occasions and it didn’t disappoint today
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
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Red squirrel in the garden before I set off this morning
The start of the walk from the Honister Slate Mine, which provides a good leg up, as it’s about 1,000 feet above sea level
The climb up to the first fell on the round, Grey Knotts, starts immediately
Honister Crag - I’ll be using the mine road for my descent later on
Looking back down to Honister Slate Mine
The Borrowdale side of the Honister Pass
Quarries on the flanks of Dale Head
Onwards and upwards - the path follows the line of the fence
From the summit of Grey Knotts the rest of the walk can be seen - Brandreth, Green Gable and Great Gable in order of appearance
Looking back to Dale Head
Great Gable looms ahead ever larger
Buttermere and Crummock Water in rather disappointing light
Buttermere Fells from Brandreth
Gillercomb Head leading up to Green Gable
Small tarn on Gillercomb Head and Great Gable beyond
Green Gable and Great Gable
Borrowdale to the east…
…and Ennerdale to the west
Ennerdale and Buttermere valleys, with Haystacks and the High Stile Range between them
Great Gable from Green Gable
Looking towards Kirk Fell
I descend from Green Gable to Windy Gap - well named, it was very windy. The way to Great Gable lies ahead
My eventual line of descent from Great Gable will be down the ridge running left to right
There are a couple of steep sections where hands are needed, but it’s not nearly as hard as the photo suggests
Looking back to a lone walker on Green Gable - the only other person I’d seen so far
The bronze memorial plaque at the summit of Great Gable
This is normally one of the best places to view the Scafells, but it was hazy today
Wasdale and Wastwater
The ancient field system in Wasdale
Time to be heading down - Beckhead Tarn and Ennerdale are below
After a steep descent I follow the path around the flanks of Green and Great Gable
It’s easy going all the way from here as I head towards Moses Trod
Superb views to the west as I follow the ridge - Ennerdale, with Pillar to the left and Haystacks and the High Stile Range to the right
Ennerdale Water comes into view
Buttermere and Crummock Water
Haystacks in the foreground
Zooming in on Buttermere and Crummock Water
Eventually I reach the mine road and follow it back to the start
Back to the Honister Slate Mine
It just remains to drive home down the Honister Pass
