Route: Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable and Great Gable
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 9th March 2025
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly, David and Georgie
Distance: 6.1 miles
Ascent: 2,300 feet
Weather: Sunny, warm and very hazy
It’s been nearly 8 years since I last climbed Great Gable, too long a gap for such a grand fell, one of lakeland’s finest. There are various approaches to the summit, but the most convenient of these is the one from the top of the Honister Pass, which starts at a height of 1,190 feet. We parked in the National Trust car park next to the Honister Slate Mine, worth visit in its own right. A sign at the back of the car park points the way up to Grey Knotts, the first fell on the itinerary. The climb starts immediately and is a straightforward affair. Once at the top the next three fells can be seen in a line, with Great Gable at the far end. Sadly the long distance views were extremely hazy and the light wasn’t good for photography today
Having gained the summit ridge we followed the obvious path to the next fell, Brandreth. From its rocky summit we could make out Green Gable, with Great Gable looming up behind it. More ups and downs followed as we continued to the summit of Green Gable, a good place to admire the awesome sight of Gable Crag beneath Great Gable. We descended from Green Gable to Windy Gap, which was living up to its name today. Windy Gap marks the start of 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. The views from Great Gable, especially those over Wasdale, are magnificent but the haze detracted from them today. We paused here to reflect on the War Memorial tablet, the scene of an annual Remembrance service every November
After a brief picnic at the top it was time to seek out our descent route. The key to locating the path, which is hard to spot thanks to the rocky surroundings, is to walk in the direction of Ennerdale. All ways off Great Gable are steep and this one is no exception. Loose scree and rocks, as well as a very sharp gradient, made it quite a difficult affair. Eventually the gradient eased and we arrived at a grassy plateau where we turned right to join Moses’ Trod. According to local tradition, Moses was a Honister quarryman who had an illegal sideline making whisky from the bog water on Fleetwith. He used the route to smuggle the produce to Wasdale. The path is easy to follow and took us gently downhill through remote terrain. When at last we arrived at Fleetwith, above Honister Quarries, we turned right and descended the dismantled tramway path from Dubs Quarry. This brought us back to Honister Slate Mine, tired but happy at the end of one of lakeland’s classic walks
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
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We leave the National Trust car park at Honister Slate Mine and follow the sign to Grey Knotts
The start of the climb up to Grey Knotts, which follows the line of the fence
Honister Crag on our right
Looking back to the start as we gain height
Dale Head behind us
The gradient steepens near the top of Grey Knotts, but there are no difficulties
Looking back
We gain the ridge line and the first of many sightings of Great Gable in the distance
Summit of Grey Knotts, looking towards Pillar
David sets off along the undulating ridge which leads to the next fell, Brandreth
We pass around a small tarn - Brandreth lies ahead
Summit of Brandreth, looking towards our next objectives, Green Gable and Great Gable
David and Georgie heading towards Green Gable
Ennerdale on our right, a shame that it's so hazy today
Borrowdale
Summit of Green Gable, with Great Gable and Gable Crag looming up ominously beyond
Cairn at the summit of Green Gable
Looking down to well named Windy Gap
We follow the path down to Windy Gap...
Windy Gap, looking towards Ennerdale. There follows a short but steep ascent to the summit of Great Gable
After a couple of scrambly sections the gradient eases a little as we approach the summit
David and Georgie on the summit of Great Gable
The War Memorial tablet, the scene of an annual Remembrance service every November
I crossed the rocky summit area to seek out the view of Wasdale, a lovely one despite the haze
Start of the descent. The path isn't obvious at first, but it heads in the direction of Ennerdale and is very steep and loose. Kirk Fell and Pillar are on the left
Another hazy view of Wasdale and Wast Water on our left
The going becomes a little easier as we head towards a flatter area below
We turn sharp right here to join Moses' Trod
Gilly sets off along Moses' Trod - it's a relief to be walking at a gentler gradient after the arduous descent from the summit
Views of Pillar and Ennerdale on our left...
Looking back to Green Gable and Great Gable
We pass by Haystacks, with High Crag and High Stile beyond
Buttermere and Crummock Water come into view further along Moses' Trod
We join the dismantled tramway from Dubs Quarry, which takes us back to Honister Slate Mine and the end of a wonderful walk
Back at the start, 'Endurance', a sculpture by artist Terry Hawkins which celebrates the determination and energy of riders who take on the steep gradients to reach the summit of the Honister Pass
