Great Gable

Walked on 26/01/2024

Start point: Wasdale Head (NY 186 084)

Wasdale Head – Moses Trod – Gavel Neese – Beck Head – Great Gable – Westmorland Cairn – Sty Head – Wasdale Head

Distance: 10km Total Ascent: 850 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 40 minutes Start Time: 09:50

Weather: Wild and windy. 2°C

The summit of Great Gable was cloud covered when I arrived at Wasdale Head but I was hopeful that it would clear out a little – certainly towards the coast there was sunshine and blue skies. That never quite materialised but it was still a great walk. Originally I planned to visit Napes Needle but the weather conditions at the top made me change my mind about that one; it was simply too windy to attempt the south traverse. Instead I dropped down to Sty Head on the main path as it was the safer and more straightforward option.

Great Gable from the track to Burnthwaite Farm.

The long and winding road.

Looking to Sty Head across Lingmell Beck from Moses Trod.

Looking back down to Wasdale from the Gavel Neese climb - I was ever hopeful that the blue sky and sunshine would come through the clouds.

Climbing higher - phew this is steep!

Kirk Fell from Beck Head and time to layer up as the weather conditions changed from pleasant to less than pleasant as soon as I reached the col.

Climbing a little higher, there is a view of the tarns and a better view of Kirk Fell.

A peep into Ennerdale and a view of High Stile.

A better view of the Ennerdale Valley as we climb and now we can see over into Buttermere.

Fletcher at the snow line - he always manages not to look impressed. From here the summit of Great Gable was mainly in the cloud and the wind was icy and fierce!

Great Gable summit plaque looks like it has been cleaned up.

Heading for the Westmorland Cairn there were fleeting glimpses of Wasdale through the rapidly parting clouds.

Made it and even just standing up here was quite tricky in the wind, so there was no time for hanging around.

Torchlight.

Fletcher checks out Styhead Tarn and Sprinkling Tarn.

I am only interested in biscuits.

Styhead Tarn and Seathwaite Fell.

A new Stretcher Box at Sty Head, Great End beyond.

Skew Gill.

Piers Gill and Lingmell.

The way back to Wasdale.

The Great Napes.Napes Needle (originally today's plan) is visible bottom left of the Napes.

Cat Rock silhouette.

Gable Beck from the bridge.

The Wasdale Head Inn.

Great Gable

Walked on 15/03/2016

Start point: Wasdale Head (NY 186 084)

Wasdale Head – Beck Head – Great Gable – Westmorland Cairn – Great Hell Gate – Napes Needle – Moses Trod – Wasdale Head

Distance: 5.3 miles Total Ascent: 1036 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 10:00

Weather: Warmer than of late, 7-15C

I hadn’t planned to walk today but the weather looked fabulous first thing this morning so I decided to head for Wasdale and Great Gable. I wasn’t disappointed, there was the predicted wall to wall sunshine and superb clarity all around. A great day to be on the fells!

Wasdale classic.

A different angle.

Great Gable, the fell we will climb today.

Lingmell and the Scafells reflected.

Wast Water was lovely and calm at the top end today.

Hardly a ripple.

On the track past St Olaf's Church, Great Gable ahead.

Crossing Gable Beck.

Wasdale Head field system.

Kirk Fell and Beckhead Tarn from the start of the climb. It was a case of skirting the snow and ice on this one.

Kirk Fell and the Mosedale fells from the summit.

The view across Sprinkling Tarn from the summit. Nice to meet two StridingEdge fans up there, the boys had bit of a photo call!

The summit.

Looking north, Skiddaw and Blencathra in clear view.

Ennerdale.

The Westmorland Cairn.

Lunch with a view (mine was Wast Water, Fletcher's was me eating!).

The way down.

The Napes.

Scafells looking good in the sunshine.

Napes Needle.

A cracking day.

The Lion Kings.

Looking back to Gable from the bottom.

Looking across to Red Pike.

Great Gable

Height: 899 metres / 2949 feet Grid reference: NY 21102 10317 Category: The Western Fells

Great Gable from Wasdale

Looking north from the Great Gable summit

Winter on Great Gable summit with the FRCC memorial plaque in the centre

The classic view of Wast Water, Great Gable at its head

Napes Needle from The Dress Circle

The Sphinx Rock

Wasdale from The Westmorland Cairn

Gable Girdle

Walked on 28/02/2011

Start point: Wasdale Head (NY 186 084)

Wasdale Head – Moses Trod – Gavel Neese – Beck Head – Great Gable – Westmorland Cairn – Sty Head – South Traverse – Napes Needle – Sphinx Rock – Moses Trod – Wasdale Head

Distance: 5.8 miles Total Ascent: 1000 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 15 minutes Start Time: 09:50

Weather: Bright spells, misty high tops. 6°C

I fancied going west to Wasdale today and decided to climb Great Gable. I drove through sunshine and blue skies to get to a rather misty Wasdale Head but I had high hopes that things would improve as the day went on. I was sort of right as the summit itself was a bit gloomy and frozen but the walk along the south traverse was excellent and there were sunny intervals during this section.

It didn't look too great heading for Great Gable but I was hopeful it would clear as there was good weather behind me.

Crossing Lingmell Beck on Moses Trod.

Looking back to the good weather from the start of the climb.

The sunshine has caught me up but the Napes are still shrouded in mist.

Yewbarrow has caught the sun.

Getting higher - and sunnier!

Heading for a water stop at Beck Head. There was a really icy wind blowing across here now and it felt like winter once more.

Kirk Fell across Beckhead Tarn.

Someone has drawn a line under the cloud at 700m looking across Ennerdale to High Stile. Lower Haystacks remains cloud free.

Climbing the rocky northern face of Great Gable.

The frozen summit memorial on Great Gable.

Disinterested summiteers. I had a wander over to the Westmorland Cairn but there was nothing to be seen so descended towards Sty Head.

Dougal on the descent towards Styhead Tarn.

Seathwaite Fell across Styhead Tarn.

Skew Gill and Great End.

A panoramic view from the south traverse.

The Great Napes and the scree of Great Hell Gate from the South Traverse.

Looking up to a climber on Napes Needle.

The Cat Rock.

A climber tops out on Napes Needle, taken from the Dress Circle.

Rather them than me!

Dramatic skies over the Scafells. This view shows the airy location of Napes Needle.

There will be a good view from the top of there I think!

The Sphinx Rock - the same rock as The Cat Rock but from a different angle.

Wasdale from the South Traverse.

Looking up Little Hell Gate.

Dougal checks out Moses Finger.

Clear on the Scafells now.

All clear on Great Gable as well now, nearing the end of the walk.

Great Gable

Walked on 03/02/2010

Start point: Wasdale Head (NY 187 087)

Wasdale Head – Moses Trod – Gavel Neese – Beck Head – Great Gable – Windy Gap – Green Gable – Aaron Slack – Sty Head – Moses Trod – Wasdale Head

Distance: 6 miles Total Ascent: 900 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 15 minutes

Weather: Cold and clear. 2°C

It was a clear night last night and very cold this morning in Wasdale. Once up above 600m, the wind added an extra chill factor and the snow was iced over which meant crampons and ice axe were definitely required. It all made the going quite slow but it was a really enjoyable winter walk and it was very quiet up there today – I didn’t see a single person or indeed a footprint!

Pillar dominates Wasdale head.

Looking into Mosedale.

Great Gable.

Wasdale from the start of the climb to Great Gable.

High Stile and High Crag across the frozen Beck Head Tarns.

Kirk Fell across Beck Head.

Ennerdale and the High Stile ridge with Grasmoor to the right. The Solway Firth and Scotland are clearly visible today through the gap.

Mono Green Gable across Stone Cove.

The climb from Beck Head.

A panoramic view from Beck Head. Select on the image to see a larger version.

Pillar and Scoat Fell across Kirk Fell.

The climb from Beck Head was up iced over snow, so crampons were certainly required today.

Approaching Great Gable summit.

Great Gable summit with the FRCC memorial plaque central.

The sky to the south was quite eerie with the sun trying to burn through, here looking across to the Scafells.

Looking to the south east, there is a big inversion over towards Windermere with Ingleborough visible across the low cloud.

Casper has seen it all before and has 40 winks whilst Dougal seems to be enjoying the view.

The Langdale Pikes.

Wasdale from The Westmorland Cairn.

Casper living on the edge.

Great Hell Gate.

Ingleborough over Allen Crags.

Green Gable from the treacherous descent to Windy Gap.

Looking northwards from Windy Gap.

Great Gable from Green Gable.

A glimpse of Buttermere and Crummock Water from Green Gable.

Great End and the Scafells from Green Gable.

Styhead Tarn from Aaron Slack.

Great End reflected.

Styhead Tarn.

Frozen Styhead Tarn.

Casper on his throne.

Lingmell and Piers Gill.

The way back to Wasdale, looks like Casper and Dougal have spotted something down there.

Great Gable

Walked on 04/11/2008

Start point: Wasdale Head (NY 187 087)

Wasdale Head – Moses Trod – Gavel Neese – Beck Head – Great Gable – Windy Gap – Green Gable – Aaron Slack – Sty Head – Moses Trod – Wasdale Head

Distance: 6 miles Total Ascent: 900 metres Time Taken: 3 hour 35 minutes

Weather: Mainly overcast, cold on the tops. 10oC.

Well it looked promising early on but I can’t grumble about the weather really as it turned out much better than forecast (i.e. I didn’t get wet!). It was a typical November day really and there was hardly a breath of wind until above 700m where there was an icy blast. Today I had my own 2 minutes of silence alone on the top of Great Gable.

Early Wast Water reflections and a touch of blue sky.

The classic shot of Wasdale.

The lake was calm this morning with hardly a breath of wind.

Great Gable from Wasdale Head, the path running up the centre before cutting left is the one I am following today.

Casper lying low in Fogmire Beck.

There is cloud forming and then quickly disappearing from the summit.

Following Moses Trod.

Lingmell Beck.

Looking down on Wasdale Head.

Wasdale Head from Beck Head, The Screes to the left and Yewbarrow to the right of Wast Water.

Kirk Fell across Beck Head from the climb to Great Gable.

High Stile across Ennerdale.

Casper above Ennerdale.

Green Gable across Stone Cove.

Ennerdale and the High Stile ridge.

Pillar beyond Kirk Fell.

There was lots of cloud forming over the fells to the north-west. This cloud was rolling over Brandreth and heading directly towards me bringing a chill wind - time for the gloves, cap and jacket!

Kirk Fell through the enveloping mist.

Next week is Armistice Day and the annual Remembrance Day service takes place on Great gable summit on Sunday. I left our families poppy up there today. 'Lest we forget'...I will not.

The Scafells from the summit of Great Gable.

The Scafells again, this time from the descent to Windy Gap.

Styhead Tarn and Great End from Windy Gap.

The path to Green Gable.

Ennerdale from Windy Gap.

A brief sunny spell over Sty Head.

Ennerdale and Buttermere from the summit of Green Gable.

Kirk Fell, Pillar with a profile of Pillar Rock overlooking Ennerdale with Scoat Fell and Red Pike in view.

Casper on Green Gable.

Strange cloud formations over Coledale way.

Pillar and The Pillar.

Styhead Tarn and Seathwaite Fell.

Trafalgar Square or Sty Head? Casper has a stretch on the stretcher box.

Great End and the cleft of Skew Gill.

Lingmell and the cleft of Piers Gill.

Casper heading for home.

Great Gable and the headstone dedicated to a climber who died up there in St Olaf's churchyard.

More reflections - Great Gable, Lingmell, Scafell Pike and Scafell.

The Screes.

Great Gable

Walked on 12/11/2007

Start point: Wasdale Head (NY 186 084)

Wasdale Head – Kirk Fell – North Top of Kirk Fell – Beck Head – Great Gable – Westmorland Cairn – Great Hell Gate – Napes Needle – Sphinx Rock – Moses Trod – Wasdale Head

Distance: 5 miles Total Ascent: 1100 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Icy at first, sunny later. -2oC at first, 7oC max.

I would have liked to have made it to Great Gable yesterday as it was the FRCC annual Armistice Day service up there, but not to worry as I had my own service in solitude today. It was really icy and cold when I set off and that soon gave way to sunshine and clear blue skies. I descended Great Gable by way of the Westmorland Cairn and down to the rough and rocky Great Napes descending Great Hell Gate and traversing to Napes Needle and Sphinx Rock.

Early morning - a glimmer of light and very cold on this steep way up to Kirk Fell.

Looking back down the path to Wasdale - any excuse for a breather!

The rising sun catches the top of the fells encircling Mosedale - Red Pike, Scoat Fell and Pillar.

Which way Casper?

Seatallan over Dore Head. To the right is the distant Isle of Man.

A clear view from the summit of Kirk Fell.

Casper has Kirk Fell licked.

Grasmoor from Kirk Fell, Haystacks is the darker fell in the near centre.

Dale Head - it didn't look like this last week.

Great Gable.

Scafell and Scafell Pike in silhouette with the rising sun across Kirkfell Tarn.

Pillar.

Looking across to Kirk Fell's main summit over the tarn from the north top.

Ennerdale and beyond.

Kirk Fell across Beck Head from the climb to Great Gable.

The FRCC remembrance plaque on Great Gable. It was good to see that there were wreaths and poppies up there despite the edict that people shouldn't leave them as it causes a littering nuisance. I left our families poppies up there today, I told Connie I would so that she may remember in future. Remember her great-grandfather that survived a mustard gas attack at Arras in the First World War and who was never the same again; remember her great-grandfather who was nearly blown to kingdom come in a mortar attack at Arnhem, ending up with less legs and digits than he had previously and who was never the same again; remember her great-grandfather who went to Burma and didn't see his daughter for 5 long years, caught malaria and who was never the same again. Remember them all Connie and shed a tear. I did. I hope the poppies don't offend anyone; please remember the thoughts behind them.

Looking north from a deserted Great Gable summit.

The distant Helvellyn range from the summit of Great Gable.

Skiddaw.

Wast Water and Wasdale from the Westmorland Cairn.

Great Hell Gate - that's the way down for us today...

...gulp!

The Mosedale fells from the Westmorland Cairn.

Here's a photo taken last year from Lingmell showing the route of descent from the Westmorland Cairn, descending Great Hell Gate before rising up to Napes Needle and continuing along the south traverse.

Descending Great Hell Gate.

From this angle, The Sphinx Rock is The Cat Rock.

Napes Needle in silhouette.

Napes Needle from The Dress Circle.

Wast Water and The Sphinx Rock.

The Sphinx Rock.

Looking up Little Hell Gate.

On the south traverse of Great Gable heading for Moses Trod.

Looking back up the scree run on Gavel Neese to Moses Finger.

Casper has a rest during the descent from Great Napes.

Looking back to Great Gable.

Great Gable from Wasdale.

Red Pike and dry stone walls.

Great Gable from Wasdale Head.

Pillar dominating Wasdale Head.

The classic view of Wast Water, Great Gable at its head.

Great Gable. The Great Napes look almost impossible to traverse from here. The two scree chutes of Great Hell Gate and Little Hell Gate are conspicuous running either side of the Napes.

Great Gable

Walked on 13/12/2005

Start point: Car Park at the head of Honister Pass (NY 225 135)

Honister Hause – Bell Crags – Black Star (440) – Fleetwith Pike (441) – Moses Trod – Beck Head – Great Gable – Green Gable (442) – Gillercomb Head – Brandreth (443) – Grey Knotts (444) – Honister Hause

Distance: 8.75 miles Total Ascent: 1159 metres Time Taken: 4 hours

Weather: Grey and overcast. 5ºC.

Today the weather was a lot duller than yesterday for a walk up to Great Gable from the Honister Pass. It did look promising at the start, but after the ascent of Great Gable I never got out of the clouds until reaching Grey Knotts. It was very quiet up there today and I had every summit to myself, which must be a record for Great Gable I think!

The track from Honister Pass looking down to the slate mine - the only slate mine in England.

Hindscarth from Black Star, the highest point of Honister Crag.

Yewbarrow through the gap between Kirk Fell and Pillar.

The Buttermere Valley from Fleetwith Pike. The nearest water is Buttermere with Crummock Water behind and a glimpse of Loweswater in the distance.

High Crag and High Stile from Fleetwith Pike.

The summit of Grasmoor obscured by clouds.

Haystacks in the foreground with Pillar behind, across Ennerdale.

Angus is back! - on Fleetwith Pike.

High Crag.

Fleetwith Pike to the left of the ridge with Black Star along the same ridge to the right. Much evidence of continuing mining operations here.

Kirk Fell appears fleetingly from the cloud cover.

...as does Green Gable.

A panoramic view of Ennerdale and Buttermere. Select on the image to see a large annotated version.

Angus.

The Ennerdale Valley from the rising of the River Liza which runs all the way to Ennerdale Water.

A glimpse in to Wasdale and a view of Wast Water from Beck Head. Now it was up to Great Gable and up into the clouds.

The Fell and Rock Climbing Club plaque on Great Gable summit with poppies remaining from the Remembrance Sunday service.

The mist clears at Windy Gap to show Styhead Tarn.

A puddle shows how cold it is up on Grey Knotts.

Tarn on Grey Knotts.

Base Brown from the summit of Grey Knotts.

Great Gable

Walked on 23/09/2004

Start point: Wasdale Head (NY 187 088)

Wasdale Head – Kirk Fell (171) – North Top of Kirk Fell (172) – Great Gable (173) – Moses Trod – Wasdale Head

Weather: Mostly sunny, cold wind.

Today’s walk was a visit to two of the giants of Wasdale – Kirk Fell and Great Gable. I took the direct route up to Kirk Fell from Wasdale Head, a sickeningly steep climb, ‘the steepest in Lakeland’ as Wainwright described it.

Follow the path for the steep line of ascent, straight up the nose of Kirk Fell.

Illgill Head, Wast Water and Wasdale Head from the ascent of Kirk Fell.

Stirrup Crag on Yewbarrow with Red Pike rising to the right.

Scafell Pike, Scafell and Lingmell from Kirk Fell.

The North Top of Kirk Fell across Kirkfell Tarn. Green Gable is in the background.

Green Gable and Great Gable shrouded in the mist from The North Top of Kirk Fell. It didn't look like there would be any views from Great Gable today as the mist hung over the top for most of the time.

High Stile, High Crags and Haystacks along the Ennerdale valley with a glimpse of Crummock Water behind. To the right is Grasmoor (annotated version of this photo).

Looking across to Kirk Fell from the ascent of Great Gable. Haycock, Scoat Fell and Pillar silhouetted in the background. The small pimple in the centre is Steeple, whilst Pillar Rock can be seen a third of the way down the slope of Pillar.

Wast Water, Illgill Head and Yewbarrow from The Westmorland Cairn on Great Gable.

Great Borne, Starling Dodd, Red Pike, High Stile and High Seat from the descent of Great Gable.

Looking back up to Great Napes from Moses Trod, the path I used for the descent back to Wasdale Head.

A final view of Great Gable from Wasdale Head.

Great Gable

Walked on 05/09/2003

Wasdale Head – Black Sails Pass – Kirk Fell (93) – Great Gable (94) – Green Gable (95) – Windy Gap – Styhead Tarn – Wasdale Head

Looking up Mosedale Beck towards Black Sails.

Looking over the Black Sails Pass to Haystacks and Fleetwith Pike with Robinson, Dale Head and Hinsdscarth in the far distance.

High Crag and Haystacks from Black Sails Pass with Robinson behind.

Wastwater from Kirk Fell summit, Illgill Head to the left and Yewbarrow to the right.

Great Gable from Kirk Fell.

Scafell and Lingmell from Kirk Fell summit.

Kirk Fell Tarn.

A dried up Beckhead Tarn from Kirk Fell.

Great Gable summit overlooking Wastwater.

Wastwater from the Westmorland cairn.

The Scafell Pikes from Great Gable.

View from Green Gable summit with Pillar on the left with Haystacks and High Crag on the right.

Great Gable from Green Gable.

Styhead Tarn from Windy Gap.

The 'cat rock' on Great Gable from the Lingmell Beck path.