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13/06/2006 - Great Gable, Green Gable, Brandreth and Grey Knotts with Paul D.

The day was fine and warm but hazy and so photographs were not as good as I had hoped. However, it's always satisfying to start a walk from Honister Pass. At a height of 1,176 ft it feels as if your head is in the clouds even before you begin. Nevertheless, the steep climb that follows the route of the old tramway to the remains of the Drum House soon knocks the wind out of you. The path  then turns left to skirt around Grey Knotts and Brandreth. The footpath here is reputed to be an old smugglers' route known as Moses' Trod. The path up to Windy Gap and Green Gable is passed as height is gradually gained towards Beck Head. From here there is now a rocky scramble through several hundred feet of ascent to the summit of Great Gable. On a clear day the views are superb in every direction and there is a very definite feeling of being at a mountain summit. From here the descent to Windy Gap is rough and steep but Green Gable is then achieved without much difficulty. Our path to Honister Pass returned via the tops of Brandreth and Grey Knotts and we descended back to the car park behind the youth hostel.