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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 up 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 (south) to skirt around Grey Knotts and Brandreth. The footpath here is reputed to be an old smugglers' route known as Moses' Trod. On the left 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 the summit the descent to Windy Gap is rough and steep but Green Gable is then achieved without much difficulty. The path to Honister Pass returns via the tops of Brandreth and Grey Knotts and then descends steeply back to the car park behind the youth hostel.

 

Honister Crag and the  path to the old drum house climbing up to the left

 

Looking towards Buttermere

 

 Great Gable looms ahead

 

Windy Gap

 

Wast Water

 

Kirk Fell from above Beck Head

 

 Looking into Ennerdale from the steep final scramble to the summit

 

The summit

 

Wast Water from the summit

 

Piers Ghyll from Great Gable summit

 

The Scafells

 

Green Gable with Base Brown beyond

 

Styhead Tarn

 

The rough and rocky path off Great Gable

 

Green Gable summit looking towards Pillar

 

and looking south

 

Brandreth from the path off Green Gable

 

Pillar from Brandreth

 

Brandreth summit looking towards Ennerdale

 

Grey Knotts from Brandreth

 

Grey Knotts summit

 

Towards Buttermere from Grey Knotts

 

And the summit again (Photo Paul D)

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