Great Borne
616m (2021ft)
The Western Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
The summit of Great Borne is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9.75ml (15.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,734ft (833m) |
| Time: | 6.25hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Buttermere - Buttermere Dubbs - Scale Bridge - Scale Force - Scale Beck - Blea Crag - Lingcomb Edge - Ling Comb - Little Dodd (Ennerdale) - Starling Dodd - Great Borne - Floutern Tarn - Black Beck (Mosedale) - Scale Force - Scale Beck (Crummock Water) - Crummock Water - Buttermere
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9.75ml (15.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,157ft (962m) |
| Time: | 6½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Buttermere - Sourmilk Gill - Bleaberry Tarn - Dodd (Buttermere) - The Saddle - Red Pike (Buttermere) - Ling Comb - Little Dodd (Ennerdale) - Starling Dodd - Great Borne - Floutern Tarn - Black Beck (Mosedale) - Blea Crag - Scale Force - Scale Beck (Crummock Water) - Crummock Water - Buttermere Dubs - Buttermere
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 16ml (25.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 6,285ft (1,915m) |
| Time: | 12.25hrs |
| Grade: |  (Very Hard) |
Route Summary:
Buttermere - Scale Force - Scale Beck - Blea Crag - Great Borne - Starling Dodd - Little Dodd (Ennerdale) - Ling Comb - Lingcomb Edge - Red Pike (Buttermere) - Dodd (Buttermere) - Red Pike (Buttermere) - High Stile - High Crag (Buttermere) - Gamlin End - Seat (Buttermere) - Scarth Gap - Hay Stacks (Haystacks) - Innominate Tarn - Blackbeck Tarn - Black Beck - Green Crag (Buttermere) - Warnscale Beck - Dubs Hut - Dubs Quarry - Fleetwith Pike - Honister Crag (Black Star) - Fleetwith Pike - Fleetwith Edge - Gatesgarth - Buttermere
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The Western Fells of The Lake District National Park
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*This version is marked with the walk routes you need to follow to Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 walks.
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Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Great Borne
Paul Roddam walked up Great Borne on July 19th, 2025 [with] Barb, Bri [weather] Muggy
Ian Ashton climbed Great Borne on January 19th, 2025 [with] Ella
Tim Winn bagged Great Borne on September 25th, 2024 [from/via/route] Bowness Car Park, Ennnerdale [with] Steve, Dave, John, Mike and Darrell [weather] Dry.
Richard Fulcher hiked Great Borne on April 2nd, 2024 [from/via/route] We parked in Bowness Knot car park next to Ennerdale Water (£8 😱). We then set off back up the road until the stile leading to the path by Rake Beck. We hiked up this path until just below Herdus & then scrambled up the slippery steep rock to the top & across to Great Borne. From Great Borne we went down & up to Starling Dodd & then continued towards Red Pike veering off to the right to join the path leading down to the road at the bottom. We then strolled back wearily to the car! [with] Jen [weather] Cold on the tops with a breeze, but still & quite pleasant down at the lake side. Low cloud to start with clearing later.
Sarah Moore summited Great Borne on April 9th, 2023 [from/via/route] My own invention! Wanting not to drive from YHA Ennerdale & to make the most of the High Stile ridge [with] On my own [weather] Not so sunny - good... very windy at times - tough (lots of people coming off the tops / turning back, but glad I didn't) - Loved this - an 8 hour walk really started to test me lengthwise & absolutely adored the lack of people on what I thought would be a crazy busy Easter Sunday. One to remember...
Richard Marchant conquered Great Borne on November 19th, 2022 [from/via/route] Parked at the Forestry Carpark next to Ennerdale Water under Bowness Knot. From the carpark we walked but up the road to the bend & took a path Northeast ward that took us up behind Bowness Knot & Brown How. Basically we followed Rake Beck all the way up to the top of the fell where the gradient got easier & before you knew it we were on Great Bourne. From here we followed the ridge East on to Starling Dodd. We then carried on over Starling Dodd & before the ascent of Reb Pike we eventually headed south down a faint path back down to the bottom of Ennerdale & then followed the forestry track back to the carpark. [with] with my oldest son James [weather] Sunny cold day
Christine Shepherd scaled Great Borne on August 14th, 2010 [from/via/route] Walked from Buttermere using c411 Climbed again from Bowness Knott 22-11-2021 Climbed for a third time with a group from Mountain Madness on 28.08.2022 following route c324. [with] On my own [weather] Sunny apart from the top of Red Pike which was in mist.
Paul Macey walked up Great Borne on July 23rd, 2022 [with] Luke [weather] Sunny Intervals
John Tippins climbed Great Borne on July 12th, 2022 [from/via/route] From Buttermere [with] With Zahra [weather] Cloudy & a bit chilly to start with, warmer later.
Chris Sheard bagged Great Borne on March 13th, 2022 [from/via/route] Up from Ennerdale parking [with] George [weather] Pleasant but rain showers came in later with sunshine as we drove away - windy - gear upsetting as leaking - need review - Made this ascent in a nice circular coming down the pass path
Kevin Foster hiked Great Borne on June 11th, 2021 [from/via/route] Bowness Knott car park. [with] By myself. [weather] Some clouds. - A straightforward ascent with great views of Ennerdale Water. The cairn on the subsidiary top of Herdus made a great early lunch stop whilst waiting for the clouds to gently lift off the main top.
Michael Austin summited Great Borne on October 14th, 2020 [from/via/route] C411 & C207
Christina Lander conquered Great Borne on April 23rd, 2021 [from/via/route] Bowness Knott, Ennerdale - Great Borne - Starling Dodd - Red Pike - Smithy Beck Settlement - Bowness Knott [with] Dick [weather] A beautiful sunny day - During our holiday staying in Embleton
Ian Mackenzie scaled Great Borne on April 10th, 2021 [from/via/route] Starling Dodd. Descent from here was icy & steep, used the fence most of the way down as a safer option after falling over. [with] Me, myself and I [weather] Sunny but cold - Great walk but with steep ascent & descents, not yet fit so it hurt!
Julie Clough walked up Great Borne on September 20th, 2020 [from/via/route] From Ennerdale, on to Starling Dodd, Red Pike, High Stile & High Crag [with] Nobody [weather] Perfect Indian summer day. Blue skies, sunshine & just a hint of breeze - Charlotte's 16th birthday 🎉
Darren Wilson climbed Great Borne on August 30th, 2020 [from/via/route] Buttermere, Great Borne,Starling Dodd, Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag, Haystacks, Fleetwith Pike [with] Mike [weather] Good day - Clear day good views
Dave Eyes bagged Great Borne on August 19th, 2019 [from/via/route] Parked at carpark under Bowness Knott on the shore of ennerdale water. Walked along the shore path & then up Starling Dodd & then on to Great Borne [with] Christine Eyes [weather] Cloudy with a heavy rain & a very strong wind - hardly any views.
Wayne Baxter hiked Great Borne on August 7th, 2020 [from/via/route] Ennerdale Waters Bowness knot car park. Back along the road to a stile on your right,up to Herdus & follow path to Great Borne, now follow path to Starling Dodd. On to Little Dodd before turning left down a very steep path to Ennerdale waters & back to car. (the route down is not recommended) [with] Sue [weather] Rain to start with very high winds. Sunny on the way back.
Andrew Johnson summited Great Borne on November 20th, 2019 [from/via/route] Ennerdale [with] Ted [weather] Some cloud
Caroline Winter conquered Great Borne on August 27th, 2019 [from/via/route] Gatesgarth, Scarth Gap Pass, Seat, High Crag, High Stile, Red Pike, Starling Dodd, Great Borne, Steel Brow, Scales, The Fish at Buttermere, B5289 to CP [with] Becky [weather] 9.30 Start & already feeling hot & sticky on long climb up. No wind until late afternoon (SW), & great views of surrounding Fells. Cloud predicted on High Crag at 1pm, & cloud descended on leaving Great Borne. - Classic ridge walk with a plethora of views, not forthcoming on last visit here. Red scree peppering slopes of Red pike, so to descend further along after continuing the ridge to Starling Dodd & Great Borne (Starling Dodd has a very odd twisted metal structure on its top & Great Borne is a pile of stones). Also, saves climbing them from Ennerdale. Came down further West along a track, so needed to back Track to find NW route. Long walk out along slippery rocks & bracken. Diversion at scale Bridge, due to reconstruction. Missed last bus at 17.18 hrs, so ate a delicious trout dinner at The Fish, before walking the road-nearly as pleasant as the lake walk, & saved £25 plus on taxi fare.
Richard Marshall scaled Great Borne on April 14th, 2019 [from/via/route] C411 [with] Bo [weather] Cloudy/sunny. Very Cold bit breezy.
Elaine Evans walked up Great Borne on January 11th, 2019 [from/via/route] From Bowness Knott car park back along road to bridleway leading up to Great Borne, across to Starling Dodd then descended to forest path to walk alongside river & shores of Ennerdale on way back to car. [with] Sue and Christine [weather] Dry, dull but clear day - Good walk out for our first AWs of the year.
David Watson climbed Great Borne on August 30th, 2018 [from/via/route] Bowness Knot [weather] Sunny
John Bryers bagged Great Borne on August 16th, 2018 [from/via/route] First of 7 Wainwrights. Camped at Syke Farm, Buttermere. Walked along Crummock water from Scale bridge Scale force, traversing Starling Dodd to join ridge path to top of Great Bourne. [with] With Mya my faithful Patterdale Terrier. [weather] Weather blustery with occasional showers with some strong cool winds for August! - Once bagged, returned via Starling Dodd to Red Pike & beyond!
John Almond hiked Great Borne on August 22nd, 2017 [from/via/route] go4awalk c411 route reversed - From Buttermere Village - Crummock Water - Black Beck - Floutern Tarn - GREAT BORNE - Starling Dodd - Little Dodd - Scale Beck - Crummock Water - Wainwright 105 [with] Solo [weather] Good. - Had planned to do this walk as published, but carelessly missed the left turn at Scale Beck! Rather than turn back, I decided to carry on to Great Borne first! Would probably recommend the other way, & do the climbing with fresh legs!
Leon Harvey summited Great Borne on January 21st, 2017 [with] Solo
Tracey Cowell conquered Great Borne on November 27th, 2016 [from/via/route] Bowness knott/brown how/herdus/great borne/gavel fell/starling dodd/little dodd/Gillette waited yha /ennerdale shore path [with] Richard jennings/Jaclyn simpson/karen howkins/ Stephen green/ linzi / Sue round [weather] Snow sun cloud
Mark Davidson scaled Great Borne on June 6th, 2003 [with] Mike [weather] OK - bit hazy
Craig Steeland walked up Great Borne on October 20th, 2016 [from/via/route] Buttermere [with] on my own [weather] sunny & clear - Beautiful autumn day
Nina Albertelli climbed Great Borne on October 9th, 2016 [from/via/route] Herdus [with] Nina, Chez, Ted, Peppa and Deano [weather] Perfect
Anthony Scott bagged Great Borne on June 27th, 2016 [from/via/route] YHA Ennerdale [with] me [weather] Breezy, some drizzle, rain on the way
Christine Knowles hiked Great Borne on May 16th, 2016 [from/via/route] Ennerdale via High Stile Ridge & Starling Dodd [with] Graham [weather] Cold but clear - This was higher than expected.
Victoria Bates has summited Great Borne [from/via/route] C144 [with] Mark - Running back for ice cream
David Noble conquered Great Borne on November 14th, 2015 [from/via/route] Bowness Knott [with] Jack [weather] Hurricane Jane ended up light constant rain & 25mph winds a dud
Kevin Parnham scaled Great Borne on May 13th, 2015 [from/via/route] From Ennerdale via Whiteoak Moss [with] Jo [weather] Glorious day - An excellent but long walk
Colin Egan walked up Great Borne on March 24th, 2015 [from/via/route] Ascent from Bowness Point car park [with] My wife Faith and son Peter [weather] Cold, windy, sleet & hail, followed by sun - Made a big mistake not taking the most direct route up via Herdus Scaw & Rake Beck. We went up to the left of Herdus & must have missed the path up because we ended up slogging our way up a steep pathless slope on grass & moss!
Keith Eastman climbed Great Borne on July 26th, 2014 [from/via/route] c411
Harry Meijer bagged Great Borne on August 16th, 2014 [from/via/route] The Ennerdale Horseshoe [with] The Lake District Walker
Charlie Housley has hiked Great Borne [from/via/route] The path that runs alongside Rake Beck. [with] Solo. [weather] Well, after setting off from home in Leeds I had high spirits that the weather was going to be exceptional; this proved misguided. There was low cloud in Ennerdale that shrouded my entire walk up Great Borne & along to Starling Dodd. It wasn't until I descended back down to Ennerdale that I started to see blue sky. From 13.00hrs it was superb for the rest of the day!
Clive Ward summited Great Borne on March 4th, 2014 [from/via/route] Parked near Loweswater. This was 4th & hardest of the 7 Wainwrights that day. See Burnbank Fell. [with] Ian Jackson, Chris Francis.
Darren Mortimer conquered Great Borne on September 14th, 2013 [from/via/route] Buttermere [with] Dermot Palmer [weather] Fantastic sunny day with white fluffy clouds & very little wind
Phillip Bulley scaled Great Borne on July 12th, 2013 [from/via/route] Gale Fell [with] Judith and Toby! [weather] Sunny & Hot!
Dale Verrall walked up Great Borne on March 11th, 2012 [from/via/route] Ennerdsle Water - Walk number C411 [with] Amber [weather] Low cloud but warm
Paul Carmichael climbed Great Borne on November 18th, 2012 [from/via/route] Buttermere [with] Neil Hopkin [weather] Good
Iain Taylor bagged Great Borne on May 1st, 2011 [from/via/route] Buttermere (NY 17756 17088)
Tony Aspden hiked Great Borne on June 12th, 2012 [from/via/route] C2C from Ennerdale Bridge [with] Andy [weather] Sunny
Stephen Littlewood summited Great Borne on August 12th, 2012 [from/via/route] From Buttermere, up Mosedale [weather] overcast & windy - start of ridge walk from Great Borne, Starling Dodd, Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag & Haystacks 17mile round trip
Carl Murphy conquered Great Borne on July 7th, 2012 [from/via/route] bowness knott [weather] cloudy,warm
Neil Smith, Matthew Thomas, Stephen Byrne, David Hallam, Patrick Rogozinski, Clare Houlihan, Jenny Godfrey, Melanie Dunn, Teresa Lowery, Adrian Roberts, John Walter, Alan Fowler, Steven Woodroffe, Louise Sandwith, Jonathan Tobin, Patricia Dilley, Simon Duerden, Gordon Lee, Paul Booth, Linda Mckeogh, Rob Barklamb, Louis Smith, Jeanette Coward, Trevor Williams, Raymond Barnett, Paul Henderson, Libby Burns, John Cuthbert, Stephen Millington and Ray O'hara have all walked, climbed & bagged Great Borne.
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Great Borne
*Grasmoor (left of centre) and Red Pike (Buttermere) (right of centre) from Great Borne
Ennerdale Water from halfway up Rake Beck on the lower SW slopes of Great Borne
Cairn on the ridge between Sliver Cove Beck and Deep Gill with Ennerdale Water, Great Borne and Starling Dodd beyond
*Ennerdale Water (left), Starling Dodd and Great Borne, Loweswater (right of centre), Mellbreak and Crummock Water (right) from Red Pike (Buttermere)
On the ridge between Great Borne and Starling Dodd with Great Gable and Kirk Fell in the distance
Steeple and Long Crag with Crag Fell (sunlit in the distance), Ennerdale Water and Great Borne from Pillar
Descending back to Ennerdale and Bowness Knott Car Park on the SW slopes of Great Borne
Crag Fell summit cairn with Great Borne (left), Starling Dodd (centre), Red Pike (Buttermere) and High Stile in the distance
Climbing the ridge between Sliver Cove Beck and Deep Gill with Ennerdale Water, Great Borne and Starling Dodd beyond
. . . see all 20 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Great Borne
Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Great Borne
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