Great Gable
899m (2951ft)
The Western Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
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See Great Gable and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
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*Walk & bag all 33 Wainwrights in The Western Fells area of The Lake District in just 10 easy-to-follow circular walks.
*This version is marked with the walk routes you need to follow to Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 walks. Click here for more information.
NB: Whether you print off a copy on to paper or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers Maps will prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal!
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 5.75ml (9km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,340ft (731m) |
| Time: | 4½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Honister Pass - Honister Hause - Grey Knotts - Brandreth - Green Gable - Windy Gap - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Beck Head - Beckhead Tarn - Moses' Trod - Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk - Honister Pass
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 6ml (9.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,845ft (867m) |
| Time: | 5 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Seathwaite (Borrowdale) - Stockley Bridge - Styhead Tarn - Sty Head - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Windy Gap - Green Gable - Mitchell Cove - Blackmoor Pols - Base Brown - Gillercomb - Sour Milk Gill (Borrowdale) - Seathwaite (Borrowdale)
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 7.5ml (12km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,289ft (1,002m) |
| Time: | 6 hrs |
| Grade: | (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Honister Pass - Honister Hause - Grey Knotts - Brandreth - Green Gable - Windy Gap - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Beck Head - Beckhead Tarn - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Kirk Fell - Moses' Trod - Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk - Honister Pass
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.25ml (13km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,016ft (919m) |
| Time: | 6 hrs |
| Grade: | (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Seatoller - Seathwaite (Borrowdale) - Sourmilk Gill (Borrowdale) - Gillercomb - Blackmoor Pols - Mitchell Cove - Green Gable - Windy Gap - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Beck Head - Beckhead Tarn - Moses' Trod - Honister Pass - Honister Hause - Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk - Seatoller
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.5ml (13.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,260ft (1,298m) |
| Time: | 7.25hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Honister Pass - Honister Hause - Green Crag (Buttermere) - Black Beck - Blackbeck Tarn - Innominate Tarn - Hay Stacks (Haystacks) - Scarth Gap - Ennerdale - River Liza - Black Sail Hut (Youth Hostel) - Black Sail Path - Kirk Fell - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Beckhead Tarn - Beck Head - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Windy Gap - Green Gable - Gillercomb Head - Brandreth - Grey Knotts - Honister Hause.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9ml (14.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,965ft (1,208m) |
| Time: | 7½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Honister Pass - Honister Hause - Grey Knotts - Brandreth - Blackmoor Pols - Base Brown - Mitchell Cove - Green Gable - Windy Gap - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Beck Head - Beckhead Tarn - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Kirk Fell - Moses' Trod - Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk - Honister Pass
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10.5ml (17km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,693ft (1,430m) |
| Time: | 8½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Seatoller - Strands Bridge - Borrowdale - The Combe - Thornythwaite Fell - Comb Head - Glaramara - Looking Steads (Glaramara) - Red Beck - Red Beck Top - Allen Gill - High House Tarn - High House Tarn Top - Allen Crags - Esk Hause - Ruddy Gill - Sprinkling Tarn - Sty Head - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Windy Gap - Green Gable - Gillercomb Head - Brandreth - Grey Knotts - Honister Hause - Honister Pass - Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk - Seatoller
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 11.25ml (18km) |
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| Ascent: | 5,819ft (1,773m) |
| Time: | 10 hrs |
| Grade: |  (Very Hard) |
Route Summary:
Wasdale Head - Moses' Trod - Lingmell Beck - Gable Beck Bridge - Sty Head - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Beck Head - Beckhead Tarn - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Kirk Fell - Black Sail Pass - Looking Stead (Pillar) - High Level Route - Robinson's Cairn - Pillar - Wind Gap - Black Crag (Pillar) - Scoat Fell (Little Scoat Fell) - Steeple - Red Pike (Wasdale) - Dore Head - Mosedale Beck - Wasdale Head - Wast Water.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 18.75ml (30km) |
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| Ascent: | 7,309ft (2,408m) |
| Time: | 14.75hrs |
| Grade: | (Very Hard) |
Route Summary:
Bowness Knott Car Park Ennerdale - Low Gillerthwaite Field Centre - High Gillerthwaite Yourth Hostel - Red Pike (Buttermere) - High Stile - High Crag (Buttermere) - Seat (Buttermere) - Scarth Gap - Hay Stacks (Haystacks) - Innominate Tarn - Blackbeck Tarn - Black Beck - Green Crag (Buttermere) - Great Round How - Brandreth - Gillercomb Head - Green Gable - Windy Gap - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Beck Head - Beckhead Tarn - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Kirk Fell - Black Sail Pass - Looking Stead (Pillar) - High Level Route - Robinson's Cairn - Pillar - Wind Gap - Black Crag (Pillar) - High Beck - Low Beck - Ennerdale.
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Great Gable
Angeline Grieveson walked up Great Gable on October 5th, 2024 [with] Rick & Dotty
Geoff Hand climbed Great Gable on September 3rd, 2024 [from/via/route] Walk C417 Great Gable & Kirk Fell from Honister. Set off from Honister & climbed Grey Knotts, from there onto Glamara. We then climbed towards Green Gable but went South to pick up Brown Base. We retraced our steps, climbed green gable & onto Gt Gable. Leaving Gt Gable in cloud we found the path down to Beck Head. When reached there the cloud had lifted off Kirk fell so we went for it. Came back by Moses's trod & the dismantled tramway to Honister. [with] Tess, my Jack Russell [weather] Started off quite sunny, however cloud moved in & covered Gt Gable. A bit drisly towards the end. - A really tough walk, one I would think twice about in the future. Very pleased with my navigation of Gt Gable as it was spot on! According to my garmin I didn't quite hit the top of Grey Knots & Brandreth. I find this incredible as I did a lot of tramping around to make sure I hit the tops today. So I'm claiming them anyway. NB I've also done them both before.
Simon Myerscough bagged Great Gable on November 27th, 2023 [from/via/route] From Seathwaite dry to start then progressively colder & misty - some snoe above 2000ft. [with] Joanne [weather] Light winds & dull all day - Scramble coming down Sourmilk Ghyll was challenging but made it after change of line
Christine Shepherd hiked Great Gable on July 19th, 2003 [from/via/route] Walked from Honister via Brandreth. Second & Third times from Seathwaite Fourth & Fifth times from Honister again. [with] Andy, Miriam and Ishmay (aged 7) [weather] Sunny - Got half way up Gable again in July 07 but turned back in heavy rain. Reached the summit again twice in 2010. On 18.6.10 Jenny & I had a glorious walk from Seathwaite taking in Fleetwith Pike before a descent via Honister. I then led a church group to the top just over a week later on 26.6.10, in lovely sunshine. Climbed again 30.11.19. Had to walk back to Honister along Moses Trod in the dark! Climbed for a fifth time on 8.6.23 using walk c417, in gorgeous sunshine with a pleasant breeze.
John Ramsbottom summited Great Gable on April 10th, 2023 [from/via/route] walk c442 parked at Honister slate mines [with] Lola [weather] misty/rainy/windy - solo walk with Lola, bad visibilty, glad i had digital mapping
Richard Fulcher conquered Great Gable on April 3rd, 2023 [from/via/route] Parked in the NT car park at Honister Slate Mine & walked up the steep path to Grey Knotts. We then traversed over the rock strewn ridge to Brandreth & across Gillercomb Head to Green Gable. Just before reaching the top of GG I diverted left down the fell & across to Base Brown. I then returned by the same route & we carried on up to the summit of GG after having some lunch. After a slippery descent from GG to Windy Gap we then started the rocky ascent to Great Gable. We returned to WG by the same route & then descended down another scree strewn path to join the Moses Trod path before branching off towards the dismantled tramway at Honister. The rocky paths continued pretty much all the way back. [with] Jen [weather] Sunny, blue skies, cold at times when in exposed sections, very good visibility. - Be prepared for some climbing over rocks in certain stretches esp. up Great Gable.
Martyn Atherton scaled Great Gable on September 20th, 2020 [from/via/route] c338 Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable, Great Gable, Kirk Fell [with] Martyn and Paul [weather] Cloudy at first then very warm & sunny - Great view of the mines
Neall Garrad walked up Great Gable on June 25th, 2022 [from/via/route] Wasdale Head [weather] Sunny, hailstones, windy
Paul Macey climbed Great Gable on June 6th, 2022 [from/via/route] C417 in revert [with] Luke [weather] Cloudy but cloud above summits
Ian Ashton bagged Great Gable on September 4th, 2021 [from/via/route] Seathwaite & corridor route down [with] Solo
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Great Gable
*Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head across Wast Water
Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable panorama featuring Kirk Fell (foreground centre), Wast Water, Wasdale and Yewbarrow with Middle Fell and Seatallan beyond (left), Red Pike (Wasdale), Little Scoat Fell and Pillar behind Kirk Fell (centre) and Ennerdale with Red Pike (Buttermere), High Stile, High Crag and Crummock Water (right)
Green Gable (left) Great Gable (centre left), Scafell Pike (centre distance) and Kirk Fell (centre right) from Hay Stacks (Haystacks)
Great Gable (centre) and Kirk Fell (right) from below Black Sail Hut (Youth Hostel) Ennerdale
Wasdale featuring Lingmell (left), Illgill Head and Whin Rigg (left of centre in the distance), Wast Water (centre) and Yewbarrow (right) from Westmorland Cairn near the summit of Great Gable
Red Pike (centre left), Pillar, Yewbarrow (centre), Kirk Fell & Great Gable (right) beyond Wast Water from Whin Rigg
The Seathwaite Valley from half-way up Sourmilk Gill en-route to Gillercombe, Green Gable and Great Gable
Sca Fell, Scafell Pike and the dome of Great Gable in the distance beyond Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell (Bowfell) with The Langdale Pikes in the mid distance from Yoke
Innominate Tarn, Hay Stacks with Great Gable, Kirk Fell and Scafell Pike in the distance
Kirk Fell (foreground), Pillar, Ennerdale, Red Pike (Buttermere), High Stile, High Crag and Crummock Water (far right) from Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable
Wast Water, Yewbarrow (left), Kirk Fell (centre left), Great Gable (centre right) and Lingmell Fell (right) from Illgill Head
Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell and the shoulder of Scafell Pike from Wast Water
Snow on Scafell Pike (left), Sca Fell (right top) and Lingmell (right centre) from Westmorland Cairn on Great Gable
Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell and Great Gable from Irton Pike
Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell, Scafell Pike and Sca Fell from Wast Water
Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Great End and Lingmell from the summit of Yewbarrow
*Pike of Blisco (Pike o' Blisco), Crinkle Crags (South Top), Crinkle Crags (Long Top), Gunson Knott, Bow Fell (Bowfell), The Scafell Massif, Great Gable and Pike of Stickle (in the foreground) from Harrison Stickle
Great Gable peeping up through the clouds during a cloud inversion from Scafell Pike
Green Gable left), Great Gable (centre) and Kirk Fell (right) with the Scafell Massif beyond (centre) from High Crag (Buttermere)
Looking down Greta Gill to Wasdale from Great End with Red Pike (Wasdale), Little Scoat Fell, Kirk Fell and Great Gable beyond
Wast Water with Illgill Head (left) and Yewbarrow (right) from Great Gable summit
360 degree panorama featuring Great Gable, Green Gable, Little Scoat Fell & Pillar (distance), Brandreth, Dale Head (Newlands), High Spy, Glaramara, Esk Pike, Great End and Scafell Pike from Base Brown
Illgill Head and Whin Rigg (left) Wast Water and Yewbarrow and Middle Fell (right) from Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable
Our new addition Neela ( 1st time in the Lakes) on Hay Stacks (Haystacks) with Green Gable (left), Windy Gap, Great Gable and Kirk Fell (right) very clear in the background
Innominate Tarn on Hay stacks (frozen solid) with Great Gable rising majestically in the background
Yewbarrow (left) Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell (right) from across Wast Water in Wasdale
Yewbarrow (left), Kirk Fell (partially hidden), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head (right) from across Wast Water
Wast Water and Wasdale Head from the lower slopes of Great Gable and Kirk Fell
Northern Souls Walking Club at the Remembrance Day service on top of Great Gable
Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (centre), Lingmell (right) and the lower slopes of Scafell Pike (right) from across Wast Water
Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell from across Wast Water
Looking NE up Wast Water to featuring Yewbarrow (left), Kirk Fell and Great Gable (right) from near Lund Bridge
Brandreth summit cairn with Gillercomb Head leading up to Green Gable with Great Gable looking majestic in the background
Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable and Lingmell (right) and Scafell Pike (far right) from Wast Water
Great Gable (back), Lingmell, the shoulder of Scafell Pike and Mickeldore from Symonds Knott
On the ridge between Great Borne and Starling Dodd with Great Gable and Kirk Fell in the distance
Styhead Tarn, Great Gable and Green Gable from the path below Sprinkling Tarn
Kirk Fell with Red Pike (Wasdale), Little Scoat Fell and Pillar behind from Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable
Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (in cloud centre), Lingmell (centre right) and the Wast Water screes (right) reflected in Wast Water
Wasdale Head and Wast Water from Gavel Neese on the lower slopes of Great Gable
Green Gable, Great Gable (left of centre), Kirk Fell (centre) and Pillar (right) with the Scafell Massif beyond (centre) from High Crag
Wasdale Head (Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell and Great Gable), Whin Rigg and Eskdale Moor from Irton Pike
Beck Head and Beckhead Tarn with Kirk Fell beyond from below Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable
Green Gable (left) and Great Gable (centre left) from the summit of Brandreth
Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow (left), the shoulder of Kirk Fell, Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell (right) from across Wast Water
A moody looking Great Gable from Great End's north ridge close to Custs Gully
Great view of Brandreth, Green Gable, Great Gable (the rounded dome), Kirk Fell, Pillar (the highest point), Black Crag and Steeple from Lingcomb Edge just below the summit of Red Pike (Buttermere)
Wasdale Head featuring Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (centre) and Lingmell (right) from across Wast Water
Kirk Fell with Pillar and Little Scoat Fell beyond from Great Gable summit
Great Gable (mid-distance right) with The Scafell Massif beyond with Esk Pike (left) and Bow Fell (Bowfell) (far left) from Littledale Edge
Yewbarrow (left), the shoulder of Kirk Fell, Great Gable (centre) and Lingmoor Fell (right) from Wast Water
Yewbarrow (left), Great Gable (centre in cloud), Lingmell and the shoulder or Scafell Pike (right) from across Wast Water
Red Pike (Wasdale) and Little Scoat Fell (left), Mosedale, Pillar and Kirk Fell (centre) and Great Gable (right) from the summit of Scafell Pike
Illgill Head (left) Wasdale, Wast Water and Yewbarrow from Westmorland Cairn, Great Gable
Britain's Favourite View - Yewbarrow, Great Gable, Lingmell, Great End, Sca Fell and the shoulder of Illgill Head (far right) from Wast Water
Haycock, Little Scoat Fell, Red Pike (Wasdale), Pillar, Top of Stirrup Crag, Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Great End, Lingmell, Scafell Pike, Sca Fell, Slightside, Harter Fell (Eskdale) and Burnmoor Tarn from the summit of Yewbarrow
*From Left to right: Caw Fell, Seatallan, Red Pike, Pillar, Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Lingmell and Sca Fell and Wast Water (foreground) from Illgill Head (NB. Scafell Pike is largely hidden behind Sca Fell)
Looking south from the summit of Dale Head (Newlands) with (left to right) Great End, Broad Crag, Ill Crag and Scafell Pike on the horizon and Great Gable (far right - mid distance)
Green Gable (left) and Great Gable (centre left) and the shoulder of Kirk Fell from Loft Beck
*Kirk Fell (left), Great Gable (centre) Lingmell, Scafell Pike (partially hidden) and Illgill Head across Wast Water
Snow capping Yewbarrow (left) Great Gable (centre) Lingmell and Scafell Pike surround Wast Water from near Overbeck Bridge, Wasdale
Innominate Tarn with Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable, Great Gable and Kirk Fell forming the backdrop
Seatallan, Great Scoat Fell, Little Scoat Fell, Red Pike (Wasdale), Yewbarrow, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Whin Rigg from Irton Pike
Kirk Fell and the shoulder of Great Gable (right) with the lower slopes of Great End (left) and Red Pike (Wasdale) in the distance from Sty Head
A grand view overlooking the valley of upper Wasdale from Esk Hause with Pillar, Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Green Gable taking centre stage
Wast Water, Wasdale and Yewbarrow with Middle Fell (left) Seatallan (background centre), Red Pike (Wasdale) (right) and the shoulder of Kirk Fell (centre foreground) from Westmorland Cairn on Great Gable
Yewbarrow with Kirk Fell, Great Gable and Lingmell beyond from Middle Fell (Wasdale)
Piers Gill with Lingmell (near left) and Kirk Fell (centre) and Great Gable (right) on the horizon
. . . see just 20 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Great Gable
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