Great Borne

Great Borne above Ennerdale

Great Borne rises to 616 metres above the northern side of Ennerdale's western entrance. Its steep flanks give it a much bigger presence than the height alone suggests. Woodland and the knolls of Bowness Knott and Brown How occupy the lower ground, while Herdus forms the western shoulder of the fell. Beyond the summit, the ridge continues east towards Starling Dodd and the higher mountains around High Stile.

The appeal is the change in scale. A walk begins close to the wooded lakeshore, climbs onto open mountain ground and reaches a broad, rocky top overlooking the western Lake District. Ennerdale Water lies below, with the coast beyond the lower country to the west. The higher fells fill the view up the valley. Clear weather reveals the landscape's shape, but cloud can make the open summit much less easy to read.

The summit and neighbouring fells

The summit area has a trig pillar and a substantial stone wind shelter. The highest point is a rock about 22 metres south of the pillar, at NY 12394 16358. The distinction is small on the ground but useful for walkers following different hill lists: the trig pillar is Wainwright's summit, while the surveyed high point lies just beyond it.

Great Borne is a Wainwright, Birkett, Hewitt and Nuttall, as well as a Simm and HuMP. Starling Dodd, at 633 metres, is the next Wainwright east along the ridge. Red Pike, the 755-metre summit above Buttermere, lies farther on. Continuing towards it adds more climbing and requires a separate plan for the return to Ennerdale.

A circuit from Bowness Knott

A complete circuit from Bowness Knott car park visits Herdus, Great Borne, Gale Fell, Starling Dodd and Little Dodd, then descends to the Ennerdale forest road and follows it west to the start. The normal circuit is about 12.4 kilometres with 726 metres of ascent. These figures include the return, but not temporary diversions.

This is a demanding mountain walk, with rocky steps, boggy ground and a steep, largely pathless descent from Little Dodd to the forest road. Use a full route description and map, allowing time for stops and navigation. The upper route contains indistinct paths, and finding the correct descent matters.

Smithy Beck works in November 2026

The forest-road return is affected by planned bridge works at Smithy Beck from 10 November 2026. The National Park expects the closure to last a week or less, with a signed alternative for walkers using a nearby footbridge. Check the current closure notice and follow the diversion on site. The normal circuit distance will change while that diversion is in use.

Granite, older rocks and the valley

Great Borne stands within the Ennerdale Intrusion, a body of igneous rock formed underground during the Ordovician period. Granite and microgranite are characteristic rocks of this intrusion. The granite formed as magma cooled beneath the surface.

The southern slopes reveal a particularly interesting boundary. Around Bowness Knott and Rake Beck, the intrusion meets older sedimentary rocks of the Skiddaw Group. The contact is exposed on Great Borne's southern slope. Heat from the invading magma altered and hardened the surrounding rocks, and granitic veins cut through them. This closely packed variety is why nearby Bowness Knott is a Geological Conservation Review site. It gives the ascent a geological setting without requiring a detour onto the crags.

Getting there and looking after the fell

Bowness Knott car park, grid reference NY109153 and postcode CA23 3AU, is the practical road start. Parking is charged, and the forest road beyond it is closed to general motor traffic. Follow the signed approach through Ennerdale rather than minor lanes unsuitable for cars.

Ennerdale Bridge is the nearby village base. Forestry England lists The Gather there as a community café, shop and visitor information centre. Take food and water for the hill and check opening times before relying on refreshments afterwards. There is no direct public transport connection to the valley, so arrange the final approach and return before travelling.

Check notices for forestry operations, respect closures and keep dogs under close control around livestock and wildlife. The lower valley's easier paths do not indicate the difficulty of the summit walk.

Weather and preparation

Check a mountain forecast before setting out and again on the day. Wet rock and steep grass become slippery, while rain can make beck crossings difficult. Strong winds and poor visibility can turn the open ridge into a much more serious undertaking. Carry waterproofs, warm layers, food, water, a headtorch and a map and compass that you can use.

Snow or ice calls for winter skills and suitable equipment. Leave your route and expected return time with someone, plan to finish in daylight and be willing to turn back. Choose a lower-level walk when conditions or experience do not suit the mountain route.