Great Gable

Great Gable

Great Gable rises to 898.8 m, conventionally rounded to 899 m, in the Lake District's Western Fells. It is a Marilyn and Wainwright, with approaches from Wasdale, Borrowdale, Honister and Ennerdale. Its steep slopes and rocky summit require mountain-walking skills. Database of British and Irish Hills

Route planning

These are introductory summaries, not navigation instructions. Use a complete mapped itinerary, check conditions and allow extra time for your group.

• Seathwaite via Sty Head, out and back: Stockley Bridge and Styhead Tarn lead to Sty Head; the Breast Route climbs from the pass to the summit. Return the same way. Breast Route
• Honister four-fell circuit: Follow the Drum House and Moses Trod to Beck Head, climb Great Gable, then return over Windy Gap, Green Gable, Brandreth and Grey Knotts. Walking Britain gives about 11.8 km and 5 hours 40 minutes for this circuit. Published itinerary
• Wasdale Head via Beck Head, out and back: Approach through Burnthwaite and Moses Trod, then climb the north-west ridge. Return the same way. Rocky scrambling is involved. Ascent description
• Ennerdale approach: A precise starting point, ascent and return still need to be chosen. Black Sail Hut and Black Sail Pass are different places; the pass is west of Kirk Fell. This is an approach-planning option. Route context
• Seathwaite three-fell circuit: Climb Sour Milk Gill and Gillercomb, include Base Brown, then cross Green Gable and Windy Gap to Great Gable. Return by Sty Head, Styhead Tarn and Stockley Bridge. Walking Britain gives about 9.8 km and 5 hours 30 minutes. Published itinerary

Summit and landscape

The highest point is rock, with a cairn and the Fell and Rock Climbing Club memorial plaque in the summit area. In clear weather, views include Wastwater and the Scafell range; Westmorland Cairn below the summit is another viewpoint. Summit description and photographs

The mountain contains Ordovician rocks of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, including volcanic tuffs and lavas. British Geological Survey descriptions include the Lingmell Tuff Formation and Scafell Dacite on Great Gable. BGS geology

Name and remembrance

The name refers to the mountain's gable-like shape. A scholarly account explains the combination of English “great” and a Norse word for “gable”. American Name Society review, page 181

The Fell and Rock Climbing Club gave mountain land including Great Gable to the National Trust in memory of members killed in the First World War. Its summit memorial was unveiled on 8 June 1924. National Trust history, FRCC contemporary account

Access and facilities

Choose the start to match your route. Wasdale Head Green and the National Trust's Lake Head car park are separate places; the Trust confirms toilets at Lake Head. Honister and Seatoller also have designated parking. Check charges, availability and access notices, and keep farm and emergency access clear. Refreshments at the Wasdale Head Inn depend on opening hours. Wasdale facilities, Borrowdale parking, Wasdale Head Inn

For Borrowdale, the 78 connects Keswick with Seatoller; allow for the walk to Seathwaite. Honister buses and the separate Wasdale Explorer are seasonal. Check operating dates and the last return rather than assuming service is available. Borrowdale transport, Wasdale Explorer

Safety

Steep paths, loose rock, boulders and short scrambling sections can be difficult in rain, high winds or poor visibility. Choose an appropriate route and be ready to turn back. Check a mountain forecast and carry a map and compass you can use, suitable clothing, food, water, a torch and emergency equipment. National Park walking safety

Snow and ice can turn a summer walk into a winter mountaineering undertaking requiring appropriate skills, an ice axe and crampons. Mobile reception is unreliable. In an emergency call 999 or 112, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue. Mountain Rescue advice

Reviewed 15 October 2026. Check current access, weather and services before travelling.