Terrain Overview
Walk Overview
If I`ve learned anything from my Fell walking journeys to date, it is to be prepared
for any kind of weather. When we set off from home this morning it was baking hot sun.
When we arrived at Honister Slate mine, the same, and crowds had gathered to
watch the Borrowdale Fell race. On reaching Green Gable we had to turn back
to escape 40 odd mile an hour winds, thick mist and torrential rain
The walk starts at the Honister Slate Mine car park, which due to the Fell race
was full to bursting. Here you can see the runners who have come down off
Brandreth and are heading up to Dale Head
Passing through the spectator area at the front of the shop
From the back of the shop area in front of the Slate workshops, a stoned path
follows the line of an old fence which actually leads directly to the summit of Grey Knotts
By and large the stone track is an excellent way to gain height, with no navigational
difficulties. Whilst the ground can be a bit boggy in places, just stick to the line of the fence
The path steers through a rock cutting
Looking right across the Southern face of Fleetwith Pike
Looking behind towards Blancathra over the Dale Head / Scawdell range
A quick pit stop en-route to the summit of Grey Knotts
As we continue onwards we meet more Fell runners heading down to Honister
The summit of Grey Knotts. Click here for a 360 degree view
Looking towards Buttermere and Crummock Water from the summit
Looking South West to the next summit of the day, Brandreth.
Towering in the background is Great Gable
Seeping in slowly, the thick blanket of mist. At this point and out of nowhere
the breeze that we started off in at Honister turned into a 40 mile an hour gale
To the North West a stunning view of Haystacks (front) and the High Stile
range with Mellbreak in the distance
The path up to Beck Head skirts the base of the White Napes on Great Gable
Approaching a series of summit cairns dotted across the top of Brandreth
The main summit cairn on Brandreth. Click here for a 360 degree view
Setting off now along a good path for Green Gable
The path is very easy to follow and extremely well cairned in the latter stages
Sue and Ste on the summit of Green Gable, and in the background what was soon
to be the last view we had of Great Gable before the mist came in.
At this point it was difficult to stand up straight
OMG !! - The mist coming in rapidly, the wind howling and this guy is climbing
up the sheer North face of Great Gable
A bunch of walkers decide it`s time to get off Great Gable before worse conditions set in
Great Gable vanishes in the mist
We were very thankful of the numerous cairns on the path back down
As we head back to Honister, a break in the mist reveals Buttermere & Crummock Water
Looking down Ennerdale Valley. At this point the heavens opened
Looking back to Green Gable before it too got shrouded in mist
Back down at Honister and thankfully nobody was around to see three
drowned rats changing out of soaking wet hiking gear
