Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable & Great Gable • Walking the Cumbrian Mountains

Name of walk	Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable & Great Gable
Date of walk	2021-04-19

On Monday I drove to the National Trust car park at Honister for a solo, circular walk up to Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable and Great Gable, returning via the Moses Trod path. A walk of 6.8 miles. I arrived early to an empty car park and started walking at 8am. It was a very warm day, a coat was not needed, but the warmth meant that the views at distance were very hazy.

From the gate at the back of the car park I turn left for the stile that leads to the route up to Grey Knotts. Follow the fence line all the way.

View back down on Honister and the car park. The route up to Dale Head on the other side.

Fleetwith Pike.

The way ahead.

I visit both summits of Grey Knotts before 8.45am. Bowfell and Esk Pike far left, then Great End, Ill Crag, Broad Crag, Scafell Pike, Green Gable and Great Gable. Brandreth directly ahead.

I cross the tarn by the fence line.

Brandreth summit by 9am. Green Gable, Great Gable and Kirk Fell in view.

I head down to Brandreth Tarns before the climb up to Green Gable.

One of Brandreth's Tarns.

View back to Brandreth from the carefully placed stones on the cairn, on the route up to Green Gable.

The view down the Ennerdale valley. Pillar on the left. Haystacks and the High Stile range on the right.

Base Brown on the right.

I take a panorama from Green Gable. I can't help but have my shadow in. Great Gable on the left. Left click to enlarge, click again to return.

View over Haystacks to Buttermere and Crummock Water.

View to Sprinkling Tarn above and Sty Head Tarn below.

I stop for a coffee in the shelter, then I head down the scree path to Windy Gap, then take the path up to Great Gable.

Windy Gap view.

Evidence as to why it is called 'Windy Gap'!

Looking back to Green Gable from my climb up to Great Gable, easier than I remember.

View to the summit. I have it all to myself. It is only 10.10am.

Summit memorial to those from the Fell and Rock Climbing Club that lost their lives in the First World War.

Summit panorama. Left click to enlarge, click again to return. The Scafells on the left, Wastwater, Kirk Fell in the middle.

Ennerdale.

Wastwater

Looking back to the way I came up.

Summit selfie.

Haystacks showing both innominate and Blackbeck Tarns.

I head past the Westmoreland Cairn for the view down to Wasdale.

Westmoreland Cairn is top left. Pike o'Stickle on the left, Great End on the right.

I move up to the cairn for the view looking down to the Great Napes Rocks and the scree run known as Great Hell's Gate.

Wider angle includes Lingmell and the Scafells.

Westmoreland Cairn looking a bit mossy.

I return to the summis and I follow the cairns for the way down to Beck Head.

Awkward walking! I've come up this way twice before, but never down.

The path I followed has taken me more to the left than I intended. I now have a steep, stony scree run to contend with. Basically you have to ski/surf it, keep your weight back and allow the rocks to move down under your feet. Use your sticks like a skier. When you come to a stop take another step down and repeat.

View back up the scree run. A bit hairy! I only went over on my backside once, which is why you keep your weight back, if you fall forward you would roll and not be able to stop, probably suffering injury. After this I think I could probably enter the Downhill at the next Winter Olympics! I Walk away humming the 'Ski Sunday' tune to myself.