Meet time: 9.15am
Start time: 9.30am
Estimated finish time: 2.30pm to 3pm.
Distance: 6.84 miles (about 11 kilometers).
Ascent: 3051 feet (930 meters).
Ramblers walk grading: A (Strenuous).
Start point: Seathwaite Farm / Hamlet
Postcode: CA12 5XJ
Car parking: Plenty of spaces along the end of the road leading to Seathwaite Farm. There may be a field open for car-parking by the farmer at Seathwaite.
It is the responsibility of each walker to make sure they understand where to park. If you are not sure where the car parking/meeting point is, you must contact the walk leader at the latest the day before the walk. You should
not rely on mobile phones or postcodes. There is often no mobile reception near walk meeting points and postcodes are for the nearest place nearby but should only serve as a guideline. Please allow plenty of time to find
a parking space so that walks can start promptly.
Description: The walk starts from the hamlet of Seathwaite and follows the main path to Styhead Tarn. It’s at Styhead Tarn where the classic mass of the Scafell Range can be seen from Great End to Scafell Pike to the scarred
Lingmell. We then proceed to the stretcher box to then begin the steep ascent up Great Gable. This is 400 meters of unrelenting ascent, but the end can be seen when the mountain narrows and the path goes over scree and rock fields.
The summit of Great Gable (899 meters) is one of the best in the Lake District! From Great Gable this linear route goes to Green Gable, the lesser Gable (though has a very impressive view of Gable Crags) at 801 meters, and then gradually dips down to follow the watershed dividing Ennerdale from Borrowdale. When we reach a small cluster of ponds, we have to slightly ascend to reach Brandreth (715 meters), but it is a lovely fell with a great vantage of the Gables, the western fells, the northwestern falls and more.
From Brandreth we ignore Grey Knotts (it is a very steep and slippery descent from that fell back to Honister Hause) and instead take various paths to reach the tramway path dividing Fleetwith Pike from Brandreth. We can either go down the tramway path which has a suburb view of Honister and the Helvellyn Range, or follow the gentler but windy tracks back to Honister Hause which is the walks’ end point.
This is a linear walk which means there will be some cars parked up both at Honister Hause and Seathwaite. At the end of the walk everyone is driven back to the start point which is Seathwaite. For more details about how this
works please contact the walk leader.
Please contact Miles on 07842 783319 by 10pm on Friday 13 December if you are coming on this walk (text or phone, or message on Facebook (Miles Saunders-Priem)).
Please check the weather and bring appropriate clothing (waterproofs and spare warm clothing), footwear and enough food and water. The leader reserves the right to turn away any walker not suitably equipped. The leader
may cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.
Car sharing may be possible – please contact the walk leader to arrange.
New members: please note the walk leader may ask for more information about your walking experience. This is to ensure you have the fitness required to complete the walk that is planned safely.
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