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PICTURES AND TRIP REPORTS FROM MY WALKS IN THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT
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E-mail - karl@karlswalks.co.uk |
When driving up the Honister Pass I've often looked at the little nugget of high ground to the south above the road and thought that one day I'll go and have a look and so on Saturday I did. To make a day of it I headed over to Base Brown, Green Gable and Great Gable.
I parked in a small layby on the pass. My first task of the day was to get across Hause Gill with dry feet which I managed Just!
When driving past I'd noticed a narrow path running up by the wall so after crossing the stream I followed this up the hill.
Passing the double sheepfold and the top of Dale Head appears over High Scawdell.
It was a bit of a dull morning but the weather was supposed to improve through the day. Here I've reached the top of the hill and am looking down to High Doat and the Borrowdale valley.
Following the wall with Base Brown ahead. The higher fells are in cloud.
Raven Crag. There is a ladder stile in the wall which is good as it's quite high and well built.
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Looking along Gillercomb with Green Gable at it's head.
Seathwaite Slabs.
Sourmilk Gill and I now had a more substantial stream to cross.
When I first came this way in 2008 I remember taking this same photo and then jumping across the stream here. Either the rock was a lot drier or I was a lot braver because there was no chance of that today so I had to walk into Gillercomb till I came to a place I could cross.
After safely getting across the stream I picked up the path through the crags which leads under the Hanging Stone. Lovely view of the Seathwaite valley from the climb.
The Hanging Stone is still there hanging.
On to the final grassy ascent to Base Brown and looking back at most of my route so far.
Unfortunately although the day was brightening the cloud showed no inclination to move from the higher fells. This is looking to Green Gable from Base Brown.
Gable Crag from the stoney and slippery descent to Windy Gap.
Great Gable summit through the mist.
I had a break at the Westmoreland Cairn and although I waited over half an hour the cloud never broke.
Typically as soon as I was on my way back down Great Gable the sky started to clear giving me a view of Styhead Tarn with Sprinkling Tarn and Allen Crags above. Great End, Esk Pike and Bowfell to the right with Harrison Stickle and Pike O' Stickle in the centre background and Glaramara to the left.
The Ennerdale valley with Haystacks to the right and the High Stile ridge beyond.
Heading down from my second visit to Green Gable. I couldn't get a photo from the top because there was a large party of about twenty having their lunch around the summit area. This is looking to a sunny Base Brown from the walk down.
Beautiful now over Buttermere way.
Just a little cloud troubling the top of Pillar.
Green Gable and Great Gable seen from the climb to Brandreth.
From Brandreth it's easy walking down towards Grey Knotts. I decided to cut the corner here so headed over to the right passing the little tarn you can see in the distance.
I had to make sure I stayed away from the top of Raven Crag so slanted across the hill side and down a grassy gully. Seatoller fell is the high point in the distance.
My route down through the grassy gully.
I zig zagged my way across the undulating ground trying ( not always successfully ) to avoid the wettest patches. The fine profile of Honister Crag is to the left with Dale Head and Hindscarth to the right.
An unexpected cairn in the middle of the boggy plain. Not far to Seatoller Fell now.
On to Seatoller Fell and looking along the valley of Grains Gill with Seathwaite Fell in the near distance and Great End in the haze behind. Base Brown to the right.
And Great Gable just peeping above Green Gable from Seatoller Fell.
The view over to the east of Thorneythwaite Fell and Rosthwaite Fell.
A distant hazy Blencathra.
Quite a glorious afternoon now as I descend back down past the sheepfold to my car.
Previous walk -- Pooley Bridge to Steel Knotts and back.