7: The Western Fells (Page Two)

1. The EASTERN FELLS
2. The FAR EASTERN
FELLS
3. The CENTRAL FELLS
4. The SOUTHERN FELLS
5. The NORTHERN FELLS
6. The NORTH WESTERN
FELLS
7. The WESTERN FELLS

Wainwright's Western Fells

The Western Fells • 2

THE FELLS IN THIS AREA:

BASE BROWN • BLAKE FELL • BRANDRETH • BUCKBARROW • BURNBANK FELL • CAW FELL • CRAG FELL • FELLBARROW • FLEETWITH PIKE • GAVEL FELL • GREAT BORNE • GREAT GABLE • GREEN GABLE • GREY KNOTTS • GRIKE • HAYCOCK • HAYSTACKS • HEN COMB • HIGH CRAG • HIGH STILE • KIRK FELL • LANK RIGG • LOW FELL • MELLBREAK • MIDDLE FELL • PILLAR • RED PIKE (Buttermere) • RED PIKE (Wasdale) • SCOAT FELL • SEATALLAN • STARLING DODD • STEEPLE • YEWBARROW

FLEETWITH PIKE
Height: 2126', (648m)
Grid Ref: NY 206141

The hut at Dub's Quarry, with Haystack beyond

GAVEL FELL
Height: 1726', (526m)
Grid Ref: NY 117185

GREAT BORNE
Height: 1936', (590m)
Grid Ref: NY 124164

Great Borne rises above the north western bank of Ennerdale Water, and is part of a great ridge which carries on over the High Stile ridge to Haystacks. It's possible to carry on over the Gables and complete a horseshoe walk around the fells on the southern flank of Ennerdale, though this would probably be too much for the average walker to complete in a day. The summit has two distinct tops divided by a shallow cleft, the southern one with the trig column being the higher. To the west of the summit there is a large marshy plateau, marked Herdus on the map, a name by which the whole fell is known locally.

TOP

GREAT GABLE
Height: 2949', (899m)
Grid Ref: NY 211103

TOP

GREEN GABLE
Height: 2628', (801m)
Grid reference: NY 215107

TOP

I've been on Green Gable quite a few times, usually when crossing over the narrow pass of Windy Gap. It's less than five minutes to the summit from the pass and is well worth the detour, (even after spending the best part of an hour toiling up Aaron Slack). There are a couple of shelters on the summit, which is a fine place to view the Crags of Great Gable. To the south of the summit is a prominently cairned outcrop with a small shelter, which in mist could be mistaken for the real summit.

GREY KNOTTS
Height: 2287', (801m)
Grid Ref: NY 219126

Grey Knotts rises is the first summit on a the long ridge which rises from the wooded slopes behind Seatoller in Borrowdale to the summit of Great Gable. The name really refers to the summit, most of this upland being known locally as Seatoller Fell, a name which can conveniently (if not accurately) be applied to the minor top at NY 233133 (1476' / 450m).

The summit of Grey Knotts is the best part of the fell, comprising of two rocky tors which appear to be of equal height. The eastern tor is where the OS base their spot height and as such this is the accepted summit. There are a couple of small tarns nearby, and a broken fence makes a useful navigational 'handrail' in mist. It can be followed north to the youth hostel at Honister Pass, or south over Brandreth as far as Green Gable. (The fence going east leads to dangerous crags: in his summit plan, Wainwright has several arrows indicating various destinations from the summit - Honister, Brandreth, Great Gable, Seatoller, and Sudden Death).

GRIKE
Height: 1599' (488m)
Grid Ref: NY085141

Grike is the most westerly of the Wainwright fells, though the summit itself is quite undistinguished. The most interesting approach is probably from the unenclosed road which links Ennerdale Bridge with Calder Bridge. The Kinniside stone circle stands at the side of the road, and a little to the south a well-engineered mine road with very easy gradients heads up into the hills, passing close to the summit of Grike.

The Kinniside Stone Circle

HAYCOCK
Height: 2617', (797m)
Grid Ref: NY 145107

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