A Wander in the West

[johnkaysleftleg]

Following last weeks breaking of my Lakeland exile, another fine forecast saw me head over to the Lakes again in the name of making hay while the sun shone. This time Hughie wasn't given the option of bolting upstairs and having a duvet day and happily seemed full of beans when we arrived at Honister on a beautiful morning


Honister morning

The National trust car park was almost empty when we arrived (and free as the machine was turned off) and we were soon heading upwards for a day in the hills. The original plan for this walk, before Covid 19, lockdowns, travel restrictions et al was to take in, not only the four fells I had planned for today but also the rocky monsters of Kirk Fell and Great Gable. If that round was well within my capabilities before the world turned upside down it most certainly isn't at the minute so the big lads got left to another day to allow are more staged return to the fells.

The last time on these fells we descended from Grey Knotts, a route which in my memory was a right pain, this time I decided to go up this way first and found far more of a built path than I remembered. If it was here or not nine years ago or we somehow missed it I can't recall.


Hughie seems up for it


Quarry Road


Honister Pass


View towards Borrowdale


And a last look back to Honister

The clunking and clanking of the mornings activity at the quarry remind you of where you are on the way up but once the route levels off the sounds are left behind leaving nothing but empty, quiet, desolate fell top, lovely
A short stroll up the now gentle slopes took me to the somewhat chilly summit of Grey Knotts, where I hunkered down out of the wind and had breakfast enjoying the view to the West.


Leaving it all behind


Dale Head from the slopes of Grey Knotts


Panorama from Greystones - click for big version

We meandered along the ridge following breakfast as there was no particular hurry, before another gentle ascent took us to Brandreth's largely flat top. The Views and light were very nice indeed but we didn't linger and made our way down to Gillercomb Head.


Gable and the Scafells from Grey Knotts


A Moody Glaramara


Another nameless tarn


Some Pretty rocks on Grey Knotts


View to Buttermere


More of those Pretty rocks


Looking back to Grey Knotts


Hughie on Brandreth


The Gables from Brandreth


Show me the Way


Ennerdale from Brandreth

My next target was Base Brown, somewhat of an outlier to these fells, and necessitating a fair loss of altitude. In order to mitigate this I ascended the slopes of Green Gable till I was above the worst of the steep, craggy ground and contoured across and down towards the easy upward slopes. Reaching the summit was fairly uninspiring in all honesty, more of a trudge and a tick than any sense of attainment. If you have only climbed Base Brown from this direction I would strongly recommend the route up via the Hanging Stone. it's what this fell, so shapely when seen from Borrowdale, deserves and is infinitely more fulfilling.


View down Gillercomb


Base Brown


Hughie on the way up Base Brown


Base Brown Summit


Seathwaite Fell and Great End from Base Brown

The route to Green Gable involves re-gaining the height lost in visiting Base Brown so it felt a bit of a relentless toil upwards before Green Gable's familiar summit came into view. It was fairly nithering in the wind so I made my way to the top of Green Gable Crags, found a sheltered spot and enjoyed lunch taking in one of my favourite views down Ennerdale as well as studying the mighty Gable Crag.


One of the locals


Gable Crag from Green Gable


Lunch time view, perched atop Green Gable Crag

No Hughie, these are my sandwiches!


Epic Hughie shot


Styhead and Sprinkling Tarns from Green Gable

With Great Gable so close there was a degree of temptation to carry on but I stuck with the plan and slithered down the scree from Wind Gap towards Moses' Trod and the route back to the car.


Crags of Great Gable, Kirk Fell and Pillar


Wind Gap from Stone Cove

Up to this point I'd only seen less than half a dozen other walkers, I'm sure I'd have seen plenty more atop of Great Gable if I'd made my way up there but down on the route named after the famous whiskey smuggler of days past it was deserted as we bimbled back to the car, taking in the views and enjoying being free to roam the hills in such a relaxed fashion.


Hughie on Moses' Trod


The Great and the Green


Pillar from Moses' Trod


Towards Buttermere and Crummock Water


Sunny Slopes of Grey Knotts


Honister Crag

This wasn't so much an exciting walk but it was very pleasant and relaxed. If I felt any regrets at not venturing up Great Gable they were tempered by the feeling that I'd expended enough energy, given my fitness levels, for the day.
I'll be back in Lakeland in May as we've managed to book a cottage for a week for a reasonable sum, probably because it's rather close to a certain nuclear facility Hopefully we might, as a family, rewind the clock and have a few short hill adventures together.

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[gld73]

Lovely pics - I'm heading 'home' to west Cumbria for a few days later this month, that's whetted my appetite for getting back out into the fells.

[trailmasher]

Nice one JK and a good set of hills for a 'round' with some of the usual first class photo offerings I concur with your comment on the best way to climb Base Brown as any other way is just a long slog and the views via the Hanging Stone route are excellent Shame on you for calling Hughie a 'knob'

[martin.h]

It's nice to have a "pleasant and relaxed" wander in the hills especially in these, they're worth spending time in.
Excellent photo's again JK, they remind me that we've just gotta get back up there

Cheers

[johnkaysleftleg]

Lovely pics - I'm heading 'home' to west Cumbria for a few days later this month, that's whetted my appetite for getting back out into the fells.

Thank you, so many great fells in the West of the Lakes to enjoy.

Nice one JK and a good set of hills for a 'round' with some of the usual first class photo offerings I concur with your comment on the best way to climb Base Brown as any other way is just a long slog and the views via the Hanging Stone route are excellent Shame on you for calling Hughie a 'knob'

At first I was wondering just what you were on about there, then I remembered the video
The ‘little scamp’ was edging far to close to the edge of the crags and generally being, well, a knob
Thanks for the kind comments TM.

It's nice to have a "pleasant and relaxed" wander in the hills especially in these, they're worth spending time in.
Excellent photo's again JK, they remind me that we've just gotta get back up there

Cheers

Cheers Martin, relaxed and pleasant is just about allI can manage at the moment

[Alteknacker]

What a great part of the world, with the usual fantastic pics from you to prove it - I'd love to know how you get them so clear and the colour so perfect!

I walked these in a clockwise direction from Glaramara, but passed on Base Brown - it's one I still have to do, if I can ever summon up the enthusiasm... If I do, I'll remember your tip about the best approach route.

[johnkaysleftleg]

What a great part of the world, with the usual fantastic pics from you to prove it - I'd love to know how you get them so clear and the colour so perfect!

I walked these in a clockwise direction from Glaramara, but passed on Base Brown - it's one I still have to do, if I can ever summon up the enthusiasm... If I do, I'll remember your tip about the best approach route.

Many thanks, as ever, for your kind words Alte. The colours are down to the camera, as far as I'm aware, as I don't particularly ever mess with them. I guess it's my reward for lugging a DSLR around the hills.
Base Brown via the Hanging Stone would make a nice start from Seathwaite on the way up Great Gable, certainly better than just following the hoards up to Sty Head.