Great Gable

About Great Gable

Great Gable stands as perhaps the Lake District's most iconic mountain—a perfect pyramid when viewed from Wasdale, commanding the central heart of the region with dignity and presence. At 899 metres, it ranks as England's seventh-highest peak, yet its significance far exceeds mere altitude. This is a mountain steeped in history, emotion and mountaineering heritage, crowned by one of Britain's most poignant war memorials and revered as the birthplace of British rock climbing.

Wainwright captured Great Gable's essence beautifully: "The name fits well. This mountain is strong yet not sturdy, masculine yet graceful. It is the undisputed overlord of the group of hills to which it belongs... In some lights, especially in the afterglow of sunset, Great Gable is truly a beautiful mountain, but it is never a pretty one."

The mountain's central position within the Lake District, combined with great prominence and distinctive profile, makes it instantly recognisable in countless photographs and paintings. From most directions it appears as a dome, but from Wasdale it presents that classic pyramidal silhouette that has become synonymous with Lakeland mountaineering.

The War Memorial

The bronze memorial plaque fixed to the summit outcrop represents one of the Lake District's most moving sites. Following World War I, the Fell & Rock Climbing Club purchased approximately 3,000 acres of land including Great Gable and donated it to the National Trust in 1920 as "The Great Gift"—a memorial to club members who died in the war. The plaque, weighing 70 kilograms, was dedicated on Whit Sunday 1924 by Geoffrey Winthrop Young before 500 people.

The inscription reads: "In glorious and happy memory of those whose names are inscribed below—members of this club—who died for their country in the Great War 1914-1918, and in perpetual remembrance of their love for the Lake District fells, and in grateful recognition of the gift of these fells to the nation by their friends and fellow members 1924." Twenty names follow.

Every Remembrance Sunday at 11am, the Fell & Rock Climbing Club holds a service here, and hundreds of people gather—members and non-members alike—climbing from all directions regardless of weather conditions to pay their respects through readings, wreath-laying and a two-minute silence. It remains one of Britain's most extraordinary memorial services, conducted in the most exposed and dramatic of settings.

The original plaque was removed in July 2013 by Royal Engineers due to weathering and spelling errors, then replaced with a corrected version in October 2013—ensuring this powerful memorial continues to serve future generations.

The Birthplace of British Rock Climbing

Great Gable holds pivotal status in British mountaineering history. In June 1886, W.P. Haskett-Smith made the first ascent of Napes Needle—a 20-metre pinnacle on the southern Wasdale face—soloing the crack in what is recognised as one of Britain's earliest deliberate rock climbs. This feat on Great Gable's southern crags spurred development of technical climbing techniques and established the mountain as the birthplace of British rock climbing.

The Great Napes, Kern Knotts, Raven Crag, and Gable Crag have since become legendary climbing venues. Napes Needle, Sphinx Rock and countless other formations attract climbers from around the world, making Great Gable a haven for technical rock climbing as much as fell walking.

The Mountain's Structure

Great Gable's upper section has a roughly square plan, approximately half a mile on each side, with faces aligned to compass points. The northern face is formed by Gable Crag—the longest continuous crag wall on the fell, reaching almost to the summit. Scree slopes fall away below to the River Liza headwaters flowing down Ennerdale.

The southern flank falls 700 metres directly to Lingmell Beck. Right below the summit lie Westmorland Crags, with a second tier breaking out lower down: Kern Knotts, Raven Crag and Great Napes, all footed by enormous scree tongues. The eastern slopes, though less craggy, fall steeply to Styhead Tarn—a scooped hollow approximately 9 metres deep, dammed by boulders and reputed to contain trout.

Routes of Ascent

Multiple routes converge toward Great Gable's summit, the most popular starting from Wasdale Head via Sty Head Pass. The approach from Borrowdale via Sour Milk Gill and Gillercombe provides stepped, twisting approaches full of interest—climbing past Taylor Gill Force before exploring the lonely hanging valley of Gillercombe, then ascending Green Gable for close views of Great Gable's imposing north-facing crags.

From Honister Pass, Moses Trod—an old smugglers' route said to have been used by legendary Moses Rigg—contours around Brandreth and Green Gable before the final steep, rocky climb from Windy Gap. This historical path combines adventure with panoramic views over Ennerdale, Wasdale and Borrowdale.

The final approach from Windy Gap requires scrambling—a headwall of rock steps offering multiple route choices, none particularly difficult but all demanding hands-on engagement with the mountain. At the top, a cairned path leads to the summit outcrop where the memorial awaits.

The Westmorland Cairn

One hundred yards southwest of the summit, overlooking the Napes, stands the Westmorland Cairn. Erected in 1876 by two brothers named Westmorland, it marks what they considered the finest view in the Lake District. From here, ground falls dramatically into upper Wasdale valley—a spectacular perspective fully justifying their claim.

Summit Views

Due to Great Gable's central position and prominence, summit views prove extraordinary. The panorama encompasses Scafell Pike barely three kilometres distant but cruelly 79 vertical metres higher, Wasdale and Wastwater spreading below, Ennerdale to the north, and the central fells radiating in all directions. On clear days, views extend to the sea, the Scottish borders, and across to the Isle of Man.

The Gable Girdle

For those seeking extended adventures, the Gable Girdle provides a classic traverse around the mountain's base, offering close encounters with its dramatic crags without summiting. Wainwright found the going "reasonably good," noting it's "a doddle compared with, say, Jack's Rake"—though this still demands mountain experience and scrambling confidence.