Fleetwith Pike, Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Green Gable, Base Brown & Hay Stacks - Friday 11 July 2014
Route
Gatesgarth - Fleetwith Pike - Black Star - Drum House - Grey Knotts - Brandreth - Green Gable - Base Brown - Green Gable - Moses Trod - Blackbeck Tarn - Innominate Tarn - Hay Stacks - Scarth Gap - Peggy's Bridge - Gatesgarth
Parking
Gatesgarth (Charge) - Grid Ref NY194150
Mileage
10.2 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths but care needs to be taken on the steep descent of Hay Stacks down to Scarth Gap
Weather
Gloriously sunny, very little wind and excellent visibility
Time Taken
7hrs 15mins
Total Ascent
4330ft (1320m)
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Gatesgarth - Fleetwith Pike - Black Star - Drum House - Grey Knotts - Brandreth - Green Gable - Base Brown - Green Gable - Moses Trod - Blackbeck Tarn - Innominate Tarn - Hay Stacks - Scarth Gap - Peggy's Bridge - Gatesgarth
Parking
Gatesgarth (Charge) - Grid Ref NY194150
Mileage
10.2 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths but care needs to be taken on the steep descent of Hay Stacks down to Scarth Gap
Weather
Gloriously sunny, very little wind and excellent visibility
Time Taken
7hrs 15mins
Total Ascent
4330ft (1320m)
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
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GPX File
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Walk Description
This was one of those days where the weather could not have been any better. We were up early to drive over to Gatesgarth but fell foul of our planning as when we were coming through Honister we were stuck behind the Gatesgarth shepherds moving their flock. No matter - there was still plenty of parking to be had once we arrived at Gatesgarth where there is a small fee to park.
The route leaves Gatesgarth along the road towards Honister and soon strikes up the fell side to Fleetwith Pike. The ascent is steep but the views today were reward enough for the toil. Reaching the summit we had fabulous views down Buttermere and over to Pillar and Kirk Fell. The path then heads over towards Black Star before heading down to the Drum House via the quarry track. From Drum House we headed over to Grey Knotts, taking the Coast to Coast path coming over from Loft Beck, leaving the path to make a 200 yard detour to the summit.
The route over to Brandreth and then on to Green Gable follows a clear path and the views are with you all the way, particularly as the huge bulk of Great Gable gets ever nearer. From Green Gable we did consider descending down to Windy Gap and making the steep ascent up to Great Gable but there was already a procession of walkers doing exactly that therefore having been up Great Gable before we left it for another day. We headed back down towards Brandreth but then took a right fork to make an out and back to the summit of Base Brown.
From Base Brown we retraced our steps to Green Gable before heading down to Moses Trod to pick up the popular path up to the summit of Hay Stacks via Innominate Tarn. Reaching Hay Stacks, as per usual there were people hogging the summit therefore we hung around a bit before politely asking them to shift in order that we could get a suitable photograph. From Hay Stacks there is a tricky little descent down to Scarth Gap, which needs a bit of care taking over it before there is a bit of a knee crunching trip down the pass to Peggy's Bridge before the arrival back in Gatesgarth.
Great conditions today on what was an absolutely fantastic route over some beautiful ground.
The route leaves Gatesgarth along the road towards Honister and soon strikes up the fell side to Fleetwith Pike. The ascent is steep but the views today were reward enough for the toil. Reaching the summit we had fabulous views down Buttermere and over to Pillar and Kirk Fell. The path then heads over towards Black Star before heading down to the Drum House via the quarry track. From Drum House we headed over to Grey Knotts, taking the Coast to Coast path coming over from Loft Beck, leaving the path to make a 200 yard detour to the summit.
The route over to Brandreth and then on to Green Gable follows a clear path and the views are with you all the way, particularly as the huge bulk of Great Gable gets ever nearer. From Green Gable we did consider descending down to Windy Gap and making the steep ascent up to Great Gable but there was already a procession of walkers doing exactly that therefore having been up Great Gable before we left it for another day. We headed back down towards Brandreth but then took a right fork to make an out and back to the summit of Base Brown.
From Base Brown we retraced our steps to Green Gable before heading down to Moses Trod to pick up the popular path up to the summit of Hay Stacks via Innominate Tarn. Reaching Hay Stacks, as per usual there were people hogging the summit therefore we hung around a bit before politely asking them to shift in order that we could get a suitable photograph. From Hay Stacks there is a tricky little descent down to Scarth Gap, which needs a bit of care taking over it before there is a bit of a knee crunching trip down the pass to Peggy's Bridge before the arrival back in Gatesgarth.
Great conditions today on what was an absolutely fantastic route over some beautiful ground.
Gatesgarth
Fleetwith Pike ahead
The Memorial below Low Raven Crag
The cross was erected in memory of Fanny Mercer. Fanny was an 18 year old servant visiting the lakes with the family of her employer. On the day of the accident Fanny and two other servants were given the day off and set out for a walk over the fells. Eventually they arrived on Honister Crag and decided to return to Buttermere via Fleetwith Pike and Fleetwith Edge. It was on their descent, as they neared the road, that the accident happened. Fanny, who was at the rear, apparently jumped off the ledge on which she was standing, using her alpenstock (an iron tipped stick) for support. The effect was to propel her upwards and outwards, falling a considerable distance and unfortunately striking her head on a rock. Fanny suffered severe head wounds and was carried down to Gatesgarth, alas to no avail. A messenger was sent for a doctor from Cockermouth but, by the time he arrived several hours later Fanny had died.
The cross was erected in memory of Fanny Mercer. Fanny was an 18 year old servant visiting the lakes with the family of her employer. On the day of the accident Fanny and two other servants were given the day off and set out for a walk over the fells. Eventually they arrived on Honister Crag and decided to return to Buttermere via Fleetwith Pike and Fleetwith Edge. It was on their descent, as they neared the road, that the accident happened. Fanny, who was at the rear, apparently jumped off the ledge on which she was standing, using her alpenstock (an iron tipped stick) for support. The effect was to propel her upwards and outwards, falling a considerable distance and unfortunately striking her head on a rock. Fanny suffered severe head wounds and was carried down to Gatesgarth, alas to no avail. A messenger was sent for a doctor from Cockermouth but, by the time he arrived several hours later Fanny had died.
Buttermere
High Crag & High Stile - the path down from Scarth Gap to Peggy's Bridge can be seen cutting across the lower slope of High Crag
Hay Stacks
The steep ascent of Fleetwith Pike
Glorious views over to Pillar & the High Stile ridge from the summit of Fleetwith Pike
The summit cairn on Fleetwith Pike looking down to Buttermere
Looking down on the return route to Hay Stacks we would take from Green Gable - Great Gable and Kirk Fell are the fells in the centre
Angie on the summit of Fleetwith Pike - it was simply glorious up here today
Hay Stacks in the foreground with Kirk Fell left & Pillar to the right
Grasmoor, Whiteless Pike, Robinson & Littledale Edge
Dave & Fudge above Honister Crag
Heading down to the Drum House with Grey Knotts ahead.
We took the Coast to Coast path running beneath Grey Knotts and left this to make a 200 yard journey to the summit
We took the Coast to Coast path running beneath Grey Knotts and left this to make a 200 yard journey to the summit
The quarry track leading down to the Drum House
Fudge on the summit of Grey Knotts
Pillar and High Crag. Ennerdale Water is left with Buttermere and Crummock Water to the right
The summit of Brandreth
The Brandreth fence with the path to Green Gable right
Kirk Fell
Heading to Green Gable with Great Gable to the right
Looking back to Brandreth
Base Brown from Green Gable
Looking down Ennerdale from Green Gable
The Langdale Pikes
Close up on Pillar
Windy Gap & Great Gable
What a great place to have your lunch - no one here!
Heading over to Base Brown
The summit of Base Brown
Never get tired of Great Gable - the path coming across is Moses Trod
Looking down Loft Beck to the path coming up from Ennerdale - this is the path the Coast to Coast route uses over to Rosthwaite
Innominate Tarn on Hay Stacks
The tarn on the summit of Hay Stacks
The summit of Hay Stacks
An inquisitive Fudge looking down to Scarth Gap with Seat ahead
Buttermere from Scarth Gap
The path down from Hay Stacks
Fleetwith Pike - where it all started
Another view of Buttermere - this time from lower down
Fleetwith Pike & Hay Stacks from the path back to Gatesgarth