Great End via The Band - Tuesday 25 November 2025
Route
Seathwaite Farm - Taylorgill Force - Styhead Tarn - Sty Head - The Band - Great End - Round How - Lambfoot Dub - Corridor Route - Skew Gill - Sty Head - Styhead Tarn - Greenhow Knott - Stockley Bridge - Seathwaite Farm
Parking
Verge parking near Seathwaite Farm. Please park sensibly along the approach as this is a working farm. The Grid Reference is NY 23582 12362 and the nearest postcode is CA12 5XJ.
Mileage
9 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths for the most part. Care needs to be taken on the ascent of Taylorgill Force as there is scrambling involved and some mild exposure. The path that heads up The Band is intermittent and not marked on the OS Map therefore the ability to navigate is paramount. Likewise, the routes from below Great End to Round How and also to the Corridor Route via Lambfoot Dub are also pathless and not marked on the OS Map.
Weather
Bitterly cold however we were blessed with glorious sunshine and excellent visibility. On the ground it was icy underfoot with a light dusting of snow on the summit ridges.
Time Taken
7hrs 15mins
Total Ascent
3048ft (929m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Walkers
Dave with Nicky Oliver, Darren Bingley, Sara Boyle, Christine Backhouse & David Johnson
Seathwaite Farm - Taylorgill Force - Styhead Tarn - Sty Head - The Band - Great End - Round How - Lambfoot Dub - Corridor Route - Skew Gill - Sty Head - Styhead Tarn - Greenhow Knott - Stockley Bridge - Seathwaite Farm
Parking
Verge parking near Seathwaite Farm. Please park sensibly along the approach as this is a working farm. The Grid Reference is NY 23582 12362 and the nearest postcode is CA12 5XJ.
Mileage
9 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths for the most part. Care needs to be taken on the ascent of Taylorgill Force as there is scrambling involved and some mild exposure. The path that heads up The Band is intermittent and not marked on the OS Map therefore the ability to navigate is paramount. Likewise, the routes from below Great End to Round How and also to the Corridor Route via Lambfoot Dub are also pathless and not marked on the OS Map.
Weather
Bitterly cold however we were blessed with glorious sunshine and excellent visibility. On the ground it was icy underfoot with a light dusting of snow on the summit ridges.
Time Taken
7hrs 15mins
Total Ascent
3048ft (929m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Walkers
Dave with Nicky Oliver, Darren Bingley, Sara Boyle, Christine Backhouse & David Johnson
GPX Files
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
Route Map
The verge parking on the approach road to Seathwaite Farm. Please park on the left hand verge only - additional parking can be found up at the farm but you are advised to check that this is the case, particularly at weekends when this area gets really busy.
Today's route was a different and less travelled way to climb Great End taking in Taylorgill Force and The Band, returning via Round How & Lambfoot Dub
Today's route was a different and less travelled way to climb Great End taking in Taylorgill Force and The Band, returning via Round How & Lambfoot Dub
They were in pretty good nick as well - hopefully they will be reclaimed
Seathwaite Farm
Proceeding through the farm, a gate on the right leads to an underpass that in turn leads to a footbridge over the River Derwent
Crossing the footbridge over the River Derwent with Sourmilk Gill ahead
After crossing the footbridge we turned left to handrail the River Derwent - Hind Crag below Glaramara is just left of centre above the trees
A panorama of Glaramara & Hind Crag as we near the start of the Taylorgill Force path
The top of Taylorgill Force now in view as we head away from the river
The start of the scramble up the right hand side of Taylorgill Force
As stated earlier, the entire path up this side of the waterfall is steep, rocky and has some mild exposure. If you do not want to include this part of the route then it can be avoided by simply heading to Sty Head via Stockley Bridge and Greenhow Knott (the return route of this walk).
As stated earlier, the entire path up this side of the waterfall is steep, rocky and has some mild exposure. If you do not want to include this part of the route then it can be avoided by simply heading to Sty Head via Stockley Bridge and Greenhow Knott (the return route of this walk).
Looking back down the start of the scramble
Taylorgill Force - the waterfall has a drop of approximately 140 feet
Another view looking down the scramble - the exposure and terrain look worse than it actually is
As the top of the force is reached the exposure becomes less apparent
Taylorgill Force in full flow (Click Play to view)
Adjacent to the top of the waterfall the path levels out as it approaches a wall coming in from the left
Looking back along the route from the wall corner
Seathwaite Fell across a very full Styhead Gill
Base Brown’s east ridge from near Styhead Gill
Looking up towards Sty Head to Great End, Broad Crag, Scafell Pike & Lingmell
The footbridge over Styhead Gill - we would be crossing here on our return route
The sun coming up over Great End with Styhead Tarn in the foreground
The Mountain Rescue Stretcher Box at Sty Head
This is the highest point on the Sty Head Pass and there are a myriad of paths leaving here. We would be heading to the left which would take us towards Sprinkling Tarn - straight on leads to Wasdale and to the right is the path to Great Gable.
This is the highest point on the Sty Head Pass and there are a myriad of paths leaving here. We would be heading to the left which would take us towards Sprinkling Tarn - straight on leads to Wasdale and to the right is the path to Great Gable.
Heading for Sprinkling Tarn from Sty Head with the slopes of Great End over to the right
The huge cleft of Piers Gill with the imposing eastern face of Lingmell rising above
Styhead Tarn & Base Brown from the Sprinkling Tarn path with the lower slopes of Seathwaite Fell to the right
Floki wearing his super smart winter coat as we continue along the Sprinkling Tarn path
Looking back to Sty Head with Great Gable & Green Gable above - the notch between the two is Windy Gap above Aaron Slack
The path reaches a crossing point over a small beck at Grid Reference NY 22437 09352 - this is where we would leave the main path to Esk Hause and start our climb up The Band
The path to The Band is intermittent in places. However the best thing to do is to get up on to the ridge ahead as quickly as possible should you lose the path. In poor visibility the ability to navigate is essential therefore if this is the case then leave the transit of The Band for a fine & clear day.
Looking back to the path to Sprinkling Tarn & Esk Hause with Allen Crags now in view
A little further up and Sprinkling Tarn comes into view along with the slopes of Seathwaite Fell with Glaramara beyond
Seathwaite Fell from The Band
Whilst the intention is to climb The Band, make sure you take time to pause and look back as often as possible - the view changes constantly
Hands on rock time as the gradient steepens. By this time we had gained another group member as a chap caught up with us who thought he was on the Corridor Route. Without belittling his lack of navigation which is what some people sadly do, we invited him to tag along with us to the summit of Great End.
Our extra number makes his way up behind us as we look down to Seathwaite Fell, Styhead Tarn & Sprinkling Tarn
Another pause to take in the awesome views from this cracking climb - Lingmell, Seatallan, Yewbarrow, Red Pike, Scoat Fell, Pillar & Kirk Fell
As we neared the summit the ice & snow made an appearance - it would soon be time to don our micro spikes
Another look back - this was a cold but superb days walking
A glorious panorama from near the summit of Great End
The sun now makes an appearance as the group near the summit plateau on Great End
Scafell Pike & Lingmell from the summit plateau
The north cairn on the summit of Great End - the summit itself lies approximately 180 yards to the south east
There are many gullies on the craggy north eastern face of Great End - this is Central Gully which is a mere few yards from the summit
Looking to the northern cairn from near the summit of Great End
With our extra number heading off to his original destination of Scafell Pike, we pose for a pic at Great End's summit
Esk Pike, Bowfell & Crinkle Crags from the summit of Great End
The Fairfield & Helvellyn ranges dominate the far distance over High Raise with Allen Crags in the foreground and the Langdale Pikes over to the right
There are three cairns on the summit of Great End and all are worth a visit - here we are climbing up to the top of the south cairn
The Scafell range - Ill Crag left with Scafell Pike and Broad Crag over to the right
At Grid Reference NY 22515 08072 near the top of Calf Cove, we left the main path to drop down through the valley in the direction of Round How. Whilst there is no path, Greta Gill can be handrailed most of the way down.
An intermittent path of sorts reveals itself as we continue the descent to Round How
The uppermost section of Greta Gill is reached - this descent was quite tricky today as the terrain was bone hard
Looking back up to our route of descent which can be seen to the centre right
The eastern face of Lingmell from near Round How
Broad Crag across the valley with Scafell Pike over to the right
Kirk Fell now in full view to the left along with Great Napes on Gable
The summit of Round How looking to Great End and our route down the valley
From Round How we made our way over pathless but good ground towards Lambfoot Dub
My walking companions making their way to Lambfoot Dub
The Winter Wainwright Conqueror Floki surveys his kingdom near Lambfoot Dub with Lingmell & Piers Gill providing the backdrop
Lambfoot Dub - bit nippy in there today I reckon
A Great Gable panorama from near Lambfoot Dub
From Lambfoot Dub we dropped down over easy ground to join the Corridor Route at Grid Reference NY220087
Just off the Corridor Route is this fantastic viewpoint to Great Gable - a suitable location for a group photo
Crossing Skew Gill on the Corridor Route
Skew Gill - climbing Great End via this route is on my bucket list
Exiting the Corridor Route on our way to Sty Head once more - the Mountain Rescue Stretcher box is just about visible
Styhead Tarn in the early evening sunlight looking to Great End & Sty Head
Handrailing Styhead Gill - we would shortly cross over the gill via a footbridge.......................
.............. and here it is
Base Brown and its imposing east ridge over Taylorgill Force
Hind Crag & Glaramara as we near Stockley Bridge
Crossing the 18th century Stockley Bridge over Grains Gill
The view down Grains Gill towards Borrowdale from Stockley Bridge
A multi coloured Sheep near Seathwaite - wasn't too enamoured about us taking a photo in its current state
All quiet at Seathwaite Farm at the end of what was a fantastic day out
What better way to top off a superb day on the fells than a debrief - this time at The Mary Mount in Borrowdale