Great End - Tuesday 18 March 2025
Route
Seathwaite Farm - Stockley Bridge - Greenhow Knott - Sty Head - Corridor Route - Criscliffe Knotts - Middleboot Knotts - Piers Gill - Corridor Route - Greta Gill - Round How - Calf Cove - Great End - Esk Hause - Ruddy Gill - Grains Gill - Stockley Bridge - Seathwaite
Parking
Seathwaite Farm (Free) - please park responsibly and bear in mind that the verge parking is on the approach to a working farm. The Grid Reference is NY 23594 12381 and the nearest postcode is CA12 5XJ.
Mileage
9.7 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths for the most part. The section over Criscliffe Knotts to Middleboot Knotts was pathless however the going was good. From Round How to Calf Cove was on a rough path for the most part - again the going was good.
Weather
Sunshine for most of the day but extremely cold, particularly out of the sun
Time Taken
7hrs
Total Ascent
3769ft (1149m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Walkers
Dave with Richard Jennings & Tika. Many thanks to Richard for allowing me to use some of his photographs.
Seathwaite Farm - Stockley Bridge - Greenhow Knott - Sty Head - Corridor Route - Criscliffe Knotts - Middleboot Knotts - Piers Gill - Corridor Route - Greta Gill - Round How - Calf Cove - Great End - Esk Hause - Ruddy Gill - Grains Gill - Stockley Bridge - Seathwaite
Parking
Seathwaite Farm (Free) - please park responsibly and bear in mind that the verge parking is on the approach to a working farm. The Grid Reference is NY 23594 12381 and the nearest postcode is CA12 5XJ.
Mileage
9.7 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths for the most part. The section over Criscliffe Knotts to Middleboot Knotts was pathless however the going was good. From Round How to Calf Cove was on a rough path for the most part - again the going was good.
Weather
Sunshine for most of the day but extremely cold, particularly out of the sun
Time Taken
7hrs
Total Ascent
3769ft (1149m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
Walkers
Dave with Richard Jennings & Tika. Many thanks to Richard for allowing me to use some of his photographs.
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 at Seathwaite Farm - as stated in the walk preamble, please park responsibly here
If there is no verge parking available then there is additional parking provided at the farm (charge). There is also a National Trust Car Park in Seatoller which, if used would add 2.5 miles on to the walk mileage.
Passing through Seathwaite Farm there is a gate on the right leading through an archway. This route can be used if you wish to reach Sty Head via Taylorgill Force. Today we were heading to Stockley Bridge therefore carried straight on through the farm.
Leaving Seathwaite Farm, a way mark points the route to Sty Head
The path to Stockley Bridge with Seathwaite Fell ahead. Whilst we were off to Great End today, this route is one of the main thoroughfares to Scafell Pike.
Stockley Bridge over Grains Gill with Black Waugh on Seathwaite Fell beyond. We would be crossing the bridge and heading through the gate to the right. Turning left through the gate leads up Grains Gill to Ruddy Gill then on to Esk Hause & Scafell Pike - this would be our return route later.
This beautiful old bridge was built in the 18th century and is Grade II listed. It formed part of an old packhorse route used to transport goods from Borrowdale to the Cumbrian Coast.
This beautiful old bridge was built in the 18th century and is Grade II listed. It formed part of an old packhorse route used to transport goods from Borrowdale to the Cumbrian Coast.
Looking back towards Borrowdale
Looking over the hidden Taylorgill Force to Base Brown
A shaft of sunlight over Glaramara
Another view of Base Brown and its eastern ridge. I have not been up this way yet but my walking companion for today Richard has - a link to his excellent walk report can be found here
The large cairn on the way to Sty Head with the footbridge over Styhead Gill beyond - Lingmell is bathed in sunshine
Our route crosses the footbridge and proceeds to Sty Head on the western side of the gill
Our path continues alongside the gill towards Styhead Tarn with Great End, Broad Crag, Scafell Pike & Lingmell now in view
Styhead Tarn
Looking back to Styhead Tarn & Seathwaite Fell from the approach to Sty Head
The Mountain Rescue Stretcher Box at Sty Head
Our outward route through the valley with Green Gable & Aaron Slack to the left with Base Brown beyond
The path from Sty Head to Esk Hause leaves to the left of the Stretcher Box. Ahead to the right at Grid Reference NY 22164 09468, a path can be seen leaving to the right marked by a cairn. This path is known as the Corridor Route and runs between Sty Head and Lingmell Col and is a popular route to Scafell Pike - for some of our walk we would be taking this route today.
The Corridor Route stretches away in front of us to the left below the immense western face of Great End. Lingmell Col is in the centre of shot with the great cleft of Piers Gill to the right below the eastern face of Lingmell.
The Skew Gill ascent to Great End with The Band to the left - another route that is on the bucket list
Sty Head holds centre stage with Kirk Fell, Great Gable & Green Gable beyond
Wasdale from the Corridor Route looking to Yewbarrow, Red Pike, Kirk Fell & Great Gable
Continuing along the Corridor Route below Great End - the path is a good one and ascends gradually rather than steeply
A superb panorama from the Corridor Route to Lingmell, Wasdale Head, Yewbarrow, Red Pike, Kirk Fell, Great & Green Gable
Looking back towards Sty Head along the lumps and bumps of our outward route
Piers Gill & Lingmell with Yewbarrow to the right
The path arrives at the notorious turret of rock on the Corridor Route - both the descent and ascent require a bit of care and patience as when wet or icy can prove treacherous. In descent it is best not to make a direct passage down but to zig zag across the rock as Richard is doing here.
The turret of rock from below with the two handy arrows showing the correct route of ascent
Another look back along the Corridor Route - this was turning into a really good weather day
We broke off from the Corridor Route to wander off piste & pathless to visit Criscliffe Knotts
Crossing a small beck as we approach Criscliffe Knotts
The lower part of Criscliffe Knotts from the highest point
Criscliffe Knotts looking to Great Gable
Great End, Round How & Great Gill from Criscliffe Knotts - this would be our route of ascent to Great End but first we were off to Middleboot Knotts
From Criscliffe Knotts we continued over a pathless grassy depression to Middleboot Knotts which is ahead being dwarfed by Lingmell's eastern face
Great Gable from the summit of Middleboot Knotts
One of my favourite photos of Angie & Fudge taken a little further forward on Middleboot Knotts - September 2016
From Middleboot Knotts is a fantastic view of Lingmell's eastern face. The Piers Gill path sits below and we would now drop off the short distance to the south to join it.
Another cracking view of Great Gable from near the Piers Gill path
Pillar & Kirk Fell over Piers Gill
We couldn't fail today with the conditions & light - it was just superb
The junction of paths where the Corridor Route & Piers Gill paths meet (Click Play to view)
Shadows of our former selves as we look into the head of Piers Gill. It should be noted that the gill is a well known Mountain Rescue hot spot and entering in should be avoided by walkers.
The Piers Gill & Corridor Route paths meeting point with Middleboot Knotts sitting below Great Gable. The Piers Gill path is to the left and the Corridor Route to the right. We would now rejoin the Corridor but only for a short while as we would be breaking off once more, this time to climb Round How.
Heading back along the Corridor Route towards Round How which sits below Great End. Our route to the summit of Round How would be to the right of the scree above Richard's head then swinging around to the left up the ridge.
Just to the left of the path is a small unnamed tarn with Criscliffe Knotts to the rear
The route passes a pitched path on the right which leads to Broad Crag col
Whilst the Corridor Route makes its way to Sty Head, we break off to the right in order to climb Round How
Tika surveys the terrain as we start the climb up to Round How
Round How with the unseen Greta Gill below. With very little water in the gill we could have crossed at any time to then make our way up to the summit via the grassy section opposite. We remained on the easier terrain and crossed the gill further up the fell side.
Lingmell Col, Lingmell, Middleboot Knotts & Criscliffe Knotts from the ascent to Round How
At the top of the rise we would now turn left to make the short ascent to the summit of Round How. Ahead of us is our ascent to Great End via Greta Gill.
The summit of Round How - and what a view for relatively little effort
My bestest catalogue pose as we ready ourselves for the ascent up Greta Gill from Round How
(Picture courtesy of Richard Jennings)
(Picture courtesy of Richard Jennings)
Looking back towards Round How which is to the right with the lower slopes of Broad Crag to the left
The tiny tarn of Lambfoot Dub - if you have time it is worth a wander over to this lovely spot
The Greta Gill ascent to the col - our path of sorts was right up the centre
Bit nippy today!
Another look down our route of ascent - since starting out from Seathwaite we hadn't seen a soul all day
The col near Calf Cove at the top of the ascent via Greta Gill - we had come up from the right. Ahead of us is the popular route to Scafell Pike, the summit of which is over to the right - the fell to the centre left is Ill Crag.
The Langdale Pikes, Esk Pike, Bowfell & Crinkle Crags from near Calf Cove
The south cairn on Great End looking to Ill Crag, Broad Crag & Scafell Pike
Heading across Great End's vast summit plateau from the south cairn. Over to the left is the north cairn - to the right is the summit cairn.
The top of The Band ascent to Great End and what a view
After visiting the north cairn, Richard and I had a little wander around. It often amazes me how many people, having taken the trouble to climb a mountain then simply just wander off. There is more to the mountain than the summit. Just dropping off a few feet and we were greeted to a stupendous view down The Band over to Seathwaite Fell and beyond - Styhead Tarn is over to the left with Sprinkling Tarn to the right.
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
The rocky south east cairn that marks the summit of Great End
Glaramara & Allen Crags from the summit of Great End with the Helvellyn Range in the far distance
The Langdale Pikes, Esk Pike, Bowfell & Crinkle Crags from Great End
Ill Crag from the Esk Hause path to Scafell Pike
The marker cairn on Esk Hause - we would be turning sharp left here to drop down to the Sprinkling Tarn path
The path to Sprinkling Tarn and Sty Head with Great Gable, Windy Gap, Aaron Slack & Green Gable centre left
At Grid Reference NY 22958 08670 we turned right off the path to Sty Head and crossed over Ruddy Gill to begin our descent back towards Stockley Bridge
Looking into Ruddy Gill - this really is a wonderful way back to Seathwaite and it was very quiet today
Borrowdale and our return route from Ruddy Gill
Continuing the descent back to Borrowdale
(Picture courtesy of Richard Jennings)
(Picture courtesy of Richard Jennings)
One of the many pools of Ruddy Gill
Back at Stockley Bridge
Stockley Bridge with Grains Gill flowing underneath
Arriving back at Seathwaite Farm - a bit more sunny than when we departed from here a few hours ago
The Herdwick Creche at Seathwaite Farm
After such a cracking day, Richard & I enjoyed a belting pint of Tirril at The Glaramara Hotel