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Great Gable

English/Welsh
Quick Facts
This is the height of the mountain above sea level. However, on the climb, it is the ascent that matters, i.e. the sum of all the uphill parts of the route.
Altitude
899 m (2949 ft)

This is the standard notation used on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps.

Each reference consists of two letters identifying a 100,000 metre square block then three digits defining the Easting and finally the three digits defining the Northing with reference to the South West corner of the block.

NN166712 is the grid reference for the summit of Ben Nevis. Where you are given the map number ( For Ben Nevis = 41) it is acceptable to omit the two initial letters e.g. 166712. (Instructions on how to read the references are given on the OS maps).

Grid Ref.
NY21111034
An indication of this mountains height rank within its class. Where two mountains share the same height they are ordered alphabetically.
Stature
n/a
The number of ascent routes currently available on Munromagic.
Routes
2
Mountain names are usually in Gaelic, the native language of the Scottish Highlands, or have been derived from the old Scots and Norse languages. We give the most commonly accepted meaning, but accept that some of these are disputed.
Meaning
Large Gable (gable = end wall of house)
 

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  89   West Cumbria, Cockermouth & Wast Water
  90   Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside
 

A description of the characteristics of the mountain including any hazards of which you should be aware.

  Description
Great Gable (2500ft+) stands boldly at the hub of Wasdale, Ennerdale and Borrowdale, in the Lake District (England), and commands excellent views all round.

Great Gable has a domed stony summit which is surrounded by steeper rock, and some simple scrambling is required to reach the summit by all routes. It dominates upper Wasdale, its SW slopes rising 800m in unbroken steep scree surmounted by the Napes Crags. Likewise its N face, with Gable Crag, dominates upper Eskdale. It connects with Kirk Fell (qv) via a steep broad NW ridge down to Beck Head, and similarly to its subsidiary top Green Gable (801m) by a NE ridge. From Green Gable the ridge divides, with a branch running NE to Base Brown (646m) whilst the main watershed ridge between Ennerdale and Borrowdale continues N over Brandreth (715m) and Grey Knotts (697m) to the Honister Pass.

The least steep and most popular tourist route to the summit (the Breast Track) ascends the SE flanks from the Sty Head Pass, but there are some seriously eroded and slippery sections, and routes via Green Gable or Kirk Fell will be preferred by regular mountain walkers.

Hazards you may encounter on Great Gable include
 Steep slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Stony/rocky Slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Crags near summit.
 Scrambling (minor), easy hand and footholds.
 
General Considerations
 Temperature decreases by 1degree C for every 100m of ascent.
 Wind usually increases with altitude.
 Visibility can change markedly with cloud level.
 River/Stream levels can increase markedly in one day.
A special thank you to David S Brown for his work on this and all of the England/Wales information.
Picture Gallery for Great Gable

Great Gable seen from the summit of Kirk Fell.

© David S Brown
Image by David S Brown

Great Gable from Sprinkling Tarn; January 1971.

© Roger Vander Steen
Image by Roger Vander Steen

Great Gable, with Green Gable to right, seen from the SE. Taken from Allen Crags.

© David S Brown
Image by David S Brown

Taylorgill Force waterfall which is passed on one of the routes to or from Great Gable.

© David S Brown
Image by David S Brown
View All 10 Images for Great Gable

A selection of weather forecasts local to #GetMountain.Top_Name#.

Ordnance Survey digital maps are also available to members.

  Weather & OS Maps
Cumbrian Fells
by MWIS (PDF format) 		Lake District
by Met Office 		Scafell Pike
by Metcheck
Great Gable Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

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The summary information of one or more ascent routes that include Great Gable.

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  Routes that include Great Gable
  Ascent Distance Time Including... Description Rating
1 980 m 11.65 km 4.5 hrs Great Gable and Kirk Fell  A circular route from Wasdale mostly on good paths, involving minor scrambling on and off both mountains. Either may be done singly using the Moses Trod path between Wasdale and Beck Head col.  
2 750 m 8.37 km 3 hrs Great Gable  Commencing in Borrowdale, this route provides a wide mix of terrain, with steep ascent and descent beside waterfalls, gentle walking in a hanging valley, some scrambling to reach the summit and some scree descent.  
 

Pictures submitted by members on the summit of Great Gable

  Baggers Gallery for Great Gable

Family Brown at the summit of Great Gable 4th July 1984: me, Edward (one week before his 4th birthday), Angela, and Georgiana aged 16 months.

© David S Brown
Image by David S Brown

Me at the top of Great Gable 26 years ago: 8pm 11th August 1973. There is no cairn - just a simple small pile of stones around a remnant metal fencing post.

© David S Brown
Image by David S Brown
 
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Great Gable
by Michael Hill

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