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At the top of Great Napes with Wastwater beyond

The Great Gable Traverse: Private Guiding

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Difficulty:	Exposure:
Very rough underfoot at times with some scrambling, one of the best ways to see a great mountain
Distance: 10km / 6 miles	Ascent: 1100m / 3600ft
Duration: 7 hours	Maximum Group Ratio: 8:1

Group Size	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Per Person (£)	120	60	40	35	28	25	22	20	28	27
Group Price (£)	120	120	120	140	140	150	154	160	252	270

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25	25	25	24	23	22	27	26	25	24	23	22	20
275	300	325	336	345	352	459	468	475	480

£120.00

*Dates:: SPECIAL OFFER:
For events after 20 Mar 2016 Book early to recieve a discount of 10%.

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Event Description

"This is the finest mountain walk in the district."

A Wainwright

Great Gable is a favourite mountain of many fell walkers and has many spectacular routes, one of the best is the South or Climbers Traverse. A narrow path climbing slowly over the southern face of Gable above the picturesque valley of Wasdale.

This part of Great Gable is rightly famous, the first recorded rock climb was on Napes Needle which this route will pass just below.

On a high note this is also popular amongst the dead, many people have been choosing this amazing mountain with it's stunning views as their final resting place.

Other points of interest on this route will include Sphinx Rock, an often photographed viewpoint above the Wasdale Valley and the Westmorland Cairn, a spectacular viewpoint just below the summit of Great Gable.

Summits included on this route:

Great Gable	899 metres/2949 feet
Green Gable	801 metres/2628 feet
Base Brown	646 metres/2419 feet

The Napes are important in the history of English rock climbing: W. P. Haskett Smith's ascent of the remarkable detached pinnacle of Napes Needle in June 1886 (now graded Hard Severe) is thought by many to mark the origins in England of rock climbing as a sport in its own right, as opposed to a necessary evil undergone by mountaineers on their way to the summit.

From Seathwaite we will climb alongside Taylorgill Force and follow the beck to Sty Head Tarn and the stretcher Box at Sty Head.

From the stretcher box we embark onto one of the finest routes in the Lake District climbing on a small path below the crags of Kern Knotts to a good path skirting below the crags of Great Napes.

Here a short detour will bring us to a fine viewpoint of Napes Needle, one of the most famous climbs and rock features in the area and a short walk away from one of the others, Sphinx Rock.

The entire path has wonderful views over the Wasdale Valley and of the surrounding fells, but as we climb higher onto the summit of Westmorland Crags it is bettered by the view from the Westmorland Cairn, looking down over the Wasdale Valley to Wastwater and the Irish Sea.

From the summit of Great Gable we will continue over the lower summit of Green Gable before descending over Base Brown and alongside the waterfalls of Sour Milk Gill back to Seathwaite.

Each participant will be required to bring suitable equipment for their chosen event, please see Equipment Required.

Meet Point	The Turning Circle, Seathwaite
Postcode / GR	CA12 5XJ / NY 235 121
Location Info	From Keswick: Leave on the Borrowdale Road (from the mini roundabout near the co-op). Follow this road for approx 8 miles, passing through Rosthwaite until just before reaching the village of Seatoller a narrow lane leads off to the left on the bend, signposted to Seathwaite, camp site and Sty Head. This road can be busy and has passing points (unmarked), blind bends and walkers in the road, also a few sheep for good measure, please drive carefully. Follow this lane, parking as close to the end near the farm as possible, we will meet at the turning circle before the farm entrance gate.