Great Gable & Kirk Fell

The walk, stage by stage

1. 1

   Start → Great Gable (5.2 km, 847 m)

   Climb of about 847 m over 5.2 km (around 16% average).

   Depart the valley floor and follow the well-pitched, sustained arterial path climbing steadily toward the high mountain pass. Upon reaching the tarn, ignore the paths branching left and instead begin the punishing, rocky ascent directly up the mountain's steep flank, weaving through extensive boulder fields to finally top out on the massive, domed summit of Great Gable.

   Waypoints

   Wasdale Head, Sty Head Pass path, Sty Head Tarn (436m), Mountain Rescue stretcher box, Great Gable summit (899m).

   Decision point

   The prominent wooden Mountain Rescue stretcher box at Sty Head is a distinctive landmark before you begin the summit push. On the ascent of Gable, intermittent cairns mark the way through the boulder field, but in poor visibility, rely on a strict compass bearing to the summit rather than blindly following worn rock, as climber's trails can quickly lead you into craggy, dangerous ground.

   Easy to get wrong

   The valley approach is a long but straightforward slog, whereas the real physical and mental test begins above Sty Head. The upper slopes of Great Gable are a chaotic maze of fractured boulders and loose scree; in thick clag, the expansive, domed summit is notoriously disorientating, presenting a very real danger of wandering off-course toward the sheer, lethal drops of Great Napes or Ennerdale.

   If you need to get off

   Before committing to the final ascent of Gable, Sty Head offers a fast, highly visible retreat directly back down the valley to Wasdale. If the weather breaks high on Gable, carefully reverse your ascent route back to the stretcher box; under no circumstances should you attempt to drop directly south or west off the summit to save time, as this leads immediately into impassable crags.

2. 2

   Great Gable → Kirk Fell (2.0 km, 255 m)

   Descent of about 313 m, then a climb of about 255 m, over 2.0 km.

   Navigate carefully off the summit of Great Gable heading north-west, committing to the punishingly steep and loose descent down to the deep depression of Beck Head. From the col, immediately face the relentless, hands-on-knees pull straight up the eastern flank of Kirk Fell, scrambling over minor rock bands to reach the broad, twin-topped summit plateau.

   Waypoints

   Great Gable north-west descent ridge, Beck Head col (626m), Beckhead Tarn, Kirk Fell East Top, Kirk Fell summit (802m).

   Decision point

   The deep, U-shaped notch of Beck Head is the obvious visual target during the descent, often marked by the small, shallow puddle of Beckhead Tarn. When traversing Kirk Fell's broad plateau, a dilapidated line of old iron fence posts serves as a handrail linking the East Top to the true summit in whiteout conditions.

   Easy to get wrong

   The descent from Great Gable to Beck Head is infamous for its horrible, shifting red scree and heavily eroded gullies; a slip here is extremely common and very hard on tired knees. The subsequent ascent of Kirk Fell offers zero respite—it is a brutal, lung-busting slog up steep grass and rock steps that feels entirely vertical until you abruptly breach the summit plateau.

   If you need to get off

   The col at Beck Head is your primary bail point. If the daunting ascent of Kirk Fell looks like too much, or if conditions deteriorate, turn left (south-west) at Beck Head and descend the rough, rocky track of Moses Trod directly back down into the Wasdale valley, entirely bypassing the Kirk Fell climb.

3. Kirk Fell → Finish (6.8 km, 44 m)

   Descent of about 736 m, with about 44 m of climbing, over 6.8 km.

   Traverse the expansive, stony plateau of Kirk Fell and descend steeply north-west down heavily eroded red gullies to reach the crossroads of Black Sail Pass. From the hause, turn sharply south and drop into the head of the valley, following the long, stony path that flanks the beck, eventually easing into a long, flat walk out of the remote basin past Wasdale Head and down the valley road to the starting point.

   Waypoints

   Kirk Fell plateau, Kirkfell Crags descent, Black Sail Pass (545m), Gatherstone Beck, Mosedale valley path, Wasdale Head, Lake Head car park (finish).

   Decision point

   Aim straight for the distinct saddle of Black Sail Pass to navigate off the fell. Once over the lip of the pass, the deep trench of the valley and the descending line of Gatherstone Beck act as a massive geographical funnel leading you back to the Wasdale Head Inn. The walk is not over there: the car park at the head of Wast Water, where it started, is about 1.7 km further on along the valley road.

   Easy to get wrong

   The initial drop from Kirk Fell to Black Sail Pass is notoriously steep, loose, and unpleasant, requiring careful down-stepping to avoid a sliding fall. Once in the valley, the path flanking the beck is highly prone to waterlogging and deep, boot-swallowing bogs, making the final long walk-out a squelchy, energy-sapping trudge after periods of heavy Lake District rain.

   If you need to get off

   This stage serves as your final escape route back to the valley. Do not try to drop off the southern flanks of Kirk Fell: they are guarded by sheer crags. If wind or ice makes the descent to Black Sail Pass more than you can manage safely, do not commit to it. Stop somewhere secure, reassess your position and the conditions, and go back by a line you know. If you cannot move safely or need urgent help, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Police, then Mountain Rescue.