Difficulty: Moderate
Wainwright Guide: Book Seven – The Western Fells
Fells: Grey Knotts, Brandreth and Green Gable
The ridge line from Green Gable to Grey Knotts is a very simple and straight forward ridge route once you are on it. The problem is in the getting to it. Most people, including me, have only ever attempted it as an add on to other walks. This is mostly because other fells are part of the ascent and descent. Therefore, it comes as no surprise there are multiple routes and hikes to be taken to include the ridge. The possibilities and combinations are endless.
I have taken it on in both directions. You can access the ridge coming off of Great Gable, ascending from Honister Pass or from Buttermere. Ascending from Buttermere gives you three possible routes. You can reach the ridge by coming up from Warnscale or by traversing either Haystacks or Fleetwith Pike first.
Where to Start?
Having tackled the ridge in both directions I would recommend starting from the Green Gable end and heading from Green Gable to Grey Knotts. You can however, as mentioned above, access the ridge from either direction. The following route is a slight adaptation of the one I took the last time I hiked it, starting from Buttermere. We parked at the below car park for £4 for a days parking.
I headed over Haystacks on this particular day, but you can also head up the nose of Fleetwith Pike. Alternatively you can ascend via the path alongside Warnscale Beck. Either way you are aiming to end up around Dubs Quarry Hut.
Ascent
From the bothy you want to follow the quarry road away from Buttermere and in the direction of Honister pass. A small but VERY straight track separates off from this road and runs alongside it. It is the straightest mile in Lakeland!
Follow along this track until you reach a small bridge/foundations for an old house. It is the highest point of this path so is fairly easy to locate.
On a clear day you can see quite a way from here. This is where you need to turn right and follow an ancient path called Moses Trod. It is easy to follow this path as it gently winds its way towards Great Gable.
This path is pretty incredible as in runs parallel to the ridge line you are wanting to tackle, but gives fantastic views towards Great Gable, Green Gable and the famous Windy Gap.
You can divert left along the path and head straight to Windy Gap and Green Gable. We did choose to continue along the path to Beck Head and ascend Great Gable first before dropping back down into Windy Gap.
Green Gable
From Windy Gap, a cross roads, you want to head up the redder looking path. If coming from Great Gable this is the path straight ahead. If you chose to skip Great Gable then it is the path to your left.
The path is pretty straight forward and marked by cairns along the way.
The summit of Green Gable provides excellent views back across to Great Gable and you really get a sense of the scale of things. Great Gable looms large in the background. An excellent and unique view, well worth the journey!
Brandreth
To get from Green Gable to Grey Knotts the route is straight forward. You continue along the path in a straight line via the summit of Brandreth.
The path is easy enough to follow in good visibility. There is a line of fence posts to follow, keeping to the right of them. It takes you all the way to the summit which is marked by what can only be described as a pile of rubble.
It is the obvious high point between Green Gable and Grey Knotts. Looking back affords an excellent view of what you have already achieved!
Grey Knotts
The final fell on the ridge is again easy to access. In poor visibility this would be fairly difficult so I would recommend this hike only on a clear day. Again you are wanting to follow a line of fence posts, but the path is far less obvious as it is a lesser walked route.
The summit itself is marked by a small cairn on top of some larger rocks. The views of the Buttermere valley, down towards Crummock Water are fantastic.
Descent
The descent off of Grey Knotts is one that is not properly marked on the map or in the Wainwright guides. Take the grassy, non obvious path via some cairns down towards Moses Trod, which should be clearly visible descending to the left. Once you have reached the track turn right and head back towards the straight mile path.
Turn left on the straight mile path back towards the Dubs Quarry Hut.
It is here you have another choice. You can descend via Warnscale Beck or head back down via Haystacks or Fleetwith Pike if you chose not ascend over them. I must say that my preferred route is via Fleetwith. It is my favourite summit view and I would not miss it for the world!
Once back to the car I would also highly recommend heading into Buttermere for refreshment in either of the pubs or the cafes.
Have you tackled the Green Gable to Grey Knotts ridge yet? How did you approach it? Let me know below!
