Wasdale Head via Sty Head up Great Gable: route map, distance and time

899 m · Lake District

Great Gable is a rocky dome at the head of Wasdale, climbed for its summit views down the valley and its paths from Honister, Borrowdale and Wasdale Head.

A valley path climbs to the stretcher box at Sty Head, then the Breast Route goes up loose, eroded ground on the south-east side.

Wasdale Head via Sty Head at a glance

Distance	5.6 km one way, to the top
Ascent	828 m
Time up	2h 30m by Naismith's rule
There and back	3h 35m, down the same way
Grade	Moderate
Start	Wasdale Head (National Trust car park)
Start grid reference	NY 186 087
Summit grid reference	NY 210 103

Wasdale Head via Sty Head map

The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.

Height profile and getting to the start

Start grid ref NY 186 087 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.

How long Wasdale Head via Sty Head takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	2h 0m	3h 0m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	2h 30m	3h 35m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	3h 5m	4h 25m

Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.

Today: sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08. Start by 13:33 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 13:31 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Great Gable summit weather for this route

Good Today Sunday 18 October

Partly cloudy, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -5°C, summit wind 17 mph gusting 21 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08.
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October

Dense drizzle, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 42 mph gusting 53 mph, 51% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06.

Best day of the next seven for Wasdale Head via Sty Head: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 21 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Hour-by-hour Great Gable forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Great Gable?

Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.

What to take today

An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -5°C on top.
A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.

About Great Gable

Great Gable is a rocky dome at the head of Wasdale, climbed for its summit views down the valley and its paths from Honister, Borrowdale and Wasdale Head. More about Great Gable, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, Birkett.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Green Gable (800 m), 0.5 km north-east
Kirk Fell East Top (787 m), 1.2 km west
Kirk Fell (802 m), 1.6 km west
Brandreth (715 m), 1.6 km north
Seathwaite Fell (631 m), 1.7 km east
Base Brown (646 m), 1.8 km north-east

Challenges that include Great Gable

More walks from Wasdale Head

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

Wasdale Head via the Burnmoor corpse road up Illgill Head
Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass up Kirk Fell
Wasdale Head direct up Kirk Fell
Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue up Lingmell
Wasdale Head via Black Sail Pass up Pillar
High Level Route up Pillar
Wasdale Head via Dore Head up Red Pike
Wasdale Head via Green How up Scafell
Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue up Scafell Pike
Wasdale Head via Mosedale and Wind Gap up Scoat Fell
Wasdale Head via Scoat Fell up Steeple
Wasdale Head via Dore Head and Stirrup Crag up Yewbarrow

Other routes up Great Gable

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Honister Pass via Green Gable	4.1 km one way	621 m	1h 50m	Moderate
Seathwaite via Styhead Tarn	4.6 km one way	765 m	2h 10m	Moderate
Seatoller via Stockley Bridge and Windy Gap	7.9 km one way	810 m	2h 55m	Hard
Wasdale via Beck Head	5.4 km one way	840 m	2h 30m	Hard

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 186 087, the summit at NY 210 103), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.

Wasdale Head via Sty Head: questions and answers

How far is Wasdale Head via Sty Head?

Wasdale Head via Sty Head is 5.6 km one way to the summit of Great Gable, with 828 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 11.2 km.

How long does Wasdale Head via Sty Head take?

About 2h 30m to the summit of Great Gable and 3h 35m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 4h 25m for the round trip.

Where do you park for Wasdale Head via Sty Head?

Wasdale Head via Sty Head starts from Wasdale Head (National Trust car park). The grid reference is NY 186 087.

Is Wasdale Head via Sty Head suitable for beginners?

Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.

What time should I start Wasdale Head via Sty Head today?

By 13:33 at the latest. Sunset on Great Gable today is 18:08, Wasdale Head via Sty Head takes about 3h 35m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for Wasdale Head via Sty Head?

Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).