Seathwaite via Gillercomb up Green Gable: route map, distance and time
800 m · Cumbria
Green Gable is the smaller neighbour of Great Gable, a stony top above Windy Gap reached from Honister Pass or Seathwaite on the way to Great Gable.
Climb the rocky path beside Sourmilk Gill into Gillercomb and follow it up to the ridge and the summit.
Seathwaite via Gillercomb at a glance
| Distance | 4.8 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 552 m |
| Time up | 1h 55m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 50m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Seathwaite (roadside parking, Borrowdale) |
| Start grid reference | NY 229 101 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 214 107 |
Seathwaite via Gillercomb 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
How long Seathwaite via Gillercomb takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 30m | 2h 20m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 55m | 2h 50m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 20m | 3h 30m |
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 14:18 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 14:16 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Green 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 11 mph gusting 14 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08.
-
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Light drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 40 mph gusting 49 mph, 49% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06.
Best day of the next seven for Seathwaite via Gillercomb: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 14 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Green Gable forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Green 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 Green Gable
Green Gable is the smaller neighbour of Great Gable, a stony top above Windy Gap reached from Honister Pass or Seathwaite on the way to Great Gable. More about Green Gable, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Great Gable (899 m), 0.5 km south-west
- Brandreth (715 m), 1.2 km north
- Base Brown (646 m), 1.3 km north-east
- Kirk Fell East Top (787 m), 1.5 km west
- Seathwaite Fell (601 m), 1.5 km east
- Seathwaite Fell (631 m), 1.6 km south-east
Challenges that include Green Gable
- Lake District 24 Peaks Challenge · 24
- Ennerdale Horseshoe · 14
- Bob Graham Round · 42
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
- Wainwrights · 214
Other routes up Green Gable
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honister Pass via Brandreth | 3.4 km one way | 500 m | 1h 30m | Moderate |
| Seatoller via Stockley Bridge and Windy Gap | 7.6 km one way | 720 m | 2h 45m | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 229 101, the summit at NY 214 107), 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.
Seathwaite via Gillercomb: questions and answers
How far is Seathwaite via Gillercomb?
Seathwaite via Gillercomb is 4.8 km one way to the summit of Green Gable, with 552 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 9.6 km.
How long does Seathwaite via Gillercomb take?
About 1h 55m to the summit of Green Gable and 2h 50m 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 3h 30m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Seathwaite via Gillercomb?
Seathwaite via Gillercomb starts from Seathwaite (roadside parking, Borrowdale). The grid reference is NY 229 101.
Is Seathwaite via Gillercomb 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 Seathwaite via Gillercomb today?
By 14:18 at the latest. Sunset on Green Gable today is 18:08, Seathwaite via Gillercomb takes about 2h 50m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Seathwaite via Gillercomb?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).