Lake District
Great Gable
899M
2948FT
About Great Gable
Great Gable is a titan of the Western Fells. Whether you’re tackling the steep scree from Wasdale or the technical scramble up the Napes, the summit reward is a panoramic view of the Scafells. It’s rugged, rocky, and essentially the spiritual home of British rock climbing.
Key Statistics
Rank
15th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Western Fells
Prominence
?
425.5
Nearest Town
Borrowdale
Geology
You’re walking on ancient volcanic layers: the Scafell Dacite Member, a fine-grained volcanic stone, overlain by the Crinkle Tuff Member, a layer of volcanic ash.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
54.4821°N
Longitude
3.2193°W
Did You Know?
- •The summit is home to a bronze memorial plaque dedicated by the Fell and Rock Climbing Club in 1924 to honor members who died in the Great War, marking the point where the club gifted the surrounding land to the National Trust.
- •Great Gable is central to climbing history; Napes Needle, a jagged rock spire on its southern face, was first climbed in 1886 by W.P. Haskett Smith, an event often cited as the birth of rock climbing as a sport.
- •The mountain's name stems from the Old Norse word 'gafl', which translates to 'gable', accurately describing its triangular, pyramid-like appearance when viewed from the head of Wasdale.
- •Geologically, it is composed of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, featuring exceptionally hard rock that creates the dramatic crags and scree slopes that dominate the skyline for miles.
- •Navigating the boulder field at the summit in a thick Lakeland mist is a classic rite of passage that usually ends with you accidentally hiking halfway toward Kirk Fell before realizing your mistake.