Hiking Highlight
Recommended by 71 hikers
This Highlight is in a protected area
Please check local regulations for: Lake District National Park
Routes leading to this Highlight may be dangerous
Routes may comprise technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience may be required.
Green Gable is a fell that will always play second fiddle to its famous sibling Great Gable. Nevertheless, whether you’re on your way to Great Gable or not, adventures to Green Gable are magnificent. A lofty summit right in the heart of mountainous Lakeland, the fell is a wonderful objective in its own right.
A superb high summit overshadowed by its illustrious neighbour
Borrowdale, the Honister Pass and Ennerdale are all good starting points for Green Gable. One of the most exciting approaches is via the easy ghyll scramble up Sourmilk Gill into picturesque Gillercomb, a classic hanging valley.
The remote feeling Styhead Pass is an atmospheric way to approach the fell, with most of the ascent following the Aaron Slack stream. The easiest approaches are from the top of the Honister Pass, which takes a substantial amount of uphill off your day. The Wainwright summits of Grey Knotts and Brandreth can be bagged en route. Green Gable is also easily linked with Base Brown to the northeast, especially on a route starting and ending at Seathwaite Farm.
Of course, Green Gable will be forever associated with Great Gable, its higher neighbour. Green Gable’s summit gives you an exceptional view of Gable Crag, which towers above Windy Gap, the often-blustery col between the two summits. The fell’s unique vantage down the barrel of Ennerdale is also superb, while the Scafells are also seen beautifully to the south.
At 2,628 feet (801 m), Green Gable is one of the higher fells in the Lake District, yet it's completely overshadowed by its illustrious, monstrous neighbour, Great Gable. However, whether you're bound for Great Gable or not, Green Gable is still a magnificent objective. It boasts simply superb views of its parent peak, particularly to Gable Crag, its north-facing cliffs.
There are many ways up Green Gable, though perhaps the finest is from Seathwaite via Sourmilk Gill. This is an excellent scrambly ascent made all the more spectacular by the tumbling stream.
March 8, 2023
Green Gable is one of the best places to observe the majesty of Great Gable. Green Gable is a Wainwright fell in the Lake District and is commonly hiked with neighbours Brandreth and Great Gable.
September 28, 2020
A Wainwright in its own right but as Ad Nic says it is a great vantage point to look over to Great Gable. There are stunning views all round in anyway. A super outing if you are doing a circular route like I did today from Stuart Marshall's book taking in Grey Knotts, Brandreth, Great Gable, Green Gable and Base Brown. Superb outing!
October 31, 2022
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