Wasdale to Honister
Distance: 10.5 miles (17km)
Start: Brackenclose car park (NT), Wasdale Head, CA20 1EX
Finish: Honister Pass
Terrain: Trail, fell, grass ridge, bog
Toughness: Challenging
Ascent: 1707 metres
Navigation: Moderate (dependent on visibility)
Good for: Ascents, wildlife
Lat Long / Grid Ref of Start: 54.456, -3.2633 / NY1819807467
A challenging run, taking in nine beautiful and peaceful western fells. Except for Great Gable, these are some of the least visited and most tranquil Lakeland areas. Hardest climbs at the start; plenty of fine running over varied terrain throughout. From the start, turn L onto road and through gate, cross Lingmel Beck, head NW steeply up to Yewbarrow summit. Along ridge N towards Stirrup Crag, detour L at Dore Head to avoid rocky terrain. Continue over Red Pike (Wasdale), Steeple, Pillar, Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Green Gable, Brandreth, Grey Knotts. From here bear L to descend on grassy track along beck to quarry track and YHA. CAUTION: Navigation challenging in poor weather.
Miles Km Directions
0.0 0.0 From car park, turn left onto road and through gate, crossing Lingmel Beck and heading north west to ascend steeply to Yewbarrow summit
1.0 1.6 At Yewbarrow turn right and follow ridge north over Stirrup Crag, continuing north west off the summit to Red Pike, detouring left at Dore Head to avoid rocky terrain. Continue north west to summit of Steeple
3.5 5.7 From Steeple follow path north west along ridge over Wind Gap to Pillar
4.6 7.4 From summit of Pillar head south east following ridge, crossing Black Sail Pass and ascending to Kirk Fell
6.7 10.8 Continue on path east, then south east to Great Gable
7.9 12.7 From summit of Great Gable head north east to Green Gable and then north to Brandreth
9.1 14.6 From summit of Brandreth follow path north east over Grey Knotts, descending to finish at YHA at Honister Pass
Download and print route directions (right click to download)
Download .GPX file (right click to download)
OS Map
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Open Street Map and interactive elevation profile
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