Great Gable via Moses’ Trod from Honister Pass
Route Summary:
A circular route up Great Gable from Honister via Moses’ Trod and Brandreth.
| Distance |
Ascent |
Time |
| 10.4 km | 684 m | 5 hours |
Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.
Start and Finish: Honister Hause
Facilities:
Toilets and refreshments at Honister Slate Mine
Check out the businesses nearby for more places to stay and drink.
Hazards:
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.
Public Transport:
During the summer season, the 77/77A Honister Rambler runs a circular route from Keswick that also stops at Grange and Buttermere.
Traveline for UK Public TransportParking and Post Code for Sat Nav (where applicable): CA12 5XN
There is plenty of parking at the Honister Slate Mine which charges £5 for the day (refundable if you spend £10 in their gift shop).
Tucked away behind the youth hostel is a National Trust car park which is free for members.
Weather Forecast:
Met Office Lake District Mountain Weather
Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Recommended Maps:
Guidebooks:
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Summits on this Route
- Great Gable (899 metres)
- Green Gable (801 metres)
- Brandreth (715 metres)
Places Nearby
-
Place Fell Wild Camp18.7km
-
Great Britain61.7km
-
Isle of Man92.1km
Routes Nearby
Accommodation Nearby:
-
Leonard’s Field House10.3km
-
Tyn Llain B&B151.3km
-
Bryn Ffynnon157.2km
Campsites Nearby:
Pubs and Cafes Nearby:
Other Businesses Nearby:
-
Keswick Boot Co10.3km
-
The Royal Oak Hotel163.5km
Great Gable via Moses’ Trod from Honister Pass Details
The route up Great Gable from Honister Slate Mines is one of the most popular route up England’s 4th highest mountain. This circular route takes in the ascent via the easy to follow Moses’ Trod and descends via Green Gable and Brandreth to form a circular route.
Moses’ Trod is an old track that joins Honister to Wasdale Head as the fastest way to carry slates from one valley to the next. However, it was as a smuggler’s route that the track gained notoriety, and its current name. The track is named after Moses Rigg who used it to smuggle illegal moonshine from Honsiter into Wasdale. While evidence of his existence is scant that’s hardly surprising as one can imagine that a wily smuggler would hardly want his real name known to all and sundry!
The Moses’ Trod starts from Honister Slate Mines along a good track. While there’s an initial climb, it becomes steadier as the path contours around Brandreth and Green Gable gaining height almost imperceptibly. A final pass beneath Gable Crag and you’ll reach Beck Head and Great Gable’s North West Ridge. The final 250m climb to the summit is punishing, more so in comparison to the languid start to this route.
The views from the summit are superb, especially from the Westmorland Cairn. Not surprisingly, as the cairn was built by two brothers to mark the position of the best view in the Lake District. There’s also a memorial plaque to those members of the Fell & Rock Climbing Club who died in World War I with a memorial service held annually on Remembrance Sunday.
You can return via Moses’ Trod if you wish, though a better return is to descend to Windy Gap and on to Green Gable with spectacular views down Ennerdale on the way. Finally, the route passes the pass at Gillercomb Head and over the final summit of Brandreth before rejoining Moses’ Trod for the final section down to Honister. Alternatively, you can also return to Honister over Grey Knotts for a wilder finish and here’s a full description of the section over Brandreth and Grey Knotts.
For those looking for an alternative route, read our All the Walks up Great Gable in-depth guide.
Great Gable via Moses Trod from Honister Route Description
Click here to view the full description and download the route in a new window (external site).
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