Seen from Wasdale, Great Gable rises like the steep end of a roof, which is how it got its name. Its bouldery summit carries a plaque on the top rock remembering Fell & Rock Climbing Club members killed in the First World War; it was dedicated in 1924, and a service is held here every Remembrance Sunday. On the south face, Walter Haskett Smith's 1886 climb of Napes Needle is often seen as the start of rock climbing as a sport in England.
New to the Wainwrights?Read our guide: What Are The Wainwrights?Rock
Dacite lava and other volcanic rock, with a boulder-strewn top and flanks of crag and scree.
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Summit Weather
Our Route
Also on this route: Green Gable, Brandreth, Grey Knotts, Base Brown
Safety: Routes are a guide only. Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, check the weather before you go, and turn back if in doubt. You use this route at your own risk.
