Great End & Glaramara from Seathwaite

This Lake District walk includes an unpathed section of route and is for experienced walkers only and navigation skills are essential. The walk includes Great End approached from the Corridor Route before following easier ground to the summit of Glaramara. The descent from the latter summit requires careful navigation for a trouble-free descent back down to Seathwaite.

Technical sheet

n°293083
A Borrowdale walk posted on 04/07/16 by Walking Britain. Last update : 17/09/16
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.69 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 6h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 941 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 941 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 898 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 128 m
Open in the mobile app GPX track PDF print

Description

(S)The start is Seathwaite (grid ref. NY235121) where parking can be at a premium at busy times of the year. After parking walk south to the Farm and follow the path through the arch to your right. Cross Grains Gill and immediately turn left through a gate. Follow this path, which is rather rough in places, up to Taylorgill Force where some simple scrambling adds some adventure to the route.

(1)Once level with the top of the waterfall continue up the valley towards Styhead Tarn keeping Styhead Gill on your left. From Styhead Tarn continue ahead to the col. Walk east for about 200 metres and then locate the cairned path heading south. This is the Corridor Route and after a short descent the path starts to climb with the crags of Great End on your left as you enter a vast bowl set between the mountains. The path descends again and you soon reach Greta Gill (grid ref. NY217081).

(2)Leave the corridor route and follow Greta Gill upstream initially in a south-easterly direction. At first the un-pathed route climbs steeply beneath the crags of Round How to reach a level boggy area. From here the route continues to ascend over grassy slopes and scree to an obvious col between Broad Crag and Great End. Reaching the main path, turn left and continue to the summit of Great End.

(3)Having enjoyed the view, descend southeast to Esk Hause. Drop down to the wind-shelter and then start the walk towards Glaramara. The first summit is Allen Crags followed by an undulating section passing Lincomb Tarns. Eventually you will reach Glaramara with its two summits. The northerly top is the highest and offers a grand panorama north to Borrowdale and beyond.

(4)To start the descent head NNW for just over 250 metres. This initial section has some awkward rocky sections and you need to locate a cairned path heading northwest. Initially the path meanders across grassy slopes before starting a steep descent into the valley. Generally the path parallels Hind Gill although you only get occasional glimpse of the rocky chasm. Reaching easier ground continue through a gate, descend across a grassy slope, ford the beck and join the track back to Seathwaite for some well earned refreshment.(E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 128 m - Start: Seathwaite village
  2. 1 : km 1.68 - alt. 317 m - Taylorgill Force
  3. 2 : km 5.23 - alt. 696 m - Greta Gill
  4. 3 : km 6.37 - alt. 898 m - Great End
  5. 4 : km 10.13 - alt. 769 m - Glaramara
  6. S/E : km 12.69 - alt. 128 m - Finish: Seathwaite village

Useful Information

This Lake District walk is full of interesting features and includes some wonderful views along the way. The route leaves Seathwaite and continues via Taylorgill Force to Styhead. From here the walk continues along the Corridor Route and then traverses rough ground without a path to the col between Broad Crag and Great End. From there the route follows clear paths although care with route finding for the final descent from Glaramara is required.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

Other walks in the area

Walking Green Gable & Gillercomb Horseshoe from Seathwaite

Walker
↔7.82 km ↗+734 m ↘-726 m ◔4h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Borrowdale (Cumberland)

An energetic Lake District Horseshoe walk that takes in four summits as you keep to the high ground surrounding Gillercomb. The walk could also be extended to take in Great Gable if time and energy permit!

Walking Great Gable and Green Gable

Walker
↔8.67 km ↗+784 m ↘-784 m ◔4h 45 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Borrowdale (Cumberland)

To the west of the Cumbrian Mountains, both Great and Green Gable summits offer a pleasant hike.

Walking Scafell Pike from Borrowdale

Walker
Scafell Pike from Borrowdale
↔15.06 km ↗+890 m ↘-889 m ◔6h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Borrowdale (Cumberland)

The classic and well trodden ascent of Scafell Pike from Seathwaite in Borrowdale. Ascending via Grains Gill to Great End and then Esk Hause and Broad Crag. The descent is via the 'Corridor Route' to Styhead Tarn and then back to Seathwaite.

Walking YHA hopping in The Lake District - YHA Borrowdale to YHA Grasmere

Association or club
↔13.75 km ↗+615 m ↘-633 m ◔5h 40 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Borrowdale (Cumberland)

This is a walk from the Borrowdale Valley over to Easdale Valley but it's also a ridge walk with great views over Far Easedale Gill and the surrounding landscape. Helm Crag is also known as The Lion and The Lamb due to it's profile when seen from the A591. Here's a collection of routes starting or finishing at a YHA in The Lakes. Along the way, there are three Wainwrights, one lake and one pub.

Walking YHA hopping in The Lake District - YHA Borrowdale to YHA Black Sail

Association or club
YHA hopping in The Lake District - YHA Borrowdale to YHA Black Sail
↔14.58 km ↗+1,224 m ↘-1,034 m ◔7h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Borrowdale (Cumberland)

The YHA is a great institution and I guess most fell walkers have stayed at a hostel at some time in their lives. Funny how they were created "to help all, especially young people of limited means, to greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside, particularly by providing hostels or other simple accommodation for them on their travels". Here's a collection of routes starting or finishing at a YHA in The Lakes. Along the way, there are 4 Wainwrights and 5 tarns.

Walking Grange & Watendlath from Rosthwaite

Walker
↔12.19 km ↗+322 m ↘-325 m ◔4h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Borrowdale (Cumberland)

Combining the delights of Borrowdale with the rural charm of Watendlath, this Lake District walk offers some wonderful views and relatively easy walking. Route finding is generally easy although there is a steady ascent from Lodore up to Watendlath.

Walking YHA hopping in The Lake District - YHA Black Sail to YHA Wasdale Hall

Association or club
↔19.37 km ↗+1,168 m ↘-1,385 m ◔8h 50 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Ennerdale and Kinniside (Cumberland)

The YHA is a great institution and I guess most fell walkers have stayed at a hostel at some time in their lives. They were created "to help all, especially young people of limited means, to a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside, particularly by providing hostels or other simple accommodation for them on their travels". Here's a collection of routes starting or finishing at a YHA in The Lakes. Along the way are 6 Wainwrights, 3 tarns and 1 pub.

Walking Cat Bells from Grange

Walker
↔9.63 km ↗+407 m ↘-404 m ◔3h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Borrowdale (Cumberland)

A short and fairly easy, circular walk up the ever popular Cat Bells. Starting from parking on the roadside just outside the village of Grange, this walk ascends Cat Bells from the South and descends north to join paths through the parkland and woods above and beside Derwent Water.

For more walks, use our search engine.

The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

Loading…