This walk begins from Seathwaite Farm, at the head of the Derwent Valley. Heading South on the B5289 from Keswick, turn left at Seatoller Bridg and follow the road to the Farm. There are a couple of campsites along the road; just after Rossthwaite and in Seatoller, for those keep to enjoy a more outdoor experience.

This picture taken just after the turn-off in Seatoller and shows the narrow road to the head of the valley.

As you approach Seathwaite Farm the road will become crowded with the parked cars of early-rising fellwalkers. This walk, if not using Fell-Trekkers minibus service, is definitely one requiring early start!

Here, in the "V" on the horizon, is Styhead Gill and our ascent route for the day. Seathwaite Fell is to the left and Base Brown to the right.

Once parked there is right of way through the yard of Seathwaite Farm which leads to the crossing of the River Derwent and the path to Taylor Gill Force.

Beyond the farm, a right turn is made to lead to the crossing of the River Derwent.

This image is looking back down the Derwent Valley towards Borrowdale from where we have travelled. Once over the river the path leads left for the gradual ascent toward Taylor Gill.

This picture, although not on the route itself, shows the Derwent slitting between two valleys.

To the left is Grains Gill with Allen Crags at it's head, whilst to the right of Seathwaite Fell (centre), within the conniferous copse, is Taylor Gill Force, our route of ascent.

Looking back from the gradual ascent up the right side of the valley to Taylor Gill at Seathwaite Farm.

The ascent up Taylor Gill Force is quite steep and scrambling in parts.

The climb begins from a walled stile, here looking back along the Derwent to Seathwaite Farm. In the background is Seatoller Fell.

Approximately half way up the scamble is a wall and a gate; a somewhat strange place to find such utilities, given the nearby terrain!

Here, the spectacular Taylor Gill Force can be seen cascading down the valley, an impressive beginning to an impressive trek.

Past the wall and gate the ascent continues at a steep angle. The exertion is rewarded by a swift gain of height.

Once beyond the rigerous Taylor Gill, a glimpse back is rewarded with a beautiful view over the Darewent Valley toward Borrowdale.

On the horizon, here, can be seen the familiar "Saddleback" of Blencathra.

The ascent along Sthead Gill is far less strenuous that that experienced along Taylor Gill Force, however the cascading stream is no less exhilerating.

Nearing the top of Styhead Gill, the grey mass of Great End comes threateningly into view. A huge, dark rock face that guards the Eastern end of the Scafell range of fells.

Once over the brow it is a short and gentle amble to Styhead Tarn and the chance for a break after the initial exertion.

Styhead Tarn marks the spot where two great Fell Ranges and two great Valleys meet.

In the West the valley of Wasdale rises up to meet Borrowdale from the East. To the South the final pinnacle of the Scafell Range meets the flanks of the Gables.

In this photo tha camera is pointing in a Southwesterly direction toward Great End, with Scafell Pike rising in the background.

This view shows the path leading up to The Saddle ridge.

The crystal clear waters of Styhead Tarn here reflect the bright blue skies over the Eastern flanks of Great Gable.

In the top right corner can be seen Windy Gap where Great and Green Gables come together and where we shall, later, find our route home.

For the unfortunate few there is an emergency stretcher box at Styhead Tarn which is available for those in trouble on either ranges.

Further along the path to Little Hell Gate, at Arrowhead Gully, a glimpse upwards gives the first view of Cat Rock, our next objective.

As so often happens in the Lake District, moving just a few hundred feet can dramatically alter the perspective of geographical features.

Here Cat Rock has mysteriously metamorphasised into Sphynx Rock and another of Lakelands trademark images.

This view is looking Westawards over Wsdale. The flanks of Lingmell can be seen to the left and to the left side of Wast Water is Illgill Head, better known as Wasdale screes.

Before reaching Spyhx Rock and Little Hell Gate beyond, we turn once again uphill for our final climb to the top of The Great Napes.

This ascent is not quite as attractive a prospect as that through the Needle as there are crumbly areas of scree that must be safely negotiated.

This image is looking back down into Wasdale from a position at the top of The Great Napes.

From here we continue once again uphill, but this time along a ridge that links The Great Napes with Westmorland Crags, a few hundred feet above.

Looking in the opposite direction from the same position reveals a well worn path along the ridge and a clear view of some fell-walkers already admiring the view from the summit of Westmorland Crags.

From the top of Westmorland Crags we are rewarded with a magnificent view across Wasdale towards the Scafell range.

Here, from right to left, we see Scafell summit on the horizon with Linmell summit in the foreground.

The next peak is that of Scafell Pike before the flatter top of Broad Crag. Finally the long top of Ill Crag can be seen before the start of Great End, just out of shot.

Below Scafell Pike is Piers Gill, angling downwards first left to right, then turning to continue in the opposite direction to the left. The other ravine meeting Piers from the left is Greta Gill.

Finally, we near the summit of Great Gable. Here the photo is taken on the approach to the top of Westmorland Crags; the summit cairn perched precariously on the edge of the crag.

In the background, on the left, the distinctive peaks of Langdale Pikes is visible. Further to the right, on the horizon, is the flat top of Allen Crags with Sprinkling Tarn just below. The gap next is Esk Hause bordering the flanks of Esk Pike, sat behind the edge of Great End.

From this position the path from Wasdale can be seen just after it meets up with it's counterpart from Styhead before continuing on past the right edge of Sprinkling Tarn. A little further along this path is another crossroads providing the choice between walking to Eskdale, along the ridge to Angle Tarn and Langdale or climbing up for the ascent of Great End and the Scafells.

Another awesome view from one of the mightiest Lakeland fells.

This photo was taken from Great Gable summit looking down into Wasdale over a man stood on the top of Westmorland Crags.

Just above his head can be seen the white buildings that form the Wasdale Head Inn, with the Mosedale valley disappearing off to his right. The water at the top of the image is, of course, Wast Water.

This photograph was taken from near to where the man was stood in the previous image, close to the Westmorland Cairn.

To the left are the gently descending slopes of Lingmell. Above, to the left side of Wast Water is Illgill Head. To the right of the lake is Yewbarrow, bending round into Mosedale where the disinctive Stirrup Crag can be seen falling into the valley. Then, following the gap of Dore Head, come the flanks of Red Pike.

Above Stirrup Crag, in the distance, is Haycock.

Looking in a more Northwesterly direction from the Westmorland Cairn provides a view over Mosedale.

To the left, in the distance, Haycock can be seen once again. Then there is the long flat top of Red Pike followed by Scoat Fell.

Just to the right of Scoat Fell can be seen the small pinnacle of Steeple followed by Black Crag and Wind Gap.

Finally on the ridge, comes Pillar with Looking Stead and Black Sail Pass cutting through the head of the valley.

The plateau spanning the gap between Pillar and Great Gable is Kirk Fell.

In a more Northerly direction, on the horizon, can be seen Skiddaw on the left and Blencathra on the right.

Directly in front of Skiddaw is Newlands with Dale Head slightly to the left at the head of the valley and, a little to the right, is High Spy bordering Borrowdale and Darewent Water.

Over to the left can be seen Causey Pike and the beginning of the ridge that leads all the way to Grasmoor.

To the right of the picture can just be seen the pale green of Borrowdale.

Turning to the Northeast, on the horizon is the Helvelluyn range starting with Clough Head to the extreme left and terminating with Fairfield two thirds of the eay across the picture.

In the mid picture running from the right edge across to the centre of the picture is the long back of Glaramara with the bright green of Borrowdale at it's foot.

Immediately beneath Borrowdale is Base Brown, to the left of with we shall find our route home.

Every year on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, fell walkers gather for prayers at the Fell and Rock Climbers Club memorial at the summit of Great Gable.

En route to the descent to Windy Gap it is worth gazing down into Great Hell Gate. The craggy extrusion is the top of The Great Napes.

To the right is the ridge leading from the Napes to the Westmorland Crags. Lingmell Beck can be seen gathering down Wasdale below to it's termination into Wast Water.

This view is from the Eastern edge of Great Gable's top just before dropping down to Windy Gap.

Below can be seen the well-worn track onto the summit of Green Gable. Beyond that is the distictive broad grassy ridge of Base Brown.

As seen before, on the horizon is Blecncathra to the left and the Helvellyn range to the right. The gap in between is the River Greta Valley and the A66 entrance to the Northern Lake District.

Dropping down into Windy Gap the route to our next destination, Green Gable, is clearly marked by erosion.

Running down to the right is the worn scree slope of Aaron Slack. To the left is Stone Cove and the head of the River Liza running down into Ennerdale.

Another view from Windy Gap shows some people making their way down Aaron Slack to Styhead Tarn.

On the right hand side, above Styhead Tarn, can be see Sprinkling Tarn, the route to Eskdale and Great End.

On the horizon are the familiar pinnacles of Langdale Pikes, with Allen Crags just to their right above Sprinkling Tarn.

Running from the centre of the picture to the left edge is Glaramara (back) and Seathwaite Fell (front).

From the summit of Green Gable, this picture shows a moody view Northwest.

Ennerdale is the valley on the left and to the right is Buttermere. Haystacks nestles at the front between the two valleys with High Crag, in cloud, behind.

At the end of Buttermere to the left of Crummock Water is Mellbreak and to the right, on the other side of the lakes, is the Grasmoor range.

Looking a little further to the left (Westwards) the Pillar range can be seen looming over Ennerdale.

Kirk Fell is the plateau to the left of the picture sitting infront of Red Pike in Mosedale.

At the end and on the right of Ennerdale are Starling Dodd and Great Borne.

Zooming in from the same position, a better view is possible of Pillar Rock itself standing out from the Pillar fell.

The ridge of Looking Stead is also clear rising up from Black Sail Pass.

From Green Gable the grassy path is taken towards the valley of Gillercombe.

There is a choice her of either descending down into the vally and following Sour Milk Gill back to Seathwaite (our route) or following the ridge of Base Brown and scrambling down the crags at the end of the fell over Seathwiate Slabs.

The descent along Gillercombe is a pleasant gentle amble, well received after the exertions of the day.

Here the path can be clearly seen from the head of the valley. To the left are the accompanying twin peaks of Brandreth (left) and the more craggy Grey Knotts (right).

At the end of Gillercombe is another, now familiar, hanging valley. The gentle descent comes to an abrupt end at end of the valley with the waterfall of Sour Milk Gill.

This image is at the start of the falls, looking down into Seathwaite, with the edge of the farm buildings just visible on the right edge.

The crags of Thornythwaite Fell can be seen at the far side of the valley.

Once the scramble along the side of the waterfall has been negotiated the way ahead opens up into a well paved path back to Seathwaite Farm and our starting place.

In this picture we pass a couple of fellow fellwalkers beginning a climb up into Gillercombe.

Just before crossing the River Derwent, a glimpse back reveals the nature of Sour Milk Gill from where we have just descended.

This view, although not on our route back to Seathwaite, is taken from the flanks of Seatoller Fell.

The pyramid shaped fell in the left centre of the picture is Base Brown with Seathwaite Slabs, the alternative route to Gillercombe, clearly visible. On the horizon in the centre is the flatter top of Green Gable, with the valley of Gillercombe flowing down in front.

This image is from the path from Styhead Tarn to Sprinkling Tarn.

Great Gable is to the left, with the craggy appearance of Kern Knotts under which the Climber's Traverse passes. To the right is the lesser Green Gable separated by Windy Gap.

Leading down to Styhead Tarn from Windy Gap is the path along Aaron Slack.

Further up the path to Esk Hause, above Sprinkling Tarn, produces an even more impressive view of Great Gable.

To the left of the picture is the Pillar range. In front of Pillar is Beck Head, the pass between Great Gable and Kirk Fell. The red scree slope of Great Hell gate is visible with The Great Napes to it's left and Westmorland Crags above and right.

High Crag can be seen to the right through the gap formed by Windy Gap.

Great End is, as the name suggests, a great slab of rock bringing to an end the Scafell ridge. The fell itself overhangs Styhead to provide stunning views over Great Gable and beyond.

Here is a view over Gable towards the Skiddaw fells in the North. The Kern Knotts crags are seen as rocky outcrops just above the Climber's Travers around the Southern aspect of Great Gable.

Looking a little further left towards the West, Mosedale and the Pillar group of fells come into view.

On the horizon immediately above Great Hell Gate, can be seen the summit of High Stile covered in dark shadow. To the right above Windy Gap is the edge of Grasmoor.

Below Great End is a path leading from Styhead along a corridor of flat land passing between Lingmell and the crags of the Scafell range. This is known as the Corridor Route.

From the point along this route immediately below the Western side of Great End is an interesting view across at Great Gable. This illustrates a sideways view of the pinnacles of the Great Napes with the tip Napes Needle towards the bottom of the buttress.

The summit cairn of Lingmell is one of the more distinctive in Lakeland.

To the right of the cairn is Great Gable with the Climber's Travers angling up from right to left to The Great Napes.

Immediately to the left of the cairn is the flat top of Kirk Fell separated from Gable by the Beck Head pass, hidden behind the cairn.

To the left beyond Kirk Fell is the Pillar range at the head of Mosedale with Stirrup Crag of Yewbarrow at the far left extreme.

In the centre of this image is Beck Head, the high level pass between Kirk Fell and Great Gable. Flowing down from this pass to the left is Gable Beck, continuing on to terminate in Wast Water.

Rising up from the bottom left of the photo is the main path from Wasdale scoring a line across the lower flanks of Great Gable all the way to Styhead.

From the same position as the last image, a Winter morning provides a whole new impression of Great Gable.

From Lingmell's summit cairn the view East looks over Styhead Tarn across Borrowdale with the Helvellyn range on the horizon, dusted in snow.

A visit to any Lakeland News Agents or Post Office will provide countless examples of postcards with this view of Wasdale and Great Gable.

In shadow to the left is the gently sloping West ridge of Yewbarrow. In the centre of the photo is the imperial Great Gable and to the right are the shallow slopes of Lingmell.

Here zoomed in, the Great Napes is in clear view just to the right of centre. To the left is Little Hell Gate splitting the Great Napes from it's sister buttress on the left, the White Napes.

This photograph was taken from the top of Stirrup Crag on Yewbarrow.

Perhaps the best time of year to enjoy the Lakeland vistas is Autumn when the heather and bracken provide hues of Gold and Brown and the air is crisp and clear assisting the taking of visual records.

Across Mosedale can be seen the rising slopes of Kirk Fell. Wasdale disappears into shadow just to the right of centre where Great Gable is visible in bright sunlight.

Great End is just to the right of the gap formed by Styhead. Further along the Scafell ridge can be seen Broad Crag and Scafell itself with the summit of Lingmell just in front.

Kirk Fell has a broad flat summit which will give a different aspect of Great Gable depending on location.

This image is from the Southerly end of the fell. The first buttress that can be seen on the right side of the photo is that of the White Napes. Beyond and standing further out from the fell are the Great Napes. Above are Westmorland Crags.

This view is taken a little further round to the North of Kirk Fell.

To the left is Green Gable being overshaowed by it's Great neighbour. To the right is Broad Crag and Scafell Pike dusted in snow.

With a more wide-angle view the Helvellyn range comes into view on the horizon above Green Gable.

Just to the right of the Great Napes, on the right side of Great Gable, can be seen the distinctive peaks of Langdale.