A grand day out.

As the summer holiday draws to an end high pressure has moved in after weeks of Atlantic depressions sweeping across the country. I headed out early to make the most of the dry sunny weather and as I drove east decided on Great Gable via the climbers traverse - a route I've not done for several years.

Parking at Seathwaite at the head of Borrowdale I climbed first to Styhead Tarn and then headed off on the traverse below some of Great Gables fantastic climbing crags - Kern Knotts, Tophet Wall and the Napes. I saw no body on this part of the route until I reached Napes Needle where three lads were gearing up to climb the famous pinnacle. Beyond this point several parts of the route needed great care as there is a lot of loose rock about especially in the gully alongside Sphinx Ridge which I escaped as soon as possible.

Once at the top of Sphinx Ridge I dropped down to the foot of Westmorland's Crag and then scrambled up a delightful ridge which finishes almost at Westmorland's Cairn where I had lunch. The view down Wasdale was excellent.

To finish off the route I climbed over Great Gable then went on to Green Gable before dropping down Gillercomb back to the car. Conditions throughout were great for wandering the fells and only one thing stopped a grand day being a perfect day - Susan was at work and couldn't be out with me.

Heading towards Styhead Tarn on a beautiful day in Lakeland.

Kern Knotts Crag.

Tophet Wall - home to the hardest climb in the Lakes, Breathless E9.

Napes Needle - where the sport of rock climbing is said to have begun.

The Sphinx Rock and Wasdale beyond.

Ennerdale and Buttermere from near the summit of Great Gable.

The path over Green Gable.