Great End, Mountain summit in Southern Fells, England.
Great End is a mountain summit in the Southern Fells of the English Lake District, sitting above the valleys of Borrowdale, Eskdale, and Wasdale. The top is open and rocky, with two stone cairns marking the highest points, the northwestern one giving a clear view toward Borrowdale.
Great End drew early mountaineers toward the end of the 19th century, when climbers began exploring the steep northern crags for technical routes on rock. The gullies on that face were among the first demanding climbs to be recorded in the Lake District.
Great End is one of the fells that Alfred Wainwright described in his famous guidebook series, and many walkers visit it as part of the long project of climbing every summit on his list. The northern crags draw climbers looking for rock routes that stand out from most of what the Lake District offers.
The summit can be reached from Sty Head or through valley paths from Wasdale and Borrowdale, and the route you choose should match your experience on open fell ground. The northern crags require proper mountain skills, while the standard walking routes from the valley are more straightforward for those used to upland terrain.
The northern face of Great End holds snow well into late spring because the tall cliffs trap cold air and block direct sun for much of the day. This makes it one of the few spots in the Lake District where winter climbing conditions can last into May.
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