The climb
- Grade
- Severe
- Length
- 21m
- Pitches
- 2
- Approach
- 1 – 1½ hours
- Ascent time
- Less than 2 hours
- Start point
- Seathwaite, Borrowdale
- Descent
- Lead down the needle, ascend gully to top
Another undisputed über-classic, the silhouette of this unlikely spire has been the icon of British rock climbing for more than a century. The first ascent, done solo, in 1886 is widely regarded as the birth of modern rock climbing. Situated high on the flanks of Great Gable, an ascent of the Needle is a day in the fells you will never forget. The access (1¼ hours) is from Seathwaite in Borrowdale.
There are actually eight routes up the Needle. All are great climbs but the Arête is least difficult and most fun. The hardest part of the climb is getting on top of, and down from, the Needle though the difficulties are far easier than they appear. The best way to get off the Needle is to lower the second to the shoulder and for the leader to down climb the pitch removing the protection on the way down.
The route
Great Gable, with the approach and descent marked.
Keswick Tourism Association’s original route sheet. The figures above were transcribed from it.
Three more routes picked by Leo Houlding are on the climbing page. Before you head for a crag, read safety on the fells — the approach walk is on the same ground as everything else here, in the same weather.
The grade, length and times above were transcribed from Keswick Tourism Association’s original route sheet, which published them as an image. If anything here differs from a current guidebook, trust the guidebook.