Base Brown
| Base Brown | |
|---|---|
Lake District National Park
| |
| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Parent range | Lake District, Western Fells |
| OS grid | NY225114 |
| Topo map | OS Landrangers 89, 90, Explorer OL4 |
Base Brown is a fell in England's Lake District, near the head of the Borrowdale Valley. It forms one side of the Seathwaite Valley, and on the western side it is flanked by the hanging valley of Gillercomb.
Topography
The Western Fells occupy a triangular sector of the Lake District, bordered by the River Cocker to the north east and Wasdale to the south east. Westwards the hills diminish toward the coastal plain of Cumberland. At the central hub of the high country are Great Gable and its satellites, while two principal ridges fan out on either flank of Ennerdale, the western fells in effect being a great horseshoe around this long wild valley.[1] Base Brown is a near neighbour of Great Gable, also bordering onto the Southern Fells.
Great Gable and its lesser companion Green Gable stand at the head of Ennerdale, with the walkers' pass of Sty Head to their backs. Base Brown is the summit of the north east ridge of Green Gable, standing out into Borrowdale. All of Base Brown's waters ultimately reach this valley, passing via Derwentwater to the sea at Workington.
A steep and rough slope descends north east from the summit of Green Gable, dropping through Mitchell Cove to the flat-topped and rather damp
Geology
The crags on either face of Base Brown display rocks of the Crinkle Member of the Airy's Bridge Formation. This consists mainly of welded
Summit
Although surrounded by crags, the summit itself is of grass with a few boulders. A cairn marks the highest point. The view is restricted by higher neighbours, but the view north east down Borrowdale takes in Skiddaw and the Helvellyn range. The northern face of the Scafells is also seen in close up in the opposite direction. Water in view from the summit is restricted to Derwentwater and part of Styhead Tarn.[1]
Ascents
Base Brown is often passed on the way to Sty Head and Esk Hause, along the popular paths which start at Seathwaite. Base Brown is itself almost exclusively climbed from this hamlet, via the cascades of Sour Milk Gill. Once the foot of Gillercomb is reached a choice presents itself. Either the walker can continue up the gill to reach Blackmoor Pols and then make an easy traverse back to the summit, or a direct line can be taken up the north ridge. Base Brown can be used as the first step to climbing Green and Great Gable.[1][3]
References
- ^ ISBN 0-7112-2460-9
- ^ British Geological Survey: 1:50,000 series maps, England & Wales Sheet 29: BGS (1999)
- ISBN 0-00-713629-3