Glaramara

Glaramara
Glaramara with the hanging valley of Combe Gill (centre right) seen from Grange Fell, 6 km to the north
Highest point
Elevation	783 m (2,569 ft)
Prominence	121 m (397 ft)
Parent peak	Scafell Pike
Listing	Hewitt, Nuttall, Wainwright
Coordinates	54°29′00″N 3°09′55″W / 54.48332°N 3.1653°W / 54.48332; -3.1653Coordinates: 54°29′00″N 3°09′55″W / 54.48332°N 3.1653°W / 54.48332; -3.1653
Naming
Translation	"Hill with the mountain hut by a chasm" (Old Norse)
Geography
Glaramara Location in Lake District, UK
Location	Cumbria, England
Parent range	Lake District, Southern Fells
OS grid	NY246104
Topo map	OS Landrangers 89,90, Explorer OL4

Glaramara is a fell in the English Lake District in Cumbria. It is a substantial fell that is part of a long ridge that stretches for over six kilometres from Stonethwaite in Borrowdale up to the important mountain pass of Esk Hause. The summit of Glaramara at 783 m (2,569 ft) is the central point of this ridge, which separates the valleys of Langstrath and Grains Gill. However, the ridge has two additional fells, numerous subsidiary tops and several small tarns making its traverse an appealing and challenging walk.

The fell’s unusual and pleasant-sounding name, previously only applied to the summit rocks, has now been accepted as the name for the whole fell. Like many fells of the district the name comes from a series of Old Norse words which in this case is translated as “Hill with the mountain hut by a chasm”.

Glaramara’s most striking feature is Combe Gill on its northern slopes, a classic example of a hanging valley that was formed by glacial erosion during the last ice age. The gill is full of crags and according to Alfred Wainwright contains the only natural cave in the Lake District, these are the Dove Nest Caves, a rock slip from Dove Nest Crags has partly covered the cave which has three entrances. On its east and west flanks the fell falls away steeply with rocky slopes and scree to the valleys. To the south the ridge continues from the summit of Glaramara for two kilometres over various tops (some of which are Hewitts or Nuttalls) with little loss of height to the adjoining fell of Allan Crags before descending to Esk Hause.

The direct ascent of the fell is usually started from the Borrowdale road midway between Rosthwaite and Seatoller. From here it is possible to ascend on either of the ridges to the east or west of Combe Gill, the east ridge being the best because it allows for the climbing of Rosthwaite Fell and its subsidiary summit of Dovenest Top (632 metres). On this route two other tops of Glaramara, Combe Door Top (676 metres) and Combe Head (735 metres), are passed over. Both of these are Nuttalls. Combe Head gives fine views down into Combe Gill and from here it is short climb to the twin summits of Glaramara.