Saturday 1 July 2000

Great Borne (Herdus)

Great Borne rising over Bowness Knott
Height: 616m (2,021ft)
Prominence: 113m (371ft)
Region: Western Fells
Classifications: HuMP, Nuttall, Hewitt, Wainwright, Birkett
Summit feature: Trig pillar and windshelter
Times climbed: 2
Related trip reports:
Great Borne & Starling Dodd - 26/03/2017
A Tour of Ennerdale - 19/04/2015
Great Borne's fantastic view of Buttermere
What Wainwright said:

"Great Borne is the name of the summit of the fell locally and correctly known as Herdus, an abbreviated version of the former name of Herdhouse. From Ennerdale, it rises as a massive buttress to the High Stile ridge. It is not prominent in views from other directions, however, and is not frequented by walkers".

Great Borne is a rather secluded hill situated at the western end of the long ridge which divides the Ennerdale and Buttermere valleys. The name Great Borne only really applies to the fells summit area with most West Cumbrians actually referring to the fell as Herdus.

The meaning of Great Borne translates from the French language meaning "Great Boundary" as in the 13th century the fell denoted the edge of the Loweswater forest, an alternative meaning has been put forward as "Great Stream" from the southern Old English language with bourne meaning a stream flowing from a spring.

The summit of the fell has two separate tops divided by a shallow valley, the south top is slightly higher and is marked by an Ordnance Survey trig point and a considerable wind shelter while the northern top has a large cairn which is visible for miles around and gives extensive views of the Loweswater Fells. This large cairn is thought to be the boundary marker from which the fell takes its name.

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