In reply to tonanf:
I soloed it this time last year. Had actually set off up to Gimmer but a frosty start and the thought of scaring myself silly on the NW face sent me puttering off toward the sun soaked little Buttress on the horizon to bag my last Lakes Classic Rock.
Like all Lakes routes it is small, intricate and perfectly formed from the clean base to the detached summit.
Crux wall is a 4b move but no big deal. It's steeper but easier than Tryfan Pinnacle Rib routes. Took about twenty minutes. Wouldn't even consider it in the wet myself.
I was on top of Bowfell at nine am in blazing sunshine and kind of regretted not going to Gimmer