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Still Working my way through a back log of reports this time I'm back to July for a wander around some of the honey pots of Langdale.
It seems even an early start doesn't get you to Old Dungeon Ghyll before the crowds when you have a two and a half hour drive. With the main National Trust Car Park was already filling up fast and the overflow not yet opened I grabbed a space, quickly suited and booted and headed off on the Cumbrian Way along Mickledon. It was quite a cloudy morning but with most of it above the tops it made for a nice start to the day and some cooler temperatures to gain some height.
Setting off
Pike O'Stickle
Langdale Pikes
Bridge over Mickleden BeckI'd never been up the Stake Pass before but found it a nicely graded route. Well before the pass was reached however I headed off to make my way to a couple of Birketts on the Rossett Pike Ridge. The map shows a path on the ground, but as I failed to find it, I gradually made my way over what was at times rough ground up to Black Crags. The views were superb, as to be expected as I made my way long the ridge, visiting Buck Pike on my way to the Cairn right on the edge of the crags that plunge into Rossett Gill. This is a better view point than the main summit and was also free from people unlike the high point which had been invaded my a very noisy group as I briefly bagged it and moved on.
On the way up next to Stake Gill
Looking back down Mickleden
Great End still with some morning clag
Black Crags Summit
Sinuous by
Anthony Young, on Flickr
Sun breaking on Black Crag
Langdales from Buck Pike
The Great Slab from Rossett Pike
Glorious Mickleden from Rossett Pike
Esk Hause from Rossett PikeBy now the sun had now broken through the clouds and the temperature was quickly rising so I stopped at Angle Tarn for some breakfast and a rest before the gradual climb up to Esk Hause. While enjoying the repast my mind wandered to Hanging Knotts which looked, from here at least, a practicable way up Bow Fell if you made your way through the crags to the left. As I was intending to visit Esk Pike next it's one to wait for another day. Once back on the path I noticed up ahead was a very large group who I'd spied down in the valley earlier. As I was catching them I decided to cut off the corner to Esk Pike just in case they were headed that way (they unsurprisingly made off in the direction of The Pike).
Angle Tarn
Hughie
Hanging Knotts and Angle TarnI'd never been up Esk Pike this way and it's a nice rocky route with some stunning views to enjoy. I think Esk Pike is quite underrated, probably due to it's array of fantastic neighbours, and I was soon at the summit following a brief stop to take in the best views of the wonderful Upper Eskdale valley. The top was quite crowded so I didn't linger and headed off down to Ore gap.
Langstrath
Upper Eskdale
Pen and Ill Crag
Esk Pike Summit
Great End, Great Gable and Grasmoor from Esk Pike
A Crowded SummitNext stop was the North top of Bow Fell which provided to super views so I stopped and had lunch taking in the sights and feeling nicely disengaged with the summit which was crawling with people. I'd made really good time up to this stage but whether it was the heat of the day or the rougher ground I seemed to struggle to make progress as Hughie and I boulder hopped up Bow Fell and then slithered and slid down the horribly eroded path down to the three tarns.
Mickleden from the top of Hanging Knotts
Bow Fell Summit from the North Top
Hughie searching for Scraps
A Very Insignificant looking Rossett Pike
Great Slab and Bow Fell
Scafells from Bow Fell
Top of the Bow Fell Buttress
On Bow Fell Summit
Langdales from Bow Fell
On the way down to the Three Tarns
Hughie by the Tarns
Bow Fell Links from the Three TarnsThe plan at this point was to make my way along to Crinkle Crags summit before retracing my steps to descend via The Band, visiting White Stones (a top I've inexplicably passed close by twice previously) on my way down. By the time I found myself at Long Top I really wasn't in the mood for going back over the undulations of the crinkles so I headed down the bypass path and towards the first Crinkle.
One of Crinkle Crags many Secluded Tarns
Bow Fell, Scafells Panorama
Pike of Blisco
Bow Fell from Crinkle Crags Summit
Avoiding the Bad Step
The Bad Step
Scafells from the South TopFrom the First crinkle it was a straightforward way down but as the heat had really taken it out of both me and Hughie it seemed to take an age before we tiredly plodded back to the car park passing a great many walkers who had a good lie in that morning.
Greater Langdale
Crinkle Crags
Looking down Oxendale
Oxendale and the Langdales
One last shotLangdale is always a great place to visit, even given the guaranteed crowds on such a beautiful day as this. Still, it has it's little corners and less visited tops that can still give you a feeling of isolation and peace. And when combined with it's Honey pots it makes it an irresistible destination.
