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Finally a sunny day this summer, and a terrific short circuit of the rocky peaks of the Southern Fells.
From Great Langdale, the path up and over Pike of Blisco is beautifully made – rock steps embedded into the fellside and making quite short work of what must previously have been a steep and breathless climb over damp terrain. Spectacular views of the Langdale Pikes all the way and a great walk to the satisfyingly rocky summit.
- Pike of Blisco over Kettle Crag
- Redacre Gill approach onto Wrynose Fell
- Langdale Pikes
Cold Pike afterwards might be a thin smear of meat paste between the pain Poilâne of the other two peaks, but it’s quite good to leave the broad paths for a short while and head pathlessly up the grassy slopes to a hill that would be quite enough to be the day’s highlight in many parts of the country. Pretty hazy conditions today, but still outlines of the Coniston Fells to the south to see and an increasingly tempting view of the jagged top of Crinkle Crags to tempt you on.
- Cold Pike
- Crinkle Crags over Great Knott
- Back to Pike of Blisco
- From Cold Pike, the highway to Crinkle Crags
As the many walkers up there could attest, the mile traversing the seven-plus tops of Crinkle Crags and its neighbours is a constantly fascinating rocky walk – plenty of obstacles and half-scrambles, but most just the right side of awkward (to my slight shame, I had a good look at the ‘Bad Step’ and still just couldn’t see the moves needed, but the detour path west is a really good route). The unobstructed view of the Scafells from here is amazing too, giving England’s somewhat-maligned highest a real grandeur.
- Looking down into Great Cove
- South over Eskdale to the coast
- The main peak
- The 'Bad Step'
- Great End, Esk Pike, Bowfell
- First two Crinkles, from Gunson Knott
- The Scafells
- Over Cold Pike to the Coniston Fells
- Langdale Pikes over The Band
- Bowfell across Three Tarns
The descent via The Band (time precluding an assault first on the scree path up Bowfell) - an obvious, almost-paved walkers’ highway, of the sort that the knees and fading concentration rather welcome at the end of a walk – is a relaxing one, with good open views to the fells around and verdant Great Langdale before. No great originality in recommending this circuit, I’m sure, but I’ll do it anyway! Simply a wonderful little walk.
- Pike of Blisco
- Crinkle Crags & Shelter Crags
- Browney Gill
- Side Pike & Lingmoor Fell
- Great Langdale
- Up Mickleden to Rossett Pike
- The Crinkles above Oxendale