8:00 start with 17:30 return
A Walk - Pike o'Blisco and Crinkle Crags with Dave Colbert
8½ miles (14km) with 3,500ft (1,060m) Total Ascent
Crinkle Crags dominates the rugged mountain range separating Great Langdale from Upper Eskdale, a formidable array of crags, buttresses and gullies creating a tremendous backdrop to the wild glacial hollow of Oxendale. Pike o’Blisco’s steep and rocky northern flank forms the massive south wall, and The Band, a lengthy shoulder rising from Stool End at the head of Great Langdale to the col at Three Tarns, the north.
On this walk we will traverse the Oxendale skyline, beginning with an ascent of the pyramid of Pike o’Blisco (705m/2,313ft) before confronting Crinkle Crags. A succession of rocky tors project abruptly from the latter’s serrated crest, requiring easy scrambling in places, including Wainwright’s ‘Bad Step’, an optional three metre rock wall below the highest Crinkle, Long Top (859m/2,817ft). The Band then provides a lengthy but straightforward means of descent.
Note that in the event of bad weather (heavy rain / strong winds etc), we will do a linear hike from Ambleside taking in Loughrigg Fell and Lingmoor Fell. This hike is approximately 10 miles in length with 3,250 feet of ascent.
B+ Walk - Great Langdale & Little Langdale with Stuart Arnold
10 miles (16km) with 750ft (229m) Total Ascent
From Elterwater go South West to Little Langdale passing Tarn at Slater Bridge and could do Cathedral Cave from here. Move on to Fell Foot Bridge now passing Ting Mound ancient monument, Castle Howe opposite and pick up path to Blea Tarn via Blea Moss bog.. Climb Side Pike for views of Langdale Pikes then down past camping site to pick up Cumbria Way at Middle Fell Farm. Continue to New Dungeon Gill and take bridleway south thro´ Great Langdale rejoining Cumbria Way thro´ Chapel Stile back to Elterwater. A very scenic and mainly easy route.
B Walk - Skelwith Bridge to New Dungeon Hotel via Cathedral Cave with Margaret Oliver
7½ miles (12km) with 1100ft (335m) Total Ascent
Leaving Skelwith Bridge we pass Skelwith Force and after crossing the footbridge over the River Rothay we join the Cumbria Way to Park Farm. Continuing on the Cumbria Way we head for Stang End then visit the spectacular Cathedral Cave. After crossing Slater Bridge we have a gradual ascent passing Dale End on the way to Baysbrown Wood and onto Oak house. Crossing Great Langdale Beck we head to the New Dungeon Hotel for some well deserved refreshments!
NOTE: There are no toilet facilities at the start of this walk. Also, at Dale End Farm there is usually a stall selling homemade cake (which is very good) at £1.50 a portion, paid by cash.
C Walk - Skelwith Bridge to New Dungeon Ghyll with Dorothy Dobson
6 miles (9.7km) with 400ft (122m) Total Ascent
Leaving the coach at Skelwith Bridge we follow the Cumbria Way via the waterfall to Elterwater (Toilets 30p). After a short climb out of the village we drop down to a path through some woods before arriving at Chapel Style (More toilets!). Here we leave the road immediately after the Wainwright Hotel to walk by the Langdale Beck. Crossing the Beck we go along field paths, (some can be a bit rough underfoot) to eventually reach Side House. From here we cross a bridge to New Dungeon Ghyll for refreshments and the coach.