“Grandly positioned overlooking Esk Hause; it is really in the heart of things and on intimate terms with Bowfell, The Scafells and Great Gable - old favourites”
A Wainwright
The high summits around Esk Hause make a great days walking from the Langdale Valley, with stunning views of the surrounding fells including Scafell Pike this walk takes you to the real heart of the Lake District.
“Nobody who is familiar with the topography of the Scafell area will have any doubts why Great End was so named: there could not have been a more descriptive choice for the tremendous northern buttress of the mass”
A Wainwright
From The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel we will follow the path along the wonderful Mickleden Valley, a near perfectly formed glacial valley climbing from the head of the valley by the Rossett Gill path climbing up on the good new path to Angle Tarn.
From Angle Tarn the path climbs to Ore Gap, the red rock here is full of iron ore, and there are stories of the rocks causing problems with peoples compasses, although this is probably more of an excuse after a mistake.
From Ore Gap we climb again, this time to our first summit, Esk Pike with it's great views across Upper Eskdale to Scafell and Scafell Pike.
After all the hard work to get up here the summits now come thick and fast as we cross Esk Hause and climb through Calf Cove to the summit of Great End, the fifth highest summit in England and only a smidgeon below the 3,000ft mark.
From Great End we descend again back to Esk Hause, this time dropping down a little further to the bield and the short climb to the summit of the Allen Crags.
From the Allen Crags we drop back down to Angle Tarn and the short final climb to the summit of Rossett Pike.
Most pass by Rossett Pike on the main Rossett Gill path, just a few minutes walk to the south without venturing up to the summit, but those that do are rewarded with some magnificent views over the Mickleden Valley and Great Langdale beyond, enclosed to the north by the Langdale Pikes and to the south by The Band and Bowfell, with a particularly good view of the Great Slab on Bowfell.
From Rossett Pike we will follow the path north along the rim of the crags before descending to meet the Stake Pass path as it descends to the Mickleden Valley, following the valley back to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel.
Each participant will be required to bring suitable equipment for their chosen event, please see Kit List tab above.
Where to meet: The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, Langdale
Postcode: LA22 9JY
Grid Reference: NY 286 061
Directions
From Ambleside: Leave on the A593, signposted to Langdale and Coniston, follow this road until the junction with Ellers Brow, turn right onto Ellers Brow, signposted to Chapel Stile and Langdale.
Follow this road through the village of Chapel Stile and continue past the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel to the right, continue along this lane to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, on the right, there is a National Trust pay and display car park outside the Hotel for walkers.
Bus Services
The New Dungeon Ghyll is serviced by the 516 bus from Ambleside, the bus stop is 100m from the meet point.
The 516 runs between Ambleside and the Langdale Valley.
Stagecoach bus timetables can be viewed here
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