bespoke mountain and water journeys
Langdale Pikes
Distance: 8km/5m
Climbing: 778m/2552ft (5 Wainwright Summits)
Difficulty: Moderate
If classic Lakeland scenery, majestic crags, glistening tarns and a sense of adventure appeal more than simply ticking off the highest peaks in the district, the Langdale Pikes are the perfect place for you.
Equipment Needed:
Waterproof jacket and trousers, sturdy lace up walking shoes, warm layers, gloves, hat, plenty of water and a packed lunch. Bring these in a rucksack with a waterproof cover. If you do not have one, putting your items in a plastic bag or dry bag within your rucksack will also do the job!
If it is a particularly hot day, please bring a hat and suncream - plus extra water.
Price: £150.00 (Maximum 6 People)
Fitness Requirements:
This is a moderately strenuous walk. Though relatively short in length, there is a lot of climbing. We will go at a steady pace and not leave anyone behind - but it is recommended that you have a good level of fitness and some previous experience hiking up big hills. If you do not have this experience yet, please take a look at our first summit walks that are specifically designed for beginners.
Time: 3-5 Hours
Full Itinerary Below
Detailed Itinerary:
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Our walk begins at New Dungeon Ghyll car park. This car park has charges and can be extremely busy in the summer, so I recommend arriving as early as possible to secure a space. There is another, larger car park on the opposite side of the road, operated by the National Trust. If you are a NT member, or if you wish to stay the night before in a van, this is an excellent parking option. There are also free toilets available for use in this car park along with an excellent pub for a post walk meal.
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Our walk takes us on a classic loop of the Langdale Pikes, a collection of five Wainwright peaks that are much loved and remembered by all visitors to Southern Lakeland.
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We begin by climbing steeply up the side of the valley, passing the dramatic gorge of Dungeon Ghyll to eventually reach Loft Crag, the first summit of our walk.
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From here, we follow the ridge line to reach the higher peak of Pike of Stickle. En route we will take in the views of Crinkle Crags and the majestic pointed summit of Bow Fell on the opposite side of the valley. A short scramble will take us to the top of Pike of Stickle where this view reaches its peak.
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We then cross over the Langdale bowl and climb once more to reach the summit of Harrison Stickle, the tallest of the Langdale Peaks, the summit of which is first has a distinctive shape that can be picked out from the M6 as visitors come into the Lake District.
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From Harrison Stickle we walk north, away from the valley edge for the first time, to reach Thunacar Knott, a fell somewhat harshly described by Wainwright as being completely unphotogenic. Though lacking the steep crags possessed by all the other Langdale Pikes, we think this fell holds its own charm of creating a sense of wild open space, which may be less dramatic, but which is worth taking in even if for no better reason than it completes the set.
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Our final summit of the day, Pavey Ark, takes us back to the precipitous edge overlooking Stickle Tarn. Here,we will soak in as much of the view as we can, before making the steep descent down to the tarn below.
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If time allows, we will stop at the tarn to appreciate the beauty of its surroundings, before making our way down the banks of Stickle Ghyll and back to our start point.
Interested in booking a guided walk?
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Please include the walk you are interested in, the dates you are looking to book and some information about any previous hiking experience on the form.