Scafell Pike from Great Langdale

Difficulty

• Strenuousness:
  4 (Very full day)/5
• Navigation:
  3/5
• Technicality:
  4/5

Info

• Terrain:
  Rough rocky ground, grassy hillside, bogs and occasional exposure
• Time:
  approx. 8 hours
• Distance:
  18km / 12 miles total
• Total Ascent:
  1400m
• Starting Point:
  Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel
• Nearest Town:
  Elterwater
• Public Transport:
  Langdale Rambler Bus 516 Kendal - Windermere - Ambleside - Dungeon Ghyll

Maps

OS Explorer Map: OL6 The English Lakes – South Western area from Ordnance survey

Correct as of 2025-12-08 at 15:10 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. We might receive a small commission for any purchases through links on this page, with no extra cost to you.

Park in the pay and display car park next to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel (OS ref: NY287061) and take the farm track across the fields to Stool End Farm (OS ref: NY277057).

Follow public footpath signs through the farmyard and, after a hundred metres, take the right-hand path. This path climbs steeply at first, then more steadily, up The Band – the great shoulder which reaches out from Bow Fell into the Langdale Valley.

A long continual climb, with views directly across the valley of Oxendale to Crinkle Crags, eventually brings you to a convenient resting point at Three Tarns, the col between Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell (OS ref: NY248061).

Next, head due north, and steeply upwards, following the well-trodden rocky path marked by frequent cairns to the summit of Bow Fell (OS ref: NY244064). There is a magnificent view across the head of the Eskdale Valley far below and across to Scafell Pike itself. On a clear day, you can often make out tiny people on the distant summit.

From Bow Fell, follow the main path northwards to Hanging Knotts (OS ref: NY244072) and then westwards to the summit of Esk Pike (OS ref: NY236075), before descending to Esk Hause (OS ref: NY233081).

From Esk Hause, continue to the summit of Scafell Pike as per the route from Borrowdale. From the summit, retrace the route back as far as Esk Hause again. But, instead of starting the grind back up to Esk Pike and Bow Fell, descend north-eastwards from Esk Hause for about 300 metres to meet the main Sty Head to Langdale path at OS ref: NY235083.

Follow this well-defined and maintained path south-east as it drops down to delightful Angle Tarn (OS ref: NY245078), nestling below the imposing fortress of Hanging Knotts.

Continue in a south-easterly direction, with a short climb to begin and then a steep descent as the path drops down alongside the tumbling waterfalls of Rossett Gill before joining the bridleway along Mickleden (OS ref: NY262073), from where a final steady and level stride returns you to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel with its world-famous rustic and welcoming Climbers Bar.

Weather Forecast for Great Langdale

The data for the weather forecast for Great Langdale has been provided by the Met Office. The data is updated once daily, so please ensure you check the Met Office website for the most recent information. The exact location of the data refers to the Langdale Youth Hostel (lat: 54.4374, long: -3.0206).