A difficult route in Southern Fells. Check the GPS track on Outdooractive for full details of the route, waypoints, and terrain.
Starting Point: NT Campsite, Great Langdale (NY 287 058) ALTERNATIVE START: If parking at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Car Park (NY 285 061), join the Cumbria Way directly from there and skip the campsite road section.
Terrain: Campsite, road, path through Middle Fell Farm, Old Dungeon Ghyll, Cumbria Way through Mickleden, footbridge, Rossett Gill climb, Hanging Knotts, Rossett Pike summit, Angle Tarn, Tongue Head, Esk Hause approach, Calf Cove, Long Pike, Great End summit and north face edge, Esk Hause, Esk Pike, Ore Gap ridge, Bowfell, Bowfell Links (steep and loose), Three Tarns, Crinkle Crags Long Top, Bad Step (not descended), alternative col above Great Cove, Great Knott, pathless ground east, Cold Pike, path to Red Tarn, Brown Howe, Oxendale Beck footbridge, Stool End, farm, road return IMPORTANT — MOUNTAIN SAFETY: This is one of the most demanding walks in this collection — six Wainwright summits with almost 1,400m of ascent over 23 kilometres, including the exposed north face of Great End, the steep and loose descent through Bowfell Links and the notorious Bad Step on Crinkle Crags. Full mountain kit is essential. Check the forecast carefully before setting out.
An exceptional day in the southern Lake District on one of the finest high-level circuits in the entire range — six Wainwrights, almost 1,400 metres of ascent and 23 kilometres of walking on a day of perfect clear skies that delivered uninterrupted views from start to finish. The walk through Mickleden sets the tone immediately — Tony's favourite valley in the UK, with good reason, and the Cumbria Way through it is as fine a valley approach as the Lakes can offer. Rossett Gill's reward of Angle Tarn and then the high plateau is a classic Lakeland sequence, and Great End's north face edge is one of the most dramatic in England. Esk Pike and Bowfell follow as worthy companions before the Bowfell Links descent demands full attention on loose and steep ground. Crinkle Crags Long Top's 360-degree panorama is the high point of the day in every sense, and the Bad Step's reputation for swallowing walkers whole was duly assessed and wisely declined — the alternative via Great Cove and Cold Pike is a fine conclusion in its own right, with Wrynose spread below and a quieter finale to a big day. A brilliant, brilliant walk.