Striding Edge

A photo diary of Lake District fell walks

  • Walks
  • Fells
    • Wainwrights
      • Eastern Fells
      • Far Eastern Fells
      • Central Fells
      • Southern Fells
      • Northern Fells
      • North Western Fells
      • Western Fells
      • Outlying Fells
    • Birketts
  • Dogs
  • Love The Lakes
  • Contact

Cold Pike

Height: 701 metres / 2300 feet Grid reference: NY 26289 03613 Category: The Southern Fells

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from the summit of Cold Pike

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from the summit of Cold Pike

Cold Pike over Red Tarn with a distant Black Combe

Cold Pike over Red Tarn with a distant Black Combe

Cold Pike

Walked on 19/02/2012

Start point: Three Shire Stone (NY 277 027)

Three Shire Stone – Rough Crags – Cold Pike – Red Tarn – Three Shire Stone

Distance: 2.5 miles     Total Ascent: 305 metres     Time Taken: 1 hour     Start Time: 10:30

Weather: Sunny and clear.0°C

It was too good to miss this morning with the weather being cold and clear so I headed to Three Shire Stone at the top of Wrynose Pass for a short walk up to Cold Pike. I wasn’t disappointed, the views were superb and far reaching today.

Cold Pike

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Cold Pike across Duddon Grains.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Harter Fell and Wrynose Pass.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Pike o' Blisco and Black Crag as I traversed west to climb Cold Pike.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

High above Red Tarn now looking to a distant Skiddaw on the left and prominent Pike o' Stickle.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The Three Amigos.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Little Stand.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Pike o' Blisco from an icy pool.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Into the sun - Windermere and Wetherlam.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Twin peaks of Cold Pike, left and right with Crinkle Crags in central view.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from the summit.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Clear as clear can be this morning.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Skiddaw and Blencathra from Cold Pike.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Bowfell.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The Langdale Pikes.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

A panoramic view from Cold Pike. Select on the image to see a larger version.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Casper and Dougal loving the sunshine. 'What are you up to dad? Why are you lying down?!'.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The two summit cairns, left and right.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Looking down to Wrynose Bottom and the Duddon Valley.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The view from the steep descent.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

It's still cold up here despite the sunshine.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Great Knott, Crinkle Crags and Bowfell across a part frozen Red Tarn.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Red Tarn.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The view from a little higher up on Redtarn Moss, back in full sunshine now.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Looking across (yet another) frozen pool.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Cold Pike from Three Shire Stone.

Pike o’ Blisco

Walked on 14/07/2011

Start point: Three Shire Stone (NY 277 027)

Three Shire Stone – Rough Crags – Cold Pike – Red Tarn – Pike O’ Blisco – Black Crag – Three Shire Stone

Distance: 3.5 miles     Total Ascent: 500 metres     Time Taken: 2 hours     Start Time: 09:25

Weather: Warm and sunny. 19°C

Today was a perfect summer’s day, just the right temperature with a bit of a cooling breeze and not too much haze once up on high. I really enjoyed the walk today in such great conditions and the views were fabulous. I did set off with the intention of going to Wasdale but on the way thought…

Cold Pike

Cold Pike route map.

14.07.11-001

...Harter Fell perhaps?

14.07.11-002

...or maybe Hardknott?

14.07.11-007

Bowfell, Crinkle Crags and Little Stand at the head of the Duddon Valley.

14.07.11-011

I ended up heading for the top of Wrynose Pass for a walk to Red Tarn and the accompanying fells, here ;looking along the path from the Three Shire Stone.

14.07.11-013

Harter Fell along Wrynose Pass.

14.07.11-016

The Coniston fells across Wrynose Pass.

14.07.11-020

Cold Pike and the first sight of Crinkle Crags from the path to Red Tarn.

14.07.11-023

Looking back to the Coniston fells - Swirl How, Great Carrs and Grey Friar.

14.07.11-027

Red Tarn.

14.07.11-037

The view to Bowfell along Red Tarn.

14.07.11-049

A great place to have a swim and a lie in the grass for Dougal and Casper.

14.07.11-057

Crossing the southern end of the tarn to take the direct route up to Cold Pike.

14.07.11-061

Pike o' Blisco and Red Tarn from the climb. Pike o' Stickle has put in appearance to the left but more interestingly that is Skiddaw in the distance.

14.07.11-064

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from the summit of Cold Pike.

14.07.11-073

The Coniston fells from Cold Pike, Coniston Old Man peeping through in the background.

14.07.11-074

Pike o' Blisco and Red Tarn from the summit. The path to Pike o' Blisco is pretty clear from here.

14.07.11-080_s

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell panoramic.

14.07.11-083

Casper and Dougal check out the fine view.

14.07.11-084

Skiddaw beyond the summit cairn on Cold Pike.

14.07.11-085

Looking across to Harter Fell and Little Stand.

14.07.11-091

Mighty Bowfell.

14.07.11-099s

Close up on the Crinkles and Bowfell.

14.07.11-107

Casper and Dougal basking in the sunshine on Cold Pike (which is not living up to its name today!).

14.07.11-114

On the descent to Red Tarn, Pike o' Blisco ahead.

14.07.11-123

Looking back the other way - Red Tarn and Cold Pike from the climb.

14.07.11-125

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Pike o' Blisco summit.

14.07.11-133s

A 180 degree view from Pike o' Blisco.

14.07.11-140

Great Langdale.

14.07.11-147

The Langdale Pikes and High Raise.

14.07.11-149

Bowfell and the summit of Pike o' Blisco.

14.07.11-152

Pike o' Stickle.

14.07.11-162

The Coniston fells.

14.07.11-163

The Needle, Black Crag plus climber.

14.07.11-186

Birks Bridge, a great place for a dip for me and the boys.

14.07.11-188

The view to Bowfell and the Crinkles from Birks Bridge rapids.

Bowfell

Walked on 29/08/2007

Start point: The Old Dungeon Ghyll car park (NY 286 062)

Old Dungeon Ghyll – Pike O’ Blisco – Red Tarn – Cold Pike – Crinkle Crags – Shelter Crags – Three Tarns – Bowfell – Climbers Traverse – Hell Gill – Oxendale – Old Dungeon Ghyll

Distance: 9 miles     Total Ascent: 1260 metres     Time Taken: 5 hours

Weather: Sunny. 18oC.

Regular viewers may remember the last time I set off on this route in January when I nearly got blown off Pike o’ Blisco in a blizzard and decided to cut short the route. Some may also remember that back in May I managed to drop my camera and ruin a lens. Since then I have been using the cheapo kit lens that I had but I finally got around to getting a new one which I used for the first time today – hopefully the photos will be back to their previous clarity and sharpness. The walk today was memorable for a couple of reasons; the first was that I managed a quick dip – the first on a walk this year. The second was when I got chatting with the shepherd at Stool End Farm who had a Beardie as a working companion and it was interesting to compare her with Casper.

Bowfell

29.08.07-001

On the way to Langdale the mist lies over the head of Coniston Water.

29.08.07-011

Early morning sunshine and cloud on Bowfell.

29.08.07-017

Crinkle Crags over Wall End Farm.

29.08.07-030

Golden Casper.

29.08.07-032

The cloud clears from Bowfell on the climb to Pike o' Blisco.

29.08.07-033

Blue skies over Pike o' Blisco.

29.08.07-037

All clear over the Coniston fells from the southern cairn on Pike o' Blisco.

29.08.07-039

Mist over Crinkle Crags with Bowfell beyond the main summit cairn.

29.08.07-040

Cold Pike over Red Tarn with a distant Black Combe.

29.08.07-046

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Red Tarn.

29.08.07-050

The Crinkles from Cold Pike...

29.08.07-058

...just follow the superhighway.

29.08.07-064

The second and third Crinkles from the first.

29.08.07-066

Approaching the 'Bad Step' on the second Crinkle - it is the dark area to the right of centre.

29.08.07-069

Not so bad today though, me and Casper managed it okay. There is an alternative way around to the west if you don't fancy trying it.

29.08.07-070

Clouds over the Scafells from Long Top, the second and highest of the Crinkle Crags.

29.08.07-071

The cloud was constantly appearing then disappearing from Scafell Pike to the left and seemed to be pouring into Eskdale from Esk Hause to the right.

29.08.07-074

Scafell Pike.

29.08.07-075

The clouds over Esk Hause.

29.08.07-095

Bowfell from Shelter Crags.

29.08.07-100

Casper has a sit down at Three Tarns with a view of the Scafells as a backdrop.

29.08.07-110

The view from the second tarn - there were only two today, despite the name.

29.08.07-116

All clear on the Scafells now from Bowfell summit.

29.08.07-118

All was cloudy to the north and into Langstrath.

29.08.07-128

Looking back to Bowfell Buttress from the Climber's Traverse on Bowfell.

29.08.07-141

Looking up to the Crinkles from Buscoe.

29.08.07-147

At the bottom of Hell Gill, I found this secluded pool an idyllic place for a bathe. Heaven Gill I'd say!

29.08.07-154

Whorneyside and the Crinkle Crags from the path to Oxendale. The bracken is well gone now.

29.08.07-155

The same view from further along the path.

29.08.07-162

Once at Stool End, I spotted a shepherd with a Beardie so we spent a good hour whiling the time away. This working Beardie was half the size of Casper even though the markings are very similar; there are plenty of working Beardies around Langdale - a hardy breed indeed...but you knew that!

29.08.07-166

The Langdale Pikes.

Cold Pike

Walked on 04/07/2006

Start point: Three Shire Stone (NY 277 027)

Three Shire Stone – Rough Crags – Cold Pike – Red Tarn – Pike O’ Blisco – Black Crag – Three Shire Stone

Distance: 3.5 miles     Total Ascent: 500 metres     Time Taken: 2 hours

Weather: Sunny and warm becoming overcast. 23oC.

Nice to see it was still warm today and the blue skies have returned – at least for a short while as it became increasingly overcast towards the end of the walk. It’s a lovely shorter walk this one with some relatively easy height gain, starting from the top of Wrynose Pass.

01 Cold Pike

04.07.06-001

Cold Pike from Three Shire Stone.

04.07.06-004

Harter Fell, Wrynose Pass and a familiar figure, bottom right!

04.07.06-011

Well, I did say semi-retirement. How could I deny Angus a swim and a view like this?

04.07.06-014

Great Knott, Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell across Red Tarn.

04.07.06-018

Casper enjoys the view, not the swim.

04.07.06-021

Red Tarn and Pike o' Blisco from the climb to Cold Pike.

04.07.06-026

A great view of Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell from the summit of Cold Pike.

04.07.06-028

Casper - hot on Cold Pike.

04.07.06-047

Pike o' Blisco, the path to be followed in view.

04.07.06-048

The Langdale Pikes across Mickleden.

04.07.06-053

Bow Fell.

04.07.06-054

Pike of Stickle.

04.07.06-056

Pike o' Blisco with its prominent summit cairn.

04.07.06-57 panoramic_small

A panoramic view from Cold Pike. Select on the image for a larger version.

04.07.06-071

Warm on the descent of Cold Pike - we are following the path to the right, not up to Crinkle Crags today.

04.07.06-077

One way to keep cool.

04.07.06-085

A silhouette of the Coniston fells across Red Tarn.

04.07.06-086

Great Knott, Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell from the climb to Pike o' Blisco.

04.07.06-089

The Langdale Pikes and Great Langdale from Pike o' Blisco.

04.07.06-103

Hot but happy on Pike o' Blisco.

Cold Pike

Walked on 25/01/2006

Start point: Three Shire Stone (NY 277 027)

Three Shire Stone – Rough Crags – Cold Pike – Great Knott – Red Tarn – Pike O’ Blisco – Black Crag – Three Shire Stone

Distance: 4 miles     Total Ascent: 600 metres     Time Taken: 2 hours

Weather: Cold and clear. 2oC.

After the poor weather recently, it was nice to get a clear day and blue skies again for a walk up to Cold Pike and Pike o’ Blisco, starting from the Three Shire Stone. The wind on the summit of Cold Pike was incredibly biting, but once out of the wind and back into the sunshine it soon warmed up nicely – a lovely day for a great walk.

Pike o' Blisco.jpg
25.01.06-004.jpg
25.01.06-010.jpg
25.01.06-018.jpg
25.01.06-016.jpg
25.01.06-033.jpg
25.01.06-041.jpg
25.01.06-050.jpg
25.01.06-054.jpg
25.01.06-058.jpg
25.01.06-061.jpg
25.01.06-063.jpg
25.01.06-068.jpg
25.01.06-075.jpg
25.01.06-080.jpg
25.01.06-087.jpg
25.01.06-088.jpg
25.01.06-090.jpg
25.01.06-091.jpg
25.01.06-095.jpg
25.01.06-108.jpg
25.01.06-130.jpg

Pike o’ Blisco

Walked on 16/09/2005

Start point: Three Shire Stone (NY 277 027)

Three Shire Stone – Rough Crags – Cold Pike – Great Knott – Red Tarn – Pike O’ Blisco – Black Crag – Three Shire Stone

Distance: 4 miles     Total Ascent: 600 metres     Time Taken: 3 hours

Weather: Sunny intervals but a lot cooler. 12°C.

The weather felt distinctly colder today on this walk from the top of the Wrynose Pass to Cold Pike and Pike o’ Blisco. Today was the day John Patterson completed his round of the Wainwrights, his 214th fell being the Pike o’ Blisco, and I met up with him and a group of friends en route to help him achieve a 40 year goal and to celebrate with champagne (of course!).

 

Pike o' Blisco

Pike o' Blisco

Pike o' Blisco - 16th September 001

Cold Pike from the approach to Red Tarn.

Pike o' Blisco - 16th September 003

Harter Fell. The Wrynose Pass road can be seen snaking down the valley.

Pike o' Blisco - 16th September 005

Swirl How, Great Carrs and Grey Friar across the Wrynose Pass.

Pike o' Blisco - 16th September 009

Looking across Red Tarn to Great Knott, the Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell.

Pike o' Blisco - 16th September 011

Pike o' Blisco and Red Tarn from the ascent of Cold Pike.

Pike o' Blisco - 16th September 018

The Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell from Cold Pike.

Pike o' Blisco - 16th September 023

Great Knott from Cold Pike.

Pike o' Blisco - 16th September 033

Pike o' Blisco from Great Knott.

Pike o' Blisco - 16th September 038

Angus on the summit of Great Knott.

Pike o' Blisco - 16th September 049

Great Langdale and the Eastern Fells from Pike o' Blisco.

Pike o' Blisco - 16th September 050

The Langdale Pikes across Mickleden.

Pike o' Blisco - 16th September 047

Champagne for John Patterson on his 214th and final Wainwright, Pike o' Blisco.

Pike o' Blisco - 16th September 051

Some names to faces on the summit.

Cold Pike

Walked on 20/04/2005

Start point: Three Shire Stone (NY 277 027)

Three Shire Stone – Rough Crags – Cold Pike – Red Tarn – Pike O’ Blisco – Black Crag – Three Shire Stone

Distance: 3.5 miles     Total Ascent: 500 metres     Time Taken: 1 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Cool, slightly hazy, 6oC.

Today’s walk is a relatively easy ascent of Cold Pike and Pike O’ Blisco from the Three Shire Stone at the top of Wrynose Pass between Coniston and Langdale. Unfortunately, the sunshine and clarity of yesterday are gone again today but there were still great views over to the Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell and across Wrynose to the Coniston fells; the snow is still lingering on the higher tops.

Cold Pike

Cold Pike route map.

Cold Pike 3D

3D image of the walk route.

Cold Pike - 20th April 001

The Three Shire Stone. It marks the old county boundaries of Lancashire, Westmorland and Cumberland.

Cold Pike - 20th April 003

Looking down Wrynose to Harter Fell.

Cold Pike - panorama1

Wet Side Edge and Grey Friar from the ascent to Cold Pike.

Cold Pike - 20th April 018

Pike O' Blisco from Cold Pike.

Cold Pike - 20th April 020

Across Red Tarn to the Coniston fells.

Cold Pike - panorama5

Cold Pike - 20th April 026

Bow Fell from Pike O' Blisco, the deep chasm of Hell Gill below.

Cold Pike - panorama6_annotated_small

The Coniston Fells from Pike O' Blisco.

Cold Pike - 20th April 035

A windswept Angus on Pike O' Blisco.

Cold Pike - panorama8

Looking across the Langdale Valley to the Langdale Pikes with a snowy Helvellyn beyond.

Cold Pike - 20th April 047

Cold Pike and Little Stand from Pike O' Blisco.

Crinkle Crags

Walked on 21/06/2004

Start point: The Old Dungeon Ghyll car park (NY 286 062)

Old Dungeon Ghyll – Pike O’ Blisco (61) – Red Tarn – Cold Pike (62) – Great Knott (63) – Crinkle Crags (64 – 68) – Shelter Crags (69) – 3 Tarns – Bowfell (70) – Climbers Traverse – White Stones on The Band (71) – The Band – Old Dungeon Ghyll

Weather: Sunny with scattered showers.

Today’s round is a high ridge round with great views of the Langdale Pikes and the Scafell range. Today started off sunny, but the clouds on the tops looked ominous.

Crinkle Crags

21st June - Crinkle Crags 022

Up the tarmac from The Old Dungeon Ghyll car park, past Wall End and then a right turn onto the fell side for the ascent of Pike O' Blisco. This view of Mickleden over Wall End is from the road.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 023

The path to Pike O' Blisco is a steep stairway. This view of the Langdale Pikes is from the path. The path eventually levels out and the summit dome of Pike O' Blisco is reached by a rocky scramble.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 030

The rain set in as I reached the top. Here Windermere can be seen from Pike O' Blisco summit.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 033

Red Tarn from the descent of Pike O' Blisco. The route I took was around the far left of the tarn from this view and then straight up the side of Cold Fell following the (electric) fence all the way to the summit.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 039

Pike O' Blisco from the summit of Cold Pike. Then it's an easy descent to the main path going to Crinkle Crags and striking northwards from the path I headed for Great Knott summit.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 042

The Crinkle Crags from (a rainy) Great Knott summit. Great views of the Crinkle Crags ahead now, the main path is hard to miss.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 045

The second Crinkle, Mickle Door and the third Crinkle across Great Cove. There are five Crinkles in all, each is a separate summit. The highest summit is the second Crinkle, named Long Top. The Crinkle Crags can be a very confusing place in mist as the path does not follow a direct line. At the start of the second Crinkles ascent, there is a vertical rock face approximately 3 metres high known as 'the bad step'. This requires either climbing the rock or circumventing the step by following the path to the left flank of the buttress.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 047

The first Crinkle, left looking to the Scafells..

21st June - Crinkle Crags 052

and the Third Crinkle looking over Mickleden.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 049

Windermere from Long Top, the second Crinkle.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 054

The Langdale Pikes from the fourth Crinkle, left and the Coniston fells from the fifth Crinkle, named Gunson Knott. When walking the ridge it appears there are more than five Crinkles, indeed there seems to be seven. The first top after the Crinkles is named Shelter Crags and there is a further un-named peak just before the descent to Three Tarns.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 055

21st June - Crinkle Crags 058

Bowfell from the summit of Shelter Crags. As the cloud was clearing, I decided to press on to Bowfell.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 059

Bowfell looms over Three Tarns. The steep path can clearly be seen rising up to the summit.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 062

It was well worth climbing Bowfell for the spectacular views. Here Lingcove Beck, Hard Knott, Harter Fell and Black Combe can be seen from the summit.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 065

A distant Grasmoor, Eel Crag, Sail and Grisedale Pike over Brandreth and Allen Crags from Bowfell.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 001

Scafell, Mickledore, Scafell Pike and Ill Crag from Bowfell.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 002

Pillar from Bowfell. From here I took a different line of descent from the route of ascent. Following the path known as the climbers traverse from the summit alongside the Great Slab, a gigantic slab of steeply angled rock

21st June - Crinkle Crags 006

The Great Slab of Flat Crags

21st June - Crinkle Crags 011

Pike O' Blisco and the Coniston Fells from the climbers traverse. From the climbers traverse, a path known as The Band is joined. Just north of the path is the appropriately named White Stones.

21st June - Crinkle Crags 013

The Langdale Pikes from the summit of White Stones on The Band. Picking up The Band again, it was a simple descent to Stool End and The Old Dungeon Ghyll car park.

Crinkle Crags

Walked on 16/04/2003

Old Dungeon Ghyll – Pike O’ Blisco – Cold Pike – Crinkle Crags – Three Tarns – The Band – Old Dungeon Ghyll

Crinkle Crags1

Angus on Pike O' Blisco summit.

Cold Pike 21

...and on Cold Pike summit.

Pike O' Blisco2 16_04_031

Crinkle Crags summit.

Walking Diary

  • The Mosedale Horseshoe 01/03/2022
  • Caw 18/01/2022
  • Coniston sunset 17/01/2022
  • Blencathra 15/01/2022
  • Scafell Pike 14/01/2022

Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Information

  • Striding Edge
  • T&C’s
  • Privacy
  • Links