Pike o’ Blisco

Walked on 28/11/2023

Three Shire Stone – Black Crag – Pike o’ Blisco – Red Tarn – Cold Pike – Red Tarn – Three Shire Stone

Distance: 6.6 km Total Ascent: 490 metres Time Taken: 2 hours 45 minutes Start Time: 07:10 (sunrise 08:00)

I must be a sucker for getting up early but once again it was well worth the effort to get up and witness this spectacular sunrise from Pike o’ Blisco. What a fantastic morning it was, freezing hanging around at the top but the advancing red sky was a sight to witness. It is a long time since I have been up this way but nice to be back and it was as good as I remember.
(Spoiler alert and apology – there are lots of ‘sky’ photos in this post!)

Dawn on the climb from Wrynose Pass - it was looking promising with clearer skies to the east.

Just before sunrise.

...and a panoramic view.

The secondary southern summit cairn.

Wow! Under a blood red sky!

Sunrise panorama.

Pike o' Blisco sunrise.

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell lit up by the rising sun.

Like a martian scene in the early morning light, looking across to the Langdales with Skiddaw in the distance.

Diffused light as the sun rises.

Moon, Bowfell and Pike o' Blisco summit.

Langdale zoom.

Even Fletcher gets the sunrise treatment.

Daylight now.

After the sunrise, there was oddly diffused light with the cloud cover. This is Pike o'Blisco main summit.

Hell Gill and Bowfell.

Fletcher takes it all in on the descent to Red Tarn. The light hadn't made it this far yet with Red Tarn being surrounded by fells and neither had any warmth. Two pairs of gloves required for this section, especially with all the 'gloves off, gloves on' going on with the camera.

There it is! First light makes it to Red Tarn as we reach the bottom of the path.

Looking across to The Langdale Pikes as we climb towards Cold Pike; Helvellyn has a dusting of snow.

Fletcher.

It its still the Golden Hour as we are on Cold Pike.

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Cold Pike.

looking towards the Duddon Valley with distant Black Combe in view and nearer Harter Fell.

Harter Fell - Devoke Water to the right.

Pike o' Blisco across Red Tarn. We did a direct descent from here which was steep but mainly grassy.

Bowfell across Red Tarn - I love this view.

A fantastic view of Red Tarn, a great vista when climbing this way (the opposite way to me!) and the path rounds the corner.

Harter Fell from the approach to Wrynose Pass.

The Three Shire Stone.

The stone about the stone.

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

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 across Duddon Grains.

Harter Fell and Wrynose Pass.

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

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

The Three Amigos.

Little Stand.

Pike o' Blisco from an icy pool.

Into the sun - Windermere and Wetherlam.

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

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from the summit.

Clear as clear can be this morning.

Skiddaw and Blencathra from Cold Pike.

Bowfell.

The Langdale Pikes.

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

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

The two summit cairns, left and right.

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell.

Looking down to Wrynose Bottom and the Duddon Valley.

The view from the steep descent.

It's still cold up here despite the sunshine.

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

Red Tarn.

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

Looking across (yet another) frozen pool.

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 route map.

...Harter Fell perhaps?

...or maybe Hardknott?

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

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.

Harter Fell along Wrynose Pass.

The Coniston fells across Wrynose Pass.

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

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

Red Tarn.

The view to Bowfell along Red Tarn.

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

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

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.

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from the summit of Cold Pike.

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

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

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell panoramic.

Casper and Dougal check out the fine view.

Skiddaw beyond the summit cairn on Cold Pike.

Looking across to Harter Fell and Little Stand.

Mighty Bowfell.

Close up on the Crinkles and Bowfell.

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

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

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

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Pike o' Blisco summit.

A 180 degree view from Pike o' Blisco.

Great Langdale.

The Langdale Pikes and High Raise.

Bowfell and the summit of Pike o' Blisco.

Pike o' Stickle.

The Coniston fells.

The Needle, Black Crag plus climber.

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

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.

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

Early morning sunshine and cloud on Bowfell.

Crinkle Crags over Wall End Farm.

Golden Casper.

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

Blue skies over Pike o' Blisco.

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

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

Cold Pike over Red Tarn with a distant Black Combe.

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Red Tarn.

The Crinkles from Cold Pike...

...just follow the superhighway.

The second and third Crinkles from the first.

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

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.

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

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.

Scafell Pike.

The clouds over Esk Hause.

Bowfell from Shelter Crags.

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

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

All clear on the Scafells now from Bowfell summit.

All was cloudy to the north and into Langstrath.

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

Looking up to the Crinkles from Buscoe.

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

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

The same view from further along the path.

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!

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.

Cold Pike from Three Shire Stone.

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

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

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

Casper enjoys the view, not the swim.

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

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

Casper - hot on Cold Pike.

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

The Langdale Pikes across Mickleden.

Bow Fell.

Pike of Stickle.

Pike o' Blisco with its prominent summit cairn.

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

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

One way to keep cool.

A silhouette of the Coniston fells across Red Tarn.

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

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

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.

Harter Fell along Wrynose Pass.

Cold Pike ahead with one of the Crinkle Crags showing to the right.

Great Knott and Bow Fell across Red Tarn.

Bow Fell.

Is it nice to have a sit in the sunshine Angus?

Pike o' Stickle across Mickleden.

Cold Pike lives up to its name - there was a cold, biting wind on this summit.

Pike o' Blisco with a glimpse of Red Tarn below.

Little Stand.

The Langdale Pikes from Cold Pike summit.

A close-up of the Langdale Pikes.

Pike o' Blisco from the ascent of Great Knott.

The Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell from Great Knott.

The great gash of Hell Gill leading up to Bow Fell.

Bow Fell.

Pike o' Stickle.

The Third Crinkle.

The Langdale Valley.

A panoramic shot to the north with Glaramara in the centre and Sergeant's Crag catching the sun to the right.

The Langdale Valley with Lingmoor Fell in the foreground right from Pike o' Blisco.

Cold Pike across Red Tarn.

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

Cold Pike from the approach to Red Tarn.

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

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

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

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

The Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell from Cold Pike.

Great Knott from Cold Pike.

Pike o' Blisco from Great Knott.

Angus on the summit of Great Knott.

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

The Langdale Pikes across Mickleden.

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

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 route map.

3D image of the walk route.

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

Looking down Wrynose to Harter Fell.

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

Pike O' Blisco from Cold Pike.

Across Red Tarn to the Coniston fells.

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

The Coniston Fells from Pike O' Blisco.

A windswept Angus on Pike O' Blisco.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

The first Crinkle, left looking to the Scafells..

and the Third Crinkle looking over Mickleden.

Windermere from Long Top, the second Crinkle.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

The Great Slab of Flat Crags

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.

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

Angus on Pike O' Blisco summit.

...and on Cold Pike summit.

Crinkle Crags summit.