Height: 572 metres / 1877 feet Grid reference: NY 23000 05786
Dougal and Casper on High Gait Crags
High Gait Crags
Esk Pike
Start Point: Cockley Beck (NY 246 016)
Cockley Beck – Moasdale – Lingcove Beck – High Gait Crags – Yeastyrigg Crags – Pike de Bield – Esk Pike – Ore Gap – Bowfell – Three Tarns – Shelter Crags – Crinkle Crags – Stonesty Pike – Little Stand – Ulpha Fell – Cockley Beck
Distance: 9 miles Total Ascent: 1013 metres Time Taken: 6 hours Start Time: 07:30
Weather: Lovely, 21°C
It was perfect summer weather for a walk up to Esk Pike from Cockley Beck – this is definitely the quiet way to do these fells and I didn’t see anyone until 3 Tarns and then one or two on Crinkle Crags. By the end I was completely boiled, but hey – not complaining! This walk will feature in Trail magazine later this year.
First sight of the Scafells from Moasdale this morning - lovely.
Scafell and Scafell Pike before heading down to cross Lingcove Beck.
The south ridge to Esk Pike in the foreground.
Close up on Scafell Pike, Scafell to the left and Ill Crag to the right.
Scafells panorama.
Fine views from High Gait Crags.
Mono Pike.
The King of the Fells and the fell that is king.
Looking back along the ridge to Hard Knott and Harter Fell.
The Lion King.
Climbing higher across Yeastyrigg Crags.
Looking across Pike de Bield to the Scafells. Further along from Pike de Bield is a large cairn (marked 'memorial cairn' on 2nd edition Wainwright's), the brass plaque on it says 'Gerry Charnley 1929 - 1982.
Langstrath from Esk Pike summit. Esk Pike and Bowfell were swirling in and out of the mist all morning and it was a shock to hit the cold air.
Heading for Bowfell across Ore Gap.
The dark outline is the south ridge of Esk Pike (just climbed) and beyond is the finest view of the Scafells of all, taken from Bowfell.
The Great Slab of Flat Crags and the Langdales.
Crinkle Crags across Three Tarns.
Down at the tarns and a chance for Dougal to cool off.
Pike o' Blisco, Windermere beyond from Crinkle Crags.
The highest swimmer in England at 854m in Crinkle Crags Tarn.
Rounding Long Top, Dougal checks out the way across the fifth (or first!) Crinkle and over to Stonesty Pike and Little Stand.
Great Langdale.
Stonesty Pike summit - I think Birkett got the wrong one when he chose it.
Beautiful weather and pools on Little Stand.
The Duddon Valley from the descent of Little Stand.
Looking back up from the road - there is a way down somewhere!
Bowfell
Start point: Cockley Beck (NY 246 017)
Cockley Beck – Moasdale – Lingcove Beck – High Gait Crags – Yeastyrigg Crags – Pike de Bield – Esk Pike – Ore Gap – Bowfell – Three Tarns – Shelter Crags – Crinkle Crags – Adam-a-Cove – Moasdale – Cockley Beck
Distance: 9.3 miles Total Ascent: 1013 metres Time Taken: 5 hours 15 minutes Start Time: 06:40
Weather: Sunny spells, warm. 19ºC
Today’s weather promised much but ended up being a mixed bag with clouds swirling in and out throughout the walk. Despite this it was really still and warm and very clear making it a good day to explore this quiet and remote area at the head of Eskdale.
Bowfell route map.
Heading into Moasdale it looks like a promising morning.
Looking back to Grey Friar across Cockley Beck.
First sight of the Scafells. Mmm, they look quite tempting!
Gateway to heaven.
A great sheet of cloud was moving across from the east by the time I reached the head of Moasdale, Esk Pike and Bowfell ahead.
The route to Esk Pike is along the central ridge via High Gait Crags and Pike de Bield Moss.
Crossing Lingcove Beck.
Scafell Pike, Broad Crag and Ill Crag from Low Gait Crags.
Pike de Bield Moss, the route to Esk Pike via the south ridge.
The heads of state - Scafell and Scafell Pike.
Scafells panorama.
Long Green reflection.
Scafell in sunshine now.
Dougal and Casper on High Gait Crags.
Scafell Pike and Pen.
Scafell Pikes reflected.
On the summit of Pike de Bield. It was interesting to see how the clouds were forming around Scafell as I climbed.
The route to Esk Pike from Pike de Bield, clear for now but by the time I got there it was enveloped by clouds.
Looking through the mist to Bowfell, right.
Smoking fells in mono.
Langstrath from Esk Pike.
Skiddaw and Derwent Water across Glaramara.
The clouds swirling around Scafell Pike.
Angle Tarn and Rossett Pike from the descent to Ore Gap.
A panoramic view across Ore Gap to Esk Pike from the climb to Bowfell.
Looking northwards from Bowfell, that way looks to be the clearest today, from Grasmoor to Skiddaw.
The summit of Bowfell.
The Langdale Pikes beyond The Great Slab of Flat Crags.
Crinkle Crags through there somewhere.
Shelter Crags and Crinkle Crags from the descent to Three Tarns...and there are three tarns again too!
Bowfell Links.
Bowfell from the climb to Shelter Crags.
Shelter Crags and Bowfell from the fifth Crinkle, Gunson Knott.
Hell Gill, The Band and Great Langdale.
Clearing over the Scafells once more but Dougal is too busy planning our route to look. The central darker ridge is the one used to climb Esk Pike.
The first and second Crinkle from the third.
Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Long Top, the summit of Crinkle Crags.
Dougal and Casper summit Crinkle Crags.
Crinkle Crags Tarn, at 854m it is the highest tarn in the Lake District and in England.
At the foot of the Bad Step.
Crinkle Crags.
Great Langdale and Pike o' Blisco, Windermere beyond.
Dougal slides down Adam-a-Cove.
Esk Pike and Yeastyrigg Gill.
Back into Moasdale looking at Bowfell and Crinkle Crags.
Bow Fell
Start point: Cockley Beck (NY 246 016)
Cockley Beck – Moasdale – Lingcove Beck – High Gait Crags (254) – Yeastyrigg Crags – Pike de Bield (255) – Esk Pike (256) – Ore Gap – Bow Fell – Three Tarns – Shelter Crags – Crinkle Crags – Stonesty Pike (257) – Little Stand (258) – Ulpha Fell – Cockley Beck
Weather: Mainly clear interspersed with cloud and a biting wind on the tops. Snow above 600m.
Today’s walk was a l o n g walk from Cockley Beck to Esk Pike and Bow Fell. The long, boggy run in along Moasdale was helped by the spectacular views (the best?) of Bow Fell, Esk Pike and the Crinkle Crags. The Sca Fells were in cloud all day so I didn’t get to see to much of them , unfortunately. I really rated this walk – thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.
Bow Fell route map.
Elevation profile of the route. Key: HGC=High Gait Crags, PdB=Pike de Bield, EP=Esk Pike, BF=Bow Fell, SC=Shelter Crags, CC=Crinkle Crags, SP= Stonesty Pike, LS= Little Stand
3D image of the walk route.
Looking back along Moasdale.
Esk Pike and Bow Fell from above Lingcove Beck.
The mighty Bow Fell.
Esk Butress on Scafell Pike from High Gait Crags.
The River Esk and Great Moss from Pike de Bield.
A frozen Esk Pike summit.
The Langdales and Mickleden from the ascent of Bow Fell.
A contrast in colours - Lingcove Beck from Bow Fell summit.
'The Bad Step', right of centre, used in descent from the second Crinkle.
The Crinkle Crags from Stonesty Pike.
Pike O' Blisco and Cold Pike from Little Stand.
Cockley Beck Bridge.