Height: 815 metres / 2674 feet Grid reference: NY 24972 05336

The Langdales from Shelter Crags

Shelter Crags and Bowfell from the fifth Crinkle, Gunson Knott
Height: 815 metres / 2674 feet Grid reference: NY 24972 05336
The Langdales from Shelter Crags
Shelter Crags and Bowfell from the fifth Crinkle, Gunson Knott
Walked on
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.
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.
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.
Walked on
Start point: The Old Dungeon Ghyll car park (NY 286 062)
Old Dungeon Ghyll – Oxendale – Red Tarn – Crinkle Crags – Shelter Crags – Three Tarns – Bowfell – Climbers Traverse – The Band – Old Dungeon Ghyll
Distance: 8 miles Total Ascent: 1005 metres Time Taken: 5 hours Start Time: 07:30
Weather: Cold, snow. -2oC to +10oC!
It was a beautiful weekend with lots of snow visible on the fell tops. Today was to be the day of the week according to the forecasters…well, it would have been rude not to go out!
Casper and Dougal seem to like it too. Today's story from the fells whilst I was there - a group of chaps were heading towards me, one of them to another in a rather posh voice 'Oh look, it's a shepherd with his dogs'.
Looking back to Crinkle Crags over Three Tarns from the climb - and yes, there are three tarns, the revised Pictorial Guides show a different story but you can (of course!) read all about that in The Wainwright Companion!
The Dragon's Den? Casper found this handy igloo on top of Bowfell, if you look closely it is actually made in the shape of a dragon. Casper is sat in the mouth with two eyes and two horns on top.
Walked on
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.
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.
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.
Shelter Crags and Crinkle Crags from the descent to Three Tarns...and there are three tarns again too!
Walked on
Start point: Cockley Beck (NY 246 017)
Cockley Beck – Moasdale – Lingcove Beck – Three Tarns – Shelter Crags – Crinkle Crags – Little Stand – Ulpha Fell – Cockley Beck
Distance: 6.9 miles Total Ascent: 758 metres Time Taken: 4 hours
Weather: Low cloud and rain. 15C.
The weather looked promising early on, but alas it was not to be. You have to accept that you cannot always get clear days on the fells and today was one of those days. I had an early start from Cockley Beck and it was probably too early as everywhere seemed to be a lot brighter by lunchtime. No views to take photos of today…
Black Combe. Who knew what the day would bring, it certainly looked promising if the low level mist would rise - enventually it did, but it was just not far enough!
Lingcove Beck. The walk through Moasdale had been a boggy affair and this view was about the best of the day since the start of Moasdale. Once up the steep section to Three Tarns there were still no views and the wind and rain really whipped up so I decided to miss out my intended traget of Bowfell and carry on across Crinkle Crags. That was a good navigational exercise, as ever!
Walked on
Start point: Cockley Beck (NY 246 017)
Cockley Beck – Moasdale – Lingcove Beck – Three Tarns – Bow Fell – Three Tarns – Shelter Crags – Crinkle Crags – Little Stand – Ulpha Fell – Cockley Beck
Distance: 7.5 miles Total Ascent: 940 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 45 minutes
Weather: Great winter conditions – snow, blue skies and a cold wind. 5°C.
I wasn’t sure how it would turn out today as it was a bit overcast when I set off for Bowfell from Cockley Beck at the head of the Duddon Valley. It turned out to be a fantastic day in real winter conditions and this is just how I like my walking – the going was rough, rugged and remote and the weather was quite changeable with lots of sunny spells but there was still a strong, icy cold wind. Not to worry though, it is winter after all! The icing on the cake was the climb to Bowfell in fresh snow and under a blue sky – just heaven. Thankfully I managed to get the settings in the new camera right today as well after a bit more messing about. Hopefully they will not need too much tweaking from now on.
An interesting prospect in view - Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, Little Stand towering above the Duddon Valley and the River Duddon.
Little Stand from Moasdale. The final route of descent later was along the diagonal scree gully running left to right at the right of the fell.
First sight of the high fells from the rise up from Moasdale, the Scafells covered in cloud. Esk Buttress is directly in line with Casper. I got pelted in a hail shower along here which didn't give me great hope for the rest of the days weather - but you never quite know how it will turn out...
One of the Three Tarns, completely frozen and the view to the Scafells obliterated by the low lying cloud.
Suddenly it is all starting to look good on the climb to Bowfell from Three Tarns. It was fantastic here being the first to climb the virgin snow, sometimes up to knee depth and then the sunny spells and blue sky making the day a real joy to be out.
It all looks a bit dark over that way - Bowfell's summit is to the left. Who knows what Casper is up to?!
Descending back to Three Tarns, which can be seen below with Crinkle Crags beyond. Descending this section I met a couple of 'lads' climbing to Bowfell. We had a chat and talked about a few mutual acquaintances, but the thing that struck me was their ages - 75+ if they were a day! I hope I'm still going strong at that age! (Their advice to me? 'Keep out of the wind at your age'! I don't know if that means because I am old or because I am (to them) young).
Walked on
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.
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.
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.
At the bottom of Hell Gill, I found this secluded pool an idyllic place for a bathe. Heaven Gill I'd say!
Walked on
Start point: Cockley Beck (NY 246 016)
Cockley Beck – Moasdale – Lingcove Beck – Three Tarns – Bow Fell – Climbers Traverse – Three Tarns – Shelter Crags – Crinkle Crags – Stonesty Pike – Little Stand – Ulpha Fell – Cockley Beck
Distance: 8.8 miles Total Ascent: 1127 metres Time Taken: 4 hours
Weather: Sunny and warm. 20°C.
Today was an almost unseasonally warm day, just like midsummer. I had a walk from Cockley Beck at the head of the Duddon Valley up to Bow Fell and back along the Crinkle Crags. I had forgotten how rough the terrain was, especially for a dog, but Angus seemed to take it all in his stride. There isn’t a full set of photographs today as the camera battery decided to give up along the Climbers Traverse on Bow Fell – I must remember to recharge it in future! Hopefully the photographs I did manage to capture show the flavour of the walk terrain and conditions.
Walked on
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.
Walked on
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.
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 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.
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.
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