Start point: The Old Dungeon Ghyll car park (NY 286 062)
Old Dungeon Ghyll – Mickleden – Rossett Gill – Rossett Pike – Angle Tarn – Ore Gap – Bowfell – Three Tarns – The Band – Old Dungeon Ghyll
Distance: 14 km Total Ascent: 949 metres Time Taken: 5 hours Start Time: 08:00
Weather: Sunny. 3°C
The weather has certainly been kind this week with long and sunny spells. I headed up to Bowfell in glorious sunshine, it was cooler higher up than maybe it looks and it turned into a ‘layers on, layers off’ kind of day depending on shelter from the cool breeze. There were of course many thoughts of Fletcher and it felt strange to be solo rather than with my usual sidekick.
Bowfell Route Map
Heading into Mickleden it was shaping up to be a beautiful day. It was warm and a little hazy but it certainly felt like Spring was here.
The Langdale Pikes are ever present towering above with a changing view of them as you head around the curve of the valley.
Pike o' Stickle.
Looking to the head of Mickleden with Rossett Gill and Rossett Pike to the left and Stake Pass to the right.
Closer up on Rossett Gill and Pike.
Cambridge Crag, Bowfell.
Climbing Rossett Gill I had a scout around for the Packwoman's Grave (see Wainwright 'The Southern Fells' Rossett Pike 4) dating from the late 1700's. It took a little hunting out but it was good to find it still intact.
At the top of Rossett Gill.
On top of Rossett Pike, the Mickleden cairn seems to have disappeared since last time I was here. Still a fabulous view along the length of the valley though.
Rossett Pike summit.
Angle Tarn.
Bowfell Buttress across Angle Tarn.
Rossett Pike and Angle Tarn from the path to Ore Gap.
Langstrath and beyond, what a cracking day.
Esk Pike across Ore Gap.
As I arrived at Bowfell summit, a couple of people who were there before me were leaving which meant I had the summit to myself for lunch - I think 15 minutes alone up there on a day such as this must be quite a rare occurrence but I was glad to have timed that one right! This is the lunch view to the Scafells, what a magnificent view it is from here.
...and a zoomed in view.
The north-western fells from Bowfell.
The Great Slab of Flat Crags.
A hazy view to Pike o' Blisco and Windermere to the south.
On the decent towards Three Tarns...and there are actually three tarns today!
The Scafells across one of the tarns.
This tarn is still frozen despite the sunshine.
Great Langdale from The Band.
The Langdale Pikes from the descent.
The Band and Bowfell from the valley.
Classic view of the Pikes from the Great Langdale.
John Lancaster says
You were clearly ahead of me by a couple of hours on Wednesday, I started walking at 9:30. Or maybe you were just quicker
Sean McMahon says
Hi John, I set off at 8am so just a bit earlier than you. It was a great day to be out eh? Sean
Paul Saunders-Priem says
Wonderful photos. My wife and I honeymooned up there in 1988 and we walked up there with our lads when they were little. Our eldest lad Miles still walks up there with the Summit Good Lake District walking group. He’s on the way there now from Darlington where we live .We still go up there…but not the high places! Thankyou!
Sean McMahon says
Hi Paul, great memories for you up there by the sound of it! Great to hear that Miles has taken your love of the high fells and continued walking – let’s hope he has a great day up there. Sean