A circuit of a selection of fells & valleys of central & northern Lakeland

Day 3 the ODG Langdale to Seatoller Borrowdale 10miles 3230ft

Having recently discovered there is now an early bus service into Langdale I caught the 6.20am from Ambleside to the Old Dungeon Ghyll hotel and arrived before sunrise

Setting off north into Mickleden valley with Crinkle Crags on the horizon....

.... Rossett Ghyll my first climb in darkness ahead, just a hint of red in clouds....

However back down the valley the sun was just coming over the slopes of Pike 'o' Stickle.... 

....and lighting up Bowfell and Esk Pike

Now in full sunshine I climbed up beside Rossett Ghyll....

....with a fine view down into Mickleden.....

....and again from the top of the Ghyll

Once over the top the path descends to Angle tarn with the climb to Esk Hause on the horizon

Passing Angle tarn....

....before climbing to Esk Hause with Great Gable on the horizon. 

Zooming in on Great Hells Gate on Great Gable's south slopes. 

Esk Hause is where most walkers turn east to continue to Scafell pike however my route was going west to climb Allen Crags....

....with a view to the Langdale pikes on the way....

Springling tarn from Allen Crags summit.....

....and ahead along the broad ridge to Glaramara summit

Lincomb tarns with Langdale pikes again

Looking down into Grains Gill and Seathwaite.....

....before arriving at Glaramara Summit shelter

Now descending to Borrowdale with Derwentwater and Castle Crag in view

Looking back to Glaramara

Almost down in the Borrowdale valley.... 

....and finally Seatoller my destination for the bus to Keswick and then back to Ambleside for the car home

Another splendid day's walking for 'day 3'. Unfortunately the sunshine didn't last but at least it stayed warm and dry all day! 

Watch this space for next week's 'day 4'

 A circuit of a selection of fells & valleys of central & northern Lakeland

Day 2 Grasmere to Langdale via Easedale, Blea Rigg, and the Langdale Pikes. 9miles 3150ft

Leaving Grasmere village....

....and walking up Easedale as the sun appears....

.....Sour Milk Gill ahead

The path climbs beside the falls with this pool often used for a dip after a walk on a hot day

Looking back down Easedale from above the falls

Easedale tarn with a perfect reflection in the still early morning

The path continues beside the tarn....

....with Belles Knott on the horizon, Wainwright refers to this as the 'Matterhorn' of Lakeland!....

I'd passed it many times before but this was my first visit to its summit...and well worth it for the view including Easedale tarn

My route continued over Blea Rigg with the view ahead to Pavey Ark and Stickle tarn....

....and behind to Fairfield on the route of last week's walk

I descended to Stickle tarn before climbing the North Rake to Pavey Ark's summit ridge

I stopped for my lunch on the summit looking down to Stickle tarn with Lingmoor fell behind

My next climb was Pike O Stickle ahead....

....its only a short climb...

....but affords some great views...including Bow fell with its 'Great Slab'....

....and through this crevice to Langdale vallley....

Looking across the valley to 'The Band'....

....and along the ridge edge to my next climb, Loft Crag

Now on Loft Crag summit looking north to the Skiddaw range...

....and back to Pike O Stickle....

....and Blea tarn in Little Langdale

I took the 'Mark Gate' path down to Langdale and was watching the farmer screaming at his dog for having herded his sheep onto this precarious rock....

....however the dog was forgiven when it did eventually get them lined up down the path!

A final look back up Dungeon Ghyll before.... 

arriving the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel for my lift back to the car.

This had been a fabulous day's walking. The weather was perfect, cool but sunny all day long. The air clarity helped also to produce magnificnet views of Lakeland at its very best! 

A new long distance walk

A circuit of a selection of central &  northern fells & valleys.

DAY One Hartsop to Grasmere via Dovedale, Dove crag, Hart crag, Fairfield, Grisedale tarn & Great Tongue 9 miles 2900ft

Setting off early morning along the side of Brotherswater after leaving the bus at Hartsop

Looking back down the path

Hartsop Dodd (fell) south east across the valley...

....and Angletarn pikes to the north east

....continuing up Dovedale with Dove crag now on the horizon.....

....and alongside Dovedale beck...

....now crossing the beck....

....and climbing to the waterfalls...

....and again a little higher

Zooming in on Dove crag with the priest's hole (cave) 

Zooming in further on the Priest's Hole

Looking back down Dovedale....

....and again...

....and again

....now on the summit ridge looking to Fairfield

Looking to Ambleside and lake Windermere from Rydal Head

It was pouring with rain on Fairfield so no photos until Grisedale tarn came into view on the descent

Seat Sandal and Grisedale tarn again

Looking down Tongue Gill....

....with Grasmere in the valley

The base of Great Tongue meeting Tongue Gill 

Finally arriving at the Swan hotel in Grasmere

A great first day's walking on my planned circuit, just a shame about the cloud and rain on Fairfield.

Watch this space for the next leg of the circuit!