31st March 2019 - Bowfell, Crinkle Crags and Cold Pike
Walk Details
Distance walked: 9.1 miles
Total ascent: 3583 ft
OS map used: OL6 - The English Lakes, Southwestern area
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: NT car park, Stickle Barn-Old Dungeon Ghyll-Stool End Farm-The Band-Three Tarns-Bowfell-Three Tarns-Crinkle Crags-Cold Pike-Browney Gill-Brown Howe-Oxendale-Stool End Farm-Old Dungeon Ghyll-NT car park, Stickle Barn
It's been a long nine months since my last walk in the Lake District. If I want to make progress with completing my second round of Wainwrights then I better go up there a bit more often. I decided to do an old favourite today, Crinkle Crags and Bowfell, but I had to try and include a Wainwright that would count towards the second round as I've visited both Crinkle Crags and Bowfell twice since I completed the first one. Fortunately Cold Pike is an easy one to include with it being just a short distance off the main path to Crinkle Crags. My previous and only visit to Cold Pike was in October 2009. I enjoyed a fine spring day for this walk with plenty of sunshine as I set off in the morning, though the skies tended to cloud over during the afternoon. With a brisk breeze on the tops it felt pretty cold when the sun went in.
From the NT car park at Stickle Barn I followed the path west across fields to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. I then crossed the bridge in front of Middle Fell Farm and followed the access road to Stool End Farm, where after making my way through the farmyard I took the footpath up The Band. From Three Tarns at the top of The Band I made my way up to the summit of Bowfell. After taking a break for lunch I descended back to Three Tarns and took the path south across Crinkle Crags. Once down from the last crinkle I followed the main path towards Browney Gill for a while before leaving it to head off to the right for Cold Pike. After visiting Cold Pike's various tops I made my way back to the path down Browney Gill to follow it down into Oxendale, then across the footbridge over Oxendale Beck and to Stool End Farm. From Stool End Farm I retraced my steps back to the car park.
Total ascent: 3583 ft
OS map used: OL6 - The English Lakes, Southwestern area
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: NT car park, Stickle Barn-Old Dungeon Ghyll-Stool End Farm-The Band-Three Tarns-Bowfell-Three Tarns-Crinkle Crags-Cold Pike-Browney Gill-Brown Howe-Oxendale-Stool End Farm-Old Dungeon Ghyll-NT car park, Stickle Barn
It's been a long nine months since my last walk in the Lake District. If I want to make progress with completing my second round of Wainwrights then I better go up there a bit more often. I decided to do an old favourite today, Crinkle Crags and Bowfell, but I had to try and include a Wainwright that would count towards the second round as I've visited both Crinkle Crags and Bowfell twice since I completed the first one. Fortunately Cold Pike is an easy one to include with it being just a short distance off the main path to Crinkle Crags. My previous and only visit to Cold Pike was in October 2009. I enjoyed a fine spring day for this walk with plenty of sunshine as I set off in the morning, though the skies tended to cloud over during the afternoon. With a brisk breeze on the tops it felt pretty cold when the sun went in.
From the NT car park at Stickle Barn I followed the path west across fields to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. I then crossed the bridge in front of Middle Fell Farm and followed the access road to Stool End Farm, where after making my way through the farmyard I took the footpath up The Band. From Three Tarns at the top of The Band I made my way up to the summit of Bowfell. After taking a break for lunch I descended back to Three Tarns and took the path south across Crinkle Crags. Once down from the last crinkle I followed the main path towards Browney Gill for a while before leaving it to head off to the right for Cold Pike. After visiting Cold Pike's various tops I made my way back to the path down Browney Gill to follow it down into Oxendale, then across the footbridge over Oxendale Beck and to Stool End Farm. From Stool End Farm I retraced my steps back to the car park.
Route map
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.
Pike of Blisco, Crinkle Crags and Bowfell as I follow the path from Stickle Barn to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel
Passing Middle Fell Farm
A fantastic view in front of me as I head for Stool End Farm
The Langdale Pikes to my right
Looking back down on Great Langdale as I start the climb up The Band
and across Mickleden to the Langdale Pikes
The Crinkle Crags ahead
Looking down The Band to Lingmoor Fell
Pike of Blisco on the other side of Oxendale
Crinkle Crags..
..and Bowfell as I near the top of The Band
Plus, the view opens out to the north to Glaramara, Skiddaw and Blencathra
Looking back down The Band to Great Langdale as I reach Three Tarns
The Scafells from Three Tarns
There's a chilly look to the view across to the Langdale Pikes
Crinkle Crags and Three Tarns as I climb the path up Bowfell
A distant Windermere plus Pike of Blisco
Looking down into Eskdale
One of the few remaining patches of snow that's left on the fells. It's not been a snowy winter.
The Coniston fells and Crinkle Crags from above the patch of snow
The Great Slab backed by the Langdale Pikes. A unique feature and view on Bowfell that shouldn't be missed.
On the summit of Bowfell and it's time for a break. There's a chilly breeze but it doesn't feel too bad when the sun's out and there's a fantastic all round view to take in. Starting with looking down Eskdale to Harter Fell and a distant Black Combe.
The Coniston fells behind Crinkle Crags
Helvellyn and Fairfield in the distance
The Langdale Pikes, Great Langdale, Lingmoor Fell and Windermere
Scafell, Scafell Pike, Ill Crag and Great End
Grasmoor, Grisedale Pike, Bowfell's north top and the ridge to Glaramara, Skiddaw, Blencathra and Langstrath
The Helvellyn range, Fairfield, High Raise and the Langdale Pikes
Finally, Great End, Esk Pike, the northwestern fells, Skiddaw and Glaramara
Mickleden and the Langdale Pikes as I head back down to Three Tarns
The frozen folds of an ancient lava flow
Bowfell Links above one of the Three Tarns
A fantastic view of the Scafells and Bowfell as I make my way through Shelter Crags
Pike of Stickle, Great Langdale, Lingmoor Fell and Pike of Blisco from the third crinkle
Scafell, Scafell Pike, Ill Crag, Great End, Esk Pike and Bowfell
Windermere behind Pike of Blisco
It's a short walk from the third crinkle to reach Long Top, the highest crinkle. A view down Eskdale from the summit.
Scafell, Scafell Pike, Ill Crag, Great End, Esk Pike and Bowfell
Bowfell, then Skiddaw and Blencathra with Ullscarf and the Dodds on the right
Helvellyn, Fairfield and High Street in the distance
Pike of Blisco with the Coniston fells behind the next crinkle
A great view looking down Oxendale and Great Langdale from the last crinkle
Long Top and the third crinkle
Pike of Blisco and Red Tarn, with sunshine on Cold Pike, which will be my next destination
Scafell and Scafell Pike
Looking south past Little Stand to Caw, Stickle Pike, the Duddon Valley and Harter Fell
Great Langdale
|
and Pike of Blisco
|
Spot the paraglider above the crinkle
Looking north along the crinkles
On the path south off Crinkle Crags and I'll soon leave it to head across to Cold Pike on the right
Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from the south top of Cold Pike
and the same again from the highest top
Sunshine on the Langdale Pikes
On another top of Cold Pike. Looking back to the highest with a distant view to Skiddaw, Helvellyn and Fairfield.
There's a great view of the Langdale Pikes as I make my way back to the path down by Browney Gill..
I think this view of Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from the path by Browney Gill down to Brown Howe is even better....
Oxendale and Great Langdale below from Brown Howe
The Crinkle Crags from the footbridge over Oxendale Beck
Looking back to Crinkle Crags, The Band and Bowfell from the track to Stool End Farm
My final shot is of the same view from the path from the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel back to Stickle Barn