Walks from Great Langdale
The walks you can reach from Great Langdale — the routes that start within about 5 km, and the Wainwright and Outlying fells within the same radius, ranked nearest first. Each fell carries today’s conditions and the bus where there is one. Planning the trip? See the full Great Langdale guide for parking, buses and where to stay.
5 of the fells here are rated good to climb on 11 September — see live conditions →
A prediction from our daily fell score, not a guarantee — always check the mountain forecast before you go.
Map
● routes · ● fells within ~5 km
An interactive map of the route start points and the fells within about 5 km. Each marker links to its page; the same routes and fells are listed below.
Walking routes near Great Langdale
- Langdale Pikes Round 0.9 km away12.3 km~830 m~3.9 hModerateA grand round of the Langdale Pikes and the fells behind them. From Great Langdale it climbs past Stickle Tarn to take in Pavey Ark (by the walkers' line, not Jack's Rake), Harrison Stickle, Pike of Stickle and Loft Crag, then loops over Thunacar Knott, High Raise and Sergeant Man before dropping back to the valley. It's a simpler line than my previous version, which added Blea Rigg — boggy on the approach from Sergeant Man. Handily, there are toilets at the car park at the end.
- Langdale Horseshoe 1 km away20.2 km~1497 m~6.5 hSevereThe full Langdale Horseshoe — fifteen tops, 1,500 m of ascent and one of the hardest days in the Lakes that involves no rope. The Langdale Pikes, Bowfell, the whole Crinkle Crags ridge and Pike of Blisco in a single round. It is long, rough, and the Crinkles will try to lead you down the wrong side. Do not start it late.
- Rossett Pike, Allen Crags, Great End and more 1.7 km away17.7 km~1176 m~5.5 hA five-summit traverse of the high central ground, taking in Rossett Pike, Allen Crags, Great End, Esk Pike and Bowfell. The 1,176 m of ascent is spread over 17.7 km so no stage averages more than about 10%, but exposure is rated hard and the rock underfoot barely lets up. Around 5.5 hours.
- Esk Pike and Great End 1.8 km away17.7 km~1099 m~5.4 hEsk Pike and Great End, the two big tops at the head of Eskdale, reached by a 17.7 km round with 1,099 m of climbing. Nothing on it averages steeper than about 11%: the difficulty is the scale rather than any one pull, and both navigation and exposure are rated only moderate. Allow around 5.4 hours.
- The Old Dungeon Ghyll Pub Walk (Great Langdale) 1.8 km away6.6 km~106 m~1.5 hEasy🏞️ EasyAn easy, near-level loop of the Great Langdale valley floor from the Old Dungeon Ghyll, walked entirely beneath the Langdale Pikes — Pike o' Stickle and Harrison Stickle rearing up on one side, Bowfell and the Band on the other. Barely a hundred metres of up-and-down across 6.6 km, so it's a proper leg-stretch with all of the drama and almost none of the grind — and it begins and ends at the pub.
- Blea Tarn (Little Langdale) 2.1 km away2.7 km~34 m~0.6 h🏞️ EasyA short, lovely loop around little Blea Tarn, with the classic view of the Langdale Pikes mirrored in the water — one of the most photographed scenes in the Lakes for very little effort.
- Elterwater & Skelwith Force 2.8 km away7.6 km~164 m~1.8 h🏞️ EasyA riverside walk from pretty Elterwater past Skelwith Force to the reedy shores of Elter Water, with the Langdale Pikes filling the skyline — gentle, varied and largely level.
- Lingmoor Fell from Elterwater 2.8 km away11.5 km~487 m~3.1 hModerateThe best low fell in Langdale, and the one that shows you the valley properly. Lingmoor sits between Great and Little Langdale, so the Pikes rear up across the dale in front of you the whole way along the ridge. Side Pike at the far end throws in a famous rock squeeze. Half the effort of the big Langdale rounds and arguably a better view of them.
- Loughrigg Tarn & Loughrigg Fell 2.8 km away9.8 km~382 m~2.6 hModerate🏞️ EasyA big little walk: the classic loop taking in reed-fringed Loughrigg Tarn and the knobbly top of Loughrigg Fell, with one of the finest low-level views in the Lakes — Windermere, Grasmere and the Langdale Pikes all at once. Under 400 m of climb, endlessly varied, and grand for dogs.
- Elterwater riverside loop 2.8 km away4.3 km~91 m~1 hEasy🏞️ EasyA short, near-level loop from Elterwater village along the River Brathay — easy, pretty and quick, with the Langdale Pikes ahead and plenty of water for a hot dog. A gentle leg-stretch or a lazy family afternoon.
- Slater Bridge & Cathedral Cave 3.1 km away2.2 km~92 m~0.6 h🏞️ EasyA short, characterful loop from Little Langdale over the slate Slater Bridge and up to the cavernous Cathedral Cave, a relic of the old quarries. Uneven, rocky quarry ground in places — and a torch helps inside the cave.
- West of Grasmere 3.4 km away15.4 km~806 m~4.4 hSix tops on the rough ground west of Grasmere — Tarn Crag, Codale Head, Sergeant Man, Blea Rigg and Swinescar Pike — in 15.4 km with 806 m of climbing. Hard for length and steepness; about 4.4 hours.
- Helm Crag & Far Easedale 3.7 km away15.9 km~850 m~4.6 hThe full skyline of Far Easedale from Grasmere — Helm Crag's rocky top first, then Gibson Knott, Calf Crag and Steel Fell around the rim of the valley. A long day at 15.9 km, and the head of Easedale can be vague in cloud.
- Grasmere lake circuit 3.7 km away5.7 km~95 m~1.3 h🏞️ EasyA gentle circuit of Grasmere lake from the village — easy field paths along the eastern shore and undulating woodland on the west, with the fells reflected in the water and Wordsworth's Grasmere all around. About 4 miles, almost no climbing.
- Grasmere to Easdale Tarn 3.7 km away9.5 km~237 m~2.3 hEasy🏞️ EasyOne of Lakeland’s loveliest short valley walks — from Grasmere village up the green trough of Easdale to its hidden tarn, ringed by crags with Sourmilk Gill tumbling down beside the path. Gentle underfoot with just enough climb to feel earned, and a firm favourite with dogs.
- Stone Arthur from Grasmere 3.7 km away6.8 km~516 m~2.2 hThe steep little top above Grasmere, out and back in 6.8 km with 516 m of climbing. Easy for length, navigation and exposure — it is the gradient that makes it, rated hard. About 2.2 hours.
- Castle How & Lang How - Birketts 3.7 km away10.9 km~445 m~2.9 hLang How, Swinescar Pike and Castle How on the knolly ground above Grasmere — 10.9 km and 445 m, nothing steeper than about 10% on average, but rated hard to navigate among the hummocks. Just under three hours.
- Helm Crag, Gibson Knott, Calf Crag, Steel Fell and Tarn Crag 3.7 km away20.8 km~910 m~5.7 hThe full Far Easedale horseshoe from Grasmere, and a longer, wetter day than Helm Crag alone suggests. The true summit — the Howitzer — needs an exposed scramble, and beyond Gibson Knott the ground turns to peat hags and bog that stay wet in all seasons, with Brownrigg Moss the hardest crossing of the day.
- Black Sails & Great How 4.5 km away10.8 km~773 m~3.4 hSix tops on the Coniston skyline — Hell Gill Pike, Little Carrs, Great Carrs, Swirl How and Great How — in 10.8 km with 773 m of climbing and one stage averaging 19%. Hard for navigation and exposure; about 3.4 hours.
- Stonesty Pike, Great Knott & Wrynose Fell 4.6 km away13.6 km~1033 m~4.4 hFive tops on the rough ground between Wrynose and Cold Pike — 13.6 km and 1,033 m, severe for steepness and hard for both navigation and exposure. About 4.4 hours.
Fells within about 5 km
- Blea Rigg 1.6 km away542 m~2.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inBlea Rigg at 541m (1,775ft) is a craggy, complex ridge above Easedale and Langdale, giving excellent views down into Great Langdale from its rocky summit.
- Lingmoor Fell (Brown How) 1.7 km away470 m~2.5 h🚌 BusDecent · 70Dry, firm underfootLingmoor Fell at 469m (1,539ft) is a heathery ridge between Great Langdale and Little Langdale, its summit giving one of the finest aerial views of Great Langdale available from any low fell.
- Silver How 2.1 km away394 m~2 h🚌 BusDecent · 74DrySilver How at 395m (1,296ft) is a delightful, rocky little summit above Grasmere and Chapel Stile, its summit giving one of the finest views of Grasmere and the surrounding fells from any low-level viewpoint in the district.
- Harrison Stickle 2.5 km away735 m~3 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inHarrison Stickle at 736m (2,415ft) is the highest and most prominent of the Langdale Pikes, a magnificent crag-crowned summit that dominates the head of Great Langdale and is one of the most recognisable profiles in English fell walking.
- Pavey Ark 2.5 km away702 m~3 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inPavey Ark at 700m (2,297ft) is the great crag above Stickle Tarn in Great Langdale — its massive cliff face dropping nearly 100m from rim to tarn and offering some of the finest rock climbing in the Lake District.
- Loft Crag 2.8 km away682 m~3 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inLoft Crag at 682m (2,237ft) is the smallest and least visited of the Langdale Pikes, sitting between Pike of Stickle and Harrison Stickle on the western side of the Pikes circuit.
- Thunacar Knott 3 km away723 m~3 h🚌 BusDecent · 63DryThunacar Knott at 723m (2,372ft) is the broad, grassy summit between Harrison Stickle and High Raise, often crossed without recognition on the way between the Langdale Pikes and the High Raise plateau.
- Tarn Crag (Easedale) 3 km away549 m~2.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inTarn Crag at 583m (1,913ft) above Easedale is a craggy little summit above the head of the Sour Milk Gill path from Grasmere.
- Sergeant Man 3.1 km away736 m~3 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inSergeant Man at 736m (2,415ft) is the subsidiary summit of High Raise above Langdale, a rocky outcrop on the rim of the plateau with outstanding views of the Langdale valley and the Pikes below.
- Pike of Stickle 3.2 km away708 m~3 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inPike of Stickle at 709m (2,326ft) is the most distinctive of the Langdale Pikes — a soaring, pointed summit of volcanic rock that thrusts skyward above the head of Langdale.
- Helm Crag 3.8 km away405 m~2 h🚌 BusDecent · 70Dry, firm underfootHelm Crag at 405m (1,329ft) is one of the most famous and distinctive summits in Lakeland — the jagged, rocky outline known as 'The Lion and the Lamb' visible from Grasmere below.
- Pike of Blisco 3.9 km away703 m~3 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inPike of Blisco at 705m (2,313ft) is a shapely, rocky little summit above the head of Great Langdale, beloved by Wainwright for its excellent views and its distinctive, pointed profile when seen from the valley.
- High Raise (High White Stones) 4 km away762 m~3.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inHigh Raise at 762m (2,500ft) is the central summit of the Lake District — literally and figuratively.
- Gibson Knott 4 km away420 m~2 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inGibson Knott at 420m (1,378ft) is a craggy, pleasant little summit on the ridge above Greenburn above Grasmere, giving good views of the valley and Helm Crag to the south.
- Calf Crag 4.1 km away537 m~2.5 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inCalf Crag at 537m (1,762ft) is the northernmost summit of the Central Fells above Greenburn, a rocky top giving fine views down into Wythburn and north to the Helvellyn range.
- Loughrigg Fell 4.4 km away335 m~2 h🚌 BusDecent · 68DryLoughrigg Fell at 335m (1,099ft) is one of the most beloved and visited fells in the Lake District, a complex heathery mass rising between Ambleside, Grasmere and Elterwater.
- Cold Pike 4.9 km away700 m~3 h🚌 BusMarginal · 40Summit likely clagged inCold Pike at 701m (2,300ft) is a rocky little summit on the ridge between Pike of Blisco and Crinkle Crags, its three small tops each providing slightly different views.
Distances are straight-line from the centre of Great Langdale — ‘within ~5 km’ means as the crow flies, not that the walk necessarily starts there. Always plan your own route and check the bus before you travel.