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17.69 km · ~1099 m ascent · ~5–7 h · loop · 2 summits

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Esk Pike and Great End

17.69 km
Distance
~5–7 h
Typical time
~1099 m
Ascent
2
Summits
Download GPX →Maps & guidebooks

Key facts

Distance 17.69 km
Ascent ~1099 m
Descent ~1098 m
Time ~5–7 h
Type Loop
A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass.

Difficulty profile

LengthHard17.69 km — a long day out.
SteepnessHardSteepest sustained pull about 33% around the 13.7 km mark.
TerrainModerateMostly good mountain path. desk assessment — not field-verified
NavigationModerateClear line, hard to stray. desk assessment — not field-verified
ExposureNot assessedExposure (drops, scrambling, how bad a slip would be) can’t be judged from gradient data alone, so we don’t guess. A rating appears once the route is editorially assessed or walked.

Five independent axes, not one score. “Desk” ratings come from maps and guidebooks, not yet walked — treat them as a guide, not a survey.

Conditions on this route

We score every Lakeland Wainwright each morning on cloud, wind, rain and underfoot, and this route crosses 2 of them. The worst summit governs the verdict — a route is only as kind as its roughest top.

Modelled guidance — not a substitute for the mountain forecast or your own judgement. See how every fell ranks today →

☀️ Daylight & turnaround

Daylight is short from October to February — check today’s sunrise and sunset before you set off, and carry a head-torch and spare batteries. On short days, decide your turn-back time before you start.

Why this matters: 78% of Mountain Rescue call-outs come after midday — the day runs out on the way home, not on the way up. See also walking in bad weather and today’s conditions.

OpenTopoMap
Elevation profile
Elevation profile Rises from about 103 m to 902 m over 17.7 km, with the summits marked in order. 902 m 103 m 0 km 17.7 km 12

1 Esk Pike2 Great End

~1099 m
Total ascent
902 m
High point
103 m
Start height

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right).

This walk covers about 17.69 km with around 1099 m of ascent, taking in 2 summits. The map above shows the line; the elevation profile and stage notes are below.

Access & barriers

Can a dog, a buggy or dodgy knees manage this route? A quick read from the gates and stiles mapped along the way.

Dog
Gates only
Buggy
Not buggy-able
Knees
Tough descent
  • Dog: Gates and kissing gates only — a dog can do the whole route.
  • Buggy: Stiles or rough going on the route.
  • Knees: A long, steep ~33% drop around the 13.6 km mark — hard on the knees.

On the line: 4 gates · 3 kissing gates

These are mapped barriers, from OpenStreetMap — coverage in the Lakes is good but not guaranteed complete. Spotted a stile or gate we’ve missed? Tell us and we’ll fix it. Barrier data as of 2026-07-26. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).

Pacing

SummitCumulativeAscentTime (fast–steady)
Esk Pike7.2 km815 m2:48–3:43
Great End9.3 km974 m3:29–4:38
Finish17.7 km1099 m5:22–7:08

Naismith-based estimate — a fast/steady range. Your pace will vary.

The walk, stage by stage

Start → Esk Pike (7.2 km, 815 m)

Climb of about 815 m over 7.2 km (around 11% average).

Esk Pike → Great End (2.1 km, 159 m)

Climb of about 159 m over 2.1 km (around 8% average).

Great End → Finish (8.4 km, 125 m)

Climb of about 125 m over 8.4 km (around 1% average).

Stage-by-stage field notes coming soon.

Summits bagged (2)

  • Esk Pike 885 m · Southern · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge, Nuttall, HuMP
  • Great End 910 m · Southern · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge, Nuttall

🅿️ Getting there & parking

Old Dungeon Ghyll (NT, paid) — 0.2 km from the start (straight line)
Head of Great Langdale — Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, Pike o' Blisco, the Langdale Pikes.
Directions
Stickle Ghyll / New Dungeon Ghyll (NT, paid) — 0.5 km from the start (straight line)
Direct start up Stickle Ghyll for the Langdale Pikes.
Directions

Positions are approximate. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

💧 Water, shelter & getting away

🚌 Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel (135 m)🚌 Great Langdale Campsite (255 m)⛺ Great Langdale Campsite (297 m)

On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors — an absent marker does not mean the facility isn’t there.

🚌 Buses

Stagecoach 516 “Langdale Rambler”
Ambleside – Skelwith Bridge – Elterwater – New Dungeon Ghyll – Old Dungeon Ghyll
Catch it from: Ambleside · Windermere (change at Ambleside)
The Langdale bus — Pikes, Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, Pike o' Blisco all walkable from the Dungeon Ghyll stops. Seasonal frequency varies; check before relying on the last bus back.

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before travelling.

⚠️ Safety & conditions

Check live conditions in the “From the fells” panel, on MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast before you set off.

Make it easier or harder

Short version: turn back at about 7.9 km (drop to Start) — roughly half the distance.

⬇️ Download

Download GPX

GPX track for your GPS or phone.

📚 Maps & guidebooks for Esk Pike and Great End

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