The Tongue Birkett

The walk, stage by stage

1. 1

   Start → The Tongue (1.9 km, 333 m)

   Climb of about 333 m over 1.9 km (around 18% average).

   Starting from the village of Mungrisdale, the route leaves the tarmac lane near the church and follows the rough gravel track running parallel to Bullfell Beck and the River Glenderamackin. After crossing the footbridge near the confluence, the path immediately turns into a steep, unrelenting grass climb (averaging 17%) directly up the eastern nose and southern flanks of The Tongue. Underfoot, the terrain consists of rough fell turf, loose slate fragments, and narrow sheep trods.

   Waypoints

   Start Point: Mungrisdale village (approx. NY 363 302). Glenderamackin Footbridge: The wooden bridge crossing near Bullfell Beck. The Tongue Summit (553 m): A prominent, pyramid-shaped Birkett rising between Bullfell Beck and Bannerdale.

   Decision point

   Linear Features: Bullfell Beck on your right (north) and the River Glenderamackin on your left (south) act as clear natural boundaries funneling you to the base of the ridge. Visual Target: The sharp, distinctive profile of The Tongue is visible directly ahead from the moment you leave the village.

   Easy to get wrong

   Steepness: The 17% average gradient is concentrated into a short, intense pull up the grassy prow. In wet weather, the slick turf requires careful foot placement. Summer Bracken: The lower slopes near Bullfell Beck are choked with thick bracken from July to September, concealing uneven ground and loose stones. Shade & Frost: The southern flank of The Tongue sits in deep winter shadow, holding frost and ice long into the afternoon. Do not attempt to descend the steep, pathless northern crags above Bullfell Beck if off-route; stick strictly to the grassy southern spur.

   If you need to get off

   Retreat: Reversing back down the eastern spur to the main valley path returns you to Mungrisdale.

2. 2

   The Tongue → Bowscale Fell (1.9 km, 180 m)

   Climb of about 180 m over 1.9 km (around 9% average).

   From the summit of The Tongue, the route continues west across high, open moorland. The gradient relaxes to a gentler 9% average over 1.9 km. The terrain transitions from firm grass to a broad, undulating expanse of sodden peat, coarse heather, and moss as you join the main path near the col below Bannerdale Crags before making the final pull up to the summit plateau of Bowscale Fell.

   Waypoints

   The Connecting Col (approx. 650 m): The broad saddle linking The Tongue, Bannerdale Crags, and Bowscale Fell. Glenderamackin Standing Stone: A small upright marker stone near the main path junction. Bowscale Fell Summit (702 m): A Wainwright summit, crowned with a large stone wind shelter on a wide, grassy ridge.

   Decision point

   Handrails: The rim of Bannerdale Crags to the south serves as a dramatic landscape feature; keep a safe distance from the edge in low visibility. Compass Bearings: Crucial across the featureless col between The Tongue and the main summit ridge.

   Easy to get wrong

   Bogs & Peat: The saddle between The Tongue and Bowscale Fell holds standing water and deep peat hags year-round. Clag Navigation: The plateau of Bowscale Fell is broad and featureless. In thick fog or whiteout conditions, maintaining a strict bearing is essential to avoid walking in circles. Wind Exposure: Gaining the high ridge exposes you directly to prevailing westerly winds blowing across from Blencathra. Do not walk south over the edge of Bannerdale Crags in low visibility; the drops are sheer and vertical.

   If you need to get off

   Retreat: No way off from the col has been checked for this guide; the way back is the way you came.

3. Bowscale Fell → Finish (5.5 km, 117 m)

   Descent of about 481 m, with about 117 m of climbing, over 5.5 km.

   From the summit of Bowscale Fell the route heads south-south-west along the ridge path, dropping gently for about 1.2 km to the dip at about 633 m between Bowscale Fell and Bannerdale Crags. The path runs along the rim above Bannerdale, with the crags on your left. From the dip it climbs south-east for about half a kilometre to a cairn that OpenStreetMap marks as a 682 m top of Bannerdale Crags. About 90 m past the cairn, a path leaves the edge and heads down the east ridge: the route takes it, east and east-north-east, steeply at first, past the spoil heaps of Saddleback Old Mine, to the floor of Bannerdale. It crosses Bannerdale Beck on stepping stones close to where the beck meets the River Glenderamackin, then follows public footpath 348 013 north-east and north along the valley. That section is closed by the National Park Authority until 17 January 2027: see this route's warnings, and follow the signs on the day. At the footbridge over Bullfell Beck it rejoins the path you walked out on, public footpath 348 012, and follows it east back into Mungrisdale, finishing on the road through the village beyond the Mill Inn.

   Waypoints

   The Dip (about 633 m): The low point between Bowscale Fell and Bannerdale Crags, about 1.2 km from Bowscale Fell's summit. Bannerdale Crags Cairn (682 m on OpenStreetMap): On the line, with a stone bench beside it. The 684 m summit given on our Bannerdale Crags page is about 90 m to the south-west, off the line. East Ridge Junction: About 90 m past the cairn, where the east ridge path leaves the edge path. You pass it on the way out along the edge, and turn down the east ridge here on the way back. Saddleback Old Mine: Old mine workings and spoil heaps on the east ridge, at about 6.0 km. Stepping Stones: Across Bannerdale Beck at about 7.2 km, close to where it meets the River Glenderamackin. Bullfell Beck Footbridge: At about 8.2 km, where the route rejoins the outward path. Finish Point: The road through Mungrisdale village, beyond the Mill Inn.

   Decision point

   Paths: OpenStreetMap maps a path under this stage's line from Bowscale Fell down to the stepping stones, then public footpaths 348 013 and 348 012 into Mungrisdale. The Junction: About 90 m past the Bannerdale Crags cairn the east ridge path leaves the edge; this is where the route turns east, downhill. Rejoining the Outward Path: At the footbridge over Bullfell Beck the route meets the path you walked out on, and follows it back to the village.

   Easy to get wrong

   Crag Edge: OpenStreetMap maps the cliffs of Bannerdale Crags within a few metres of the path in places: along the rim on the way to the Bannerdale Crags cairn and on the upper part of the east ridge. Keep a safe distance from the edge in low visibility. Steep Descent: The first 250 m or so down the east ridge is the steepest ground on this stage, over 35% on the route's steepness profile, with scree and bare rock mapped beside the path near the old mine. A second steep section follows at about 6.6 to 6.8 km. Stepping Stones: Bannerdale Beck is crossed on stepping stones, not a bridge.

   If you need to get off

   Retreat: The map shows other paths off this stage, but each passes mapped crag or ground steeper than 35 degrees, so the way off is back or on: back over Bowscale Fell and The Tongue, or on over Bannerdale Crags and down the east ridge, up to about 4.3 km either way to the road at Mungrisdale; not walked for this guide.