Meet time: 9.15am
Start time: 9.30am
Estimated finish time: 12.30pm to 1pm.
Distance: About 4.5 miles (7.24 kilometres).
Ascent: About 1520 feet (463 meters).
Ramblers walk grading: B (Moderate).
Start point: National Trust car park in Old Dungeon Ghyll (bring change/coins!)
Postcode: LA22 9JY
Car parking: There is the National Trust car park in Old Dungeon Ghyll and, if you are not a member, you will need change, the good old-fashioned coins, to pay as the machine does not accept card/phone. There are two car parks in New Dungeon Ghyll, a walk of 10 minutes away from Old Dungeon Ghyll, which do accept card/phone.
It is the responsibility of each walker to make sure they understand where to park. If you are not sure where the car parking/meeting point is, you must contact the walk leader at the latest the day before the walk. You should not rely on mobile phones or postcodes. There is often no mobile reception near walk meeting points and postcodes are for the nearest place nearby but should only serve as a guideline. Please allow plenty of time to find a parking space so that walks can start promptly.
Description: We cross over the stone bridge and briefly follow the road before taking a path that heads for Side Pike. This is a steady but short ascent which briefly stops when we come to the top of mountain pass and can see Blea Tarn. From there the ascent resumes to Side Pike which is a lovely little vantage point which looks down at Old Dungeon Ghyll while the Langdale Pikes dominate the view.
When we leave Side Pike, we follow a different path that cuts through a crag face – the path is wide and it is not that exposed – and we come to Fat Man’s Agony which is one of the most comical names for a feature of the landscape. For those who have never traversed Fat Man’s Agony I will not reveal anything save this- you can’t walk through it 😉.
After the fun of Fat Man’s Agony, the ascent resumes by following a stone wall all the way to the top of Lingmoor Fell. Now Lingmoor Fell is the Wainwright for this walk, coming in at 469 meters, and has great views of the Coniston Fells, Pike o’ Blisco, Bow Fell, Langdales, Helvellyn and Fairfield Range, and of course Windermere and further beyond to the North Yorkshire Dales. This is a lovely and lumpy mid-level fell and a worthy Wainwright.
For the descent we follow another stone wall which makes a beeline for the mountain pass road and Blea Tarn. The path is steep, but the descent is short. Once we come to the road the rest of the walk is on gentler terrain and this takes us to perhaps the best bit of the walk: Blea Tarn. From the southern side of Blea Tarn there is a classic view of the Langdale Pikes which is a very popular spot for photographers.
After admiring this view, we follow the path around Blea Tarn briefly going through woodland before returning again to the mountain pass. We pick up the path to Old Dungeon Ghyll and it’s a quick walk back. After that drinks and food at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Inn.
Please fill out the Registration Form to join by 10pm on Friday 13 February if you are coming on this walk. If this doesn’t work then please contact the walk leader, Miles, on 07842 783319 (text or phone, WhatsApp, or message on Facebook (Miles Saunders-Priem)). When you register online, I will reply within 24 hours.
Please check the weather and bring appropriate clothing (waterproofs and spare warm clothing), footwear and enough food and water. The leader reserves the right to turn away any walker not suitably equipped. The leader may cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.
Car sharing may be possible – please contact the walk leader to arrange.
New members: please note the walk leader may ask for more information about your walking experience. This is to ensure you have the fitness required to complete the walk that is planned safely.
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