Route: Little Langdale
Area: Central Lake District
Date of walk: 30th October 2015
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 7.9 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
Weather: Overcast, dull and some light drizzle
We parked on the roadside near Skelwith Bridge and joined the path which follows the course of the River Brathay as it flows out of Elterwater. Thanks to plenty of recent rain, Skelwith Force was on top form as we made our way along the riverbank. The path emerges from the woods to pass by Elterwater – this is one of the loveliest sections of any walk in the Lake District, and is part of the long distance Cumbria Way
Just beyond Elterwater we followed a path past old quarries and through woodland into Little Langdale, a beautiful valley surrounded by fells, most of which were sadly invisible on account of the low cloud
We eventually reached ancient Slater Bridge, the half way point of the walk, and after crossing this ancient structure we followed the Cumbria Way back to the start
The poor weather did its best to spoil today’s walk but it was no match for the beautiful scenery
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Red squirrel in the garden before we set off this morning
Later that morning, the start of the walk from Skelwith Bridge
Skelwith Bridge and the River Brathay
Looking down Skelwith Force
We follow the Cumbria Way in the direction of Great Langdale
Looking across the Brathay
Elter Water
We arrive at Elterwater
Bridge End - we turn right here to follow a path beside Great Langdale Beck
One of several stone quarries in the area
Wonderful patterns in this natural stone, which is about 455 million years old
Walking through Sawrey’s Wood
Heading into Little Langdale
Bonnie
A short road section in Little Langdale, just beyond the Three Shires Inn
Ancient Slater Bridge, which is in two parts - a long stone slab to the central rock, then the bridge proper
On the return leg back to the start
A brave motorist crossing the ford near Stang End
High Park
Colwith Force
Low Park
We cross the Trevor Woodburn Bridge, opened 2007, and retrace our steps back to the start
