Route: Little Langdale
Area: Central Lake District
Date of walk: 30th November 2018
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 7.9 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
Weather: Very windy, some rain, some hail and a few bright patches
We parked on the roadside near Skelwith Bridge – if there are no spaces left Elterwater would be a good alternative starting point for this circular walk. We joined the path which follows the course of the River Brathay. Thanks to plenty of recent rain, Skelwith Force was on top form as we made our way along the riverbank. The path, which is part of the Cumbria Way, opens out onto one of the most beautiful stretches of Lakeland as it winds its way around Elter Water, with views of the Langdale Pikes in the background. Thanks to the beauty and accessibility of the path it can be a little too busy at times but this wasn’t the case today
On reaching the village of Elterwater we crossed the bridge to follow the other side of the River Brathay, passing through some slate quarries – a reminder of the industrial nature of this area, both past and present. We then headed south through Sawrey’s Wood to enter into Little Langdale. At Wilson Place we followed the lane through the village, resisting the temptation to call in to the Three Shires Inn for refreshments
Beyond the village we crossed over Slater Bridge, a 17th century packhorse bridge between Tilberthwaite and Little Langdale which enabled the quarry men to cross the River Brathay to the workings either side. From here we turned east to follow a path, mostly through woodland, which brought us back to Skelwith Bridge and the end of a walk which never fails to please, whatever the weather
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)
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The start of today's walk from Skelwith Bridge as we join the path beside the River Brathay
Skelwith Force - it's possible to venture out onto the rocks for a better photo but I decided not to risk it in today's conditions
Views of the Langdale Pikes from the wonderful path beside the River Brathay...
Zooming in to Loft Crag and Pike O'Stickle
Elter Water...
Beyond Elter Water (the lake) and heading along the Cumbria Way towards Elterwater (the village)
We're walking towards Great Langdale, but will turn left at its foot to enter Little Langdale...
The Langdale Pikes again
We pass by Elterwater village on our right
We cross the road bridge over Great Langdale Beck
The path takes us through the slate quarries
Burlington Stone quarry here for the famous green slate which was formed 455 million years ago
We continue through the quarry - this is part of the history of lakeland and I find the contrast between the foreground and background rather attractive...
We leave the old mining road to join a path through Sawrey's Wood which will take us into Little Langdale
Wetherlam in the distance, and we turn left here to follow the sign to Wilson Place
More views of Wetherlam as we descend into Little Langdale...
Wilson Place ahead
We follow the lane through Little Langdale village
Beyond the village we descend towards the River Brathay
Wetherlam again
Slater Bridge
The bridge was built in the 16th century and consists of 3 spans supported by a large mid-stream boulder
Having crossed Slater Bridge we follow the lane towards Stang End
Looking back across Little Langdale towards Lingmoor Fell...
...and now towards High Hacket
A view back to Wetherlam, with Side Pike on the right
Heading for Skelwith Bridge
A sudden downpour ends, and we are treated to the sight of a rainbow over the fells behind Elterwater
The other end of the rainbow
We cross the Trevor Woodburn bridge over the River Brathay, which we'd passed at the start of the walk, and this completes the circuit
Earlier in the week, and on the other side of the country, a visit to Donna Nook. Grey seals come to breed here every year - a wonderful wildlife spectacle
A couple of days later, it was good to sight some special visitors - waxwings - feasting on sorbus berries in a supermarket car park
