Route: Pike o’Blisco
Area: Southern Lake District
Date of walk: 21st March 2017
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 5.7 miles
Weather: cloudy with sunny patches, very cold and windy, hailshowers
As I drove through Great Langdale the surrounding fells were looking at their best thanks to a dusting of snow on the higher tops. I couldn’t wait to get going. I parked in the National Trust car park at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and followed the narrow road uphill, leaving it shortly after passing by Wall End. The easy path bypasses Kettle Crag and as I gained height I was glad to have brought full winter gear – it was absolutely freezing
Near the top of Pike o’Blisco there are 3 steep scrambly sections where hands have to be used. This brought back happy memories of the last time I’d followed this route, about 20 years ago, with our children when they would have been about 8 and 10
I didn’t linger at the summit as a gale force wind was doing its best to blow me off, and set a course towards Red Tarn. I probably wandered off the path a few times as I tried to avoid the slippery rocky sections. Once down at the tarn I picked up the path into Oxendale, which is steep at times but has been made easier by the addition of a pitched path
Back down at valley level I crossed the wooden footbridge over Oxendale Beck, which had been blown away in a gale recently and by good fortune was only re-opened today. From here it was a short stroll back to the start. Although the weather had been variable, and quite challenging at times, it showed off this beautiful valley in its best light and it was a privilege to have been fellwalking on such a day
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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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As I walk away from the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel car park, my objective can be seen ahead, top right
Crinkle Crags at the head of the valley
Looking back to the Old Dungeon Ghyll at the foot of the Langdale Pikes
Pike o’ Blisco ahead
I pass by Wall End
I leave the road here and follow a path beside Redacre Gill
The path ahead can be seen slanting up from left to right
Mickleden
A view back to the start
Langdale Pikes
Onwards and upwards
Side Pike
Looking back to Langdale as I reach the snowline - consisting of hailstones rather than snow
Side Pike again…
It had been easy going up to now, but it’s time to get my hands out of my pockets…
One of three rock chimneys involving a very mild scramble
Looking back into Langdale
Brrrr…it was cold up here
Looking down to the Wrynose Pass from just below the summit
South top of Pike o’ Blisco - the howling wind almost blew me off my feet
The north top of the fell, looking towards Crinkle Crags and Bowfell
Windermere
Swirl How, Great Carrs and Grey Friar as I start the descent to Red Tarn…
I arrive at Red Tarn and follow the path in the direction of Bowfell…
The Band, which leads up to Bowfell
Crinkle Crags and Bowfell again
Hail
Pike o’ Stickle
Browney Gill below
A sudden and quite ferocious hailstorm overtakes me as I descend into Langdale…
The storm passes by and works its way along the valley
Bowfell
Winter becomes spring again
The bridge over Oxendale Beck (which was blown into the beck recently) - the National Trust workmen are finishing off the repairs
Looking back towards Bowfell
Inquisitive Herdy
Foot of the Langdale Pikes
Looking back to Crinkle Crags
Sunlit trees below Bowfell
Great Langdale
More retrospective views…
A last look back to Pike o’ Blisco left of picture
The end of a wonderful walk
Back home, a pheasant in the garden
