Great and Little Langdale


Britannia Inn at Elterwater Britannia Inn at Elterwater   I parked my motor-car in the car park on Elterwater Common at approximately 10:00. By the time I had put on my boots and jacket and walked half a mile into the centre of the village, it was 10:17 when I photographed the Britannia Inn. The inn is normally a hive of activity but I was just a bit early for a lunchtime pint or even a morning coffee.

I crossed the bridge over Great Langdale Beck, followed the road past the Youth Hostel and then forked right up the steep lane that declares itself 'unsuitable for motor vehicles'.

The lane is used mainly by walkers and cyclists on mountain bikes but does lead into Little Langdale. I just needed to reach the gate short of the top of the hill before turning right to descend into Great Langdale through the woods.


Lane with dry stone wall Unsuitable for motor vehicles - fine for walkers and cyclists   Path through the woods Path through the woods towards Great Langdale


Quarry spoil tip Quarry spoil tip on the descent into Great Langdale   The descent into Great Langdale takes you down beside an active quarry where you may sometimes hear explosions as the slate is blasted from the rock. The wood appears to have been thinned since my last visit and many large machines could be seen operating in an open space at the bottom the hill.

Two forestry tracks cross my path and I turned left on the second of them near a remote house in the woods. The track would lead to a farm at Baysbrown and then a more important junction of tracks at Oak Howe, where I would have better views of Great Langdale.


Forest track Forest road leading to Baysbrown and Oak Howe   Pikes from Oak Howe First view of the Langdale Pikes from Oak Howe



Langdale Pikes from the fell side path Langdale Pikes from the fell side path



After Oak Howe, the fell side path becomes more difficult underfoot and progress slows a little.

The hotels and bars across the valley at Dungeon Ghyll are beckoning and looking at my watch I find the time is 11:50. Ten minutes to cross the valley should be about right.

I am soon seated in a walker's bar supping a pint of 'Lancaster Bomber' and eating a huge bacon bap.

All said and done, this is probably not the best fare for the steep climb to Blea Tarn; never mind. 		  Dungeon Ghyll Hotels at Dungeon Ghyll across the valley


Blea Tarn with the Langdale Pikes Blea Tarn with the Langdale Pikes


Little Langdale Tarn Little Langdale Tarn   The climb to Blea Tarn starts from the National Trust campsite in Great Langdale and zig-zags up the hillside. The tarn itself is much photographed.

The path behind the tarn then descends passing Blea Moss before finally reaching the road from Wrynose Pass. The going can be difficult and wet at times. Descending on the road for a quarter of a mile brings you to Fell Foot Bridge, where you can follow a farm track along the southern side of Little Langdale.

The River Brathay flows through Little Langdale Tarn and you need to cross this river downstream of the tarn by way of Slater's Bridge.


Slater's Bridge is largely made of slate. One span is simply a single slab of slate with an iron handrail. The bridge is also quite narrow and it is perhaps best to wait until it is clear before crossing, as it wouldn't do to try and pass other walkers on some sections. The remaining photographs are all of Slater's Bridge.

After crossing the bridge, I climbed past High Birk Howe and rejoined the track to Elterwater. This is the same one that was 'unsuitable for motor vehicles'. I arrived back at my motor-car at 15:30, taking five and a half hours over the walk. 		  Slater's Bridge Slater's Bridge over the River Brathay


Slater's Bridge The pathway across Slater's Bridge


Slater's Bridge side elevation Slater's Bridge from upstream   Slater's Bridge side elevation Slater's Bridge from downstream


Editor: Peter J. Cosker   peter@the2coskers.com   top of page   Updated: 09/04/2015