Pike O'Blisco

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Route: Langdale NT campsite, Wall End, Red Acre Gill, Rakerigg, Bleaberry Knott, Wrynose Fell, Pike O'Blisco, Wrynose Fell, Red Acre Gill, Wall End, Langdale NT Campsite

Date: 18/10/2014
From: Great Langdale

Parking: Great Langdale NT Campsite
Start Point: Great Langdale NT Campsite
Region: Southern Fells

Route length: 4.7 miles (7.5 km)
Time taken: 02:30
Average speed: 1.86 mph
Ascent: 639m
Descent: 660m

Wainwrights on this walk:
Pike O'Blisco (705m)

Additional summits: None

Other points of interest: Red Acre Gill

Pike O'Blisco is one of the more overlooked mountains that form the castellated ring around the head of Great Langdale, loftier fells such as Crinkle Crags and Bowfell tend to draw the attention of discerning hikers. Pike O'Blisco does have an ace up its sleeve, however. It stands in perfect isolation, with steep sides surrounding the twin-peaked summit, affording it with stunning views in all directions, especially of Great Langdale and its popular pikes.

We were staying at the National Trust campsite once again, wisely staying in one of the camping pods on account of the weather. Think a heated shed and you're pretty much there. The weather really wasn't the best; cloudy, windy and rainy, a typical autumn day in the Lake District. With that in mind, we planned a short excursion to Pike O'Blisco on account of its views, holding on to Lake District levels of optimism.

Given the forecast of a strong wind from the South, we altered our route slightly from an ascent up the south face by Black Crag to one up the northeastern flanks around Kettle Crag and across the expanse of Wrynose Fell. This would shelter us for the most part and, in fact, made for quite a warm, sweaty climb.

We left the campsite mid-morning and made our way along the sodden road towards Red Acre Gill. We decided against the main route by Red Acre Gill in favour of following a lesser-trodden way that starts the climb a little higher up the hillside at the head of the pass between Great Langdale and Little Langdale. Not only would this way be quieter (we passed a large group who were about to embark on the path up Red Acre Gill) but it would also be much less steep.

Heading into the heart of Great Langdale

Raven Crag

The Band

The path, indistinct at times, makes its way steadily up the hillside, crossing a number of small gills and requiring an entertaining little scramble to get around Bleaberry Knott. As you may see from the GPS, the route we followed isn't actually marked on the map as a path but follow it we did.

The view down Mickleden

Pike O'Blisco and Kettle Crag

Clouds shroud the summit

The Langdale Pikes

Great Langdale panorama

The path up towards Bleaberry Knott

Monochrome waterfall

Sara observes the scenery

We strode out onto the relative flatness of Wrynose Fell in time for a passing shower to warrant the wearing of waterproofs. It was noticeably windier on the fellside, given the fact that Wrynose Fell forms a broad plateau prior to the climb onto Pike O'Blisco.

The summit in sight

Sara negotiates some of the rockier parts

We were rapidly approaching the cloud base which had descended to shroud the summit. Fortunately, though, we were out of the worst of the wind, once again being in the shelter of the fellside. A series of rocky terraces guard the route up the Pike O'Blisco, each requiring an entertaining scramble to climb over (or through!). Some are more difficult than others to conquer though the wet, slippery rocks added to the challenge.

Approaching one of the many scrambles on Pike O'Blisco

Enjoying some rock-based action

The summit in sight

With the last of the terraces behind us, we found ourselves below the base of Pike O'Blisco's second summit, a marginally lower rocky top adjacent to the main one. Between us and the summit, however, lay a short, exposed section of mountain top which was acting as a funnel for the strong wind. We made our move, dashing across to the northern side of the main summit, briefly experiencing the howl of gusty wind before sheltering behind the main cairn and subsequently in the small shelter next to it.

Pike O'Blisco's summit

Sara in the shelter of the cairn

There we waited, the swirling cloud providing an exciting distraction as it lifted momentarily to expose Red Tarn and the path towards Crinkle Crags. We'd maintained that we'd decide which direction to take once we'd reached the summit and, given the weather, that direction was back the way we came.

Braving the wind on the summit

We spent half an hour sheltered below the summit while we ate lunch, time enough for the clouds to lift and reveal much of Great Langdale below which is what we'd set out to see in the first place. I had wanted to visit Black Crag to look at the pinnacle but that would have exposed us to the full force of the wind so we decided against it instead, making our way across Wrynose Fell to the head of Red Acre Gill.

Swirling cloud over Crinkle Crags

Great Langdale

Sun on Raven Crag

The clouds break over Lingmoor Fell

Instead of retracing our steps, we favoured the path down beside Red Acre Gill, the same path we'd avoided climbing up earlier in the day. Though slippery (as Sara will attest), it's a nice route that, once again, sheltered us from the wind and provided some nice opportunities to play with the shutter speed setting on my camera.

Red Acre Gill

Sara on the path to Great Langdale

Side Pike and Lingmoor Fell

Some more monochrome waterfalls

Sara successfully crossing the raging torrent

Water everywhere today

Clouds break once again

Before long we were back on the road we started out along, concluding our mid-morning dash up Pike O'Blisco and back. While not ideal conditions, some of the photos came out looking quite nice, the autumnal colours are starting to come out in full force. It was also nice to be able to get back into something warm and dry in the camping pod, rather than grubbing around on the floor of a tent. It's something definitely worth considering as things get a little more wintery.