Ready to trade the standard tourist paths for an absolute Lake District classic? This spectacular 13.7-mile circular route from Great Langdale proves you can conquer England’s highest peak without constantly retracing your steps. Starting from the iconic Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, this high-mountain horseshoe takes you deep into the Mickleden valley and along the thrilling, ravine-hugging Corridor Route straight to the summit of Scafell Pike (978m). It’s an epic, rewarding day out on the Southern Fells that checks off four legendary Wainwrights—including Great End, Esk Pike, and the magnificent Bowfell—making it the ultimate loop for hikers looking to experience the very best of the Lakeland peaks.
Scafell Pike from Great Langdale
📍 LAKE DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK - SOUTHERN FELLS
Distance
22.2 km
Duration
07:50 hrs
Elev Gain
+1,610 m
Elev Lost
-1,609 m
🗺️ Interactive Route Map
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ESSENTIAL INFORMATION: PIERS GILL
Piers Gill is a notorious accident blackspot and one of the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team’s primary problem areas. While crossing the top of the ravine is straightforward on a clear day, it becomes exceptionally hazardous in poor visibility or mist.
The Danger: Descents from Lingmell Col often mistake the steep canyon entrance for the path down to Wasdale. There is zero mobile phone coverage inside the gorge, and once you step into the ravine, it is often too late to turn back. Ensure you keep a tight eye on your navigation and cross strictly at the very top of the gill.
In his classic pictorial guides, Alfred Wainwright noted that walking from Great Langdale to Scafell Pike inevitably requires re-walking significant parts of the route. We set out to prove the legend wrong, planning an epic 13.7-mile circular loop across the highest of the Lakeland fells. Starting from the Old Dungeon Ghyll, this spectacular mountain horseshoe links the dramatic Corridor Route with four incredible Wainwright summits—Scafell Pike, Great End, Esk Pike, and Bowfell—for the ultimate, seamless day out in the Southern Fells.
We were expecting some poor weather for much of the morning, brightening in the late afternoon. Luckily for us, it was still dry by the time we had our gear together and had congregated outside the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. With the best of the weather forecast later in the day, our plan was to take the long route from Great Langdale to Sty Head and then the Corridor Route to Scafell Pike. Hopefully, that meant timing our arrival at Scafell Pike with the weather.
Setting off from the hotel, we made our way out along the stony track which runs the length of the valley of Mickleden. We followed the track, which forms part of the Cumbria Way, for a few miles into the valley to the point where it splits; the right-hand branch climbs to Stake Pass and Langstrath while the left branch (our route) begins a steady climb to Rossett Pass.
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| Clouds and rain in Great Langdale |
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| The Langdale Pikes |
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| Rossett Pass and Rossett Pike |
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| Pike O'Stickle |
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| The Cumbria Way in Mickleden |
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| Clouds swirl around Pike O'Stickle |
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| Mickleden Beck below Rossett Pike |
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| Mickleden Beck |
The Rossett Pass path is well maintained and benefits from pitched stone for much of the climb. It's not particularly steep either but does last a while thanks to a series of wide zigzags. We climbed up to the summit of the pass at Angle Tarn. The wind had picked up as we made our way up into the clouds, aiming for the shelter at Esk Hause. The shelter is built at one of the Lake District's main footpath "crossroads" with paths converging from Borrowdale, Eskdale, Wasdale and Langdale.
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| Starting the climb to Rossett Pass |
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| The crags of Bowfell |
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| Rossett Gill |
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| Rossett Pike |
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| Mickleden and Lingmoor Fell |
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| Mickleden |
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| Angle Tarn |
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| The Esk Hause shelter |
After hunkering down in the shelter for a break, we strode on into the cloud and wind, beginning a shallow descent alongside Ruddy Gill as it flows towards Grains. Passing the top of the valley, we descended further to Sprinkling Tarn, dropping below the cloud in the process. Once we had crossed the outlet of the tarn we made our way downhill, heading for the famed pass at Sty Head.
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| Ruddy Gill |
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| The path at Sprinkling Tarn |
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| Sprinkling Tarn |
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| Above Sty Head |
Much like Esk Hause, Sty Head, is the meeting point of a couple of major paths; Seathwaite and Wasdale in particular. It is also the springboard to routes up many of the high fells; Great End, Scafell Pike and Great Gable are all achievable from Sty Head.
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| The low cairn that marks the beginning of the Corridor Route |
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| The Corridor Route strikes out across the fellside |
Above the tarn, a cairn marks the beginning of the Corridor Route, a superlative path which links Sty Head to Lingmell Col and the high Scafells. The weather was visibly improving as we started out along the route, with the clouds lifting to the higher fells and the odd patch of sun appearing on the hillsides. It seemed that our plan was working, though Scafell Pike remained in the cloud.
The Corridor Route first descends into a marshy combe before climbing across the lower boulders of the dramatic Skew Gill. A short scramble up some red rocks returned us to the path. We noticed a few people taking the wrong route upon exiting Skew Gill, the path climbs steeply to the left rather than following the contours. After this, it becomes much clearer, allowing you to follow it with ease while keeping an eye on the unfolding views of Wasdale Head, Great Gable and the looming Lingmell.
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| The path along the Corridor Route starts off a little vague |
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| Skew Gill |
Another awkward gill crossing is required a the halfway stage, and a brief scramble is required to get down to it. The path crosses the gill without drama before continuing one, still climbing.
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| Great Gable |
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| Wasdale Head |
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| Lingmell and Piers Gill |
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| The path crossing the rock step |
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| Greta Gill below Round How |
After Greta Gill, a choice can be made, either to bear left and attack Scafell Pike by scrambling up to the col between it and Broad Crag (a route I've done previously), or by continuing on to Piers Gill and popping up at Lingmell Col. We chose the second option, keen to see what Piers Gill contained. A search for Piers Gill on the internet confirmed what I already knew, it's a place to really keep an eye out for.
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| Approaching Piers Gill |
Piers Gill is a huge ravine, carving a route from Lingmell Col all the way (eventually) the Wast Water. It's definitely not the place to get stranded in unless you really are equipped and experienced. As I mentioned a moment ago, an internet search for Piers Gill reveals the top result being a page from Wasdale MRT - it's one of their problem areas.
On a fine day like today, crossing the gill is as easy as any other, however, in poor weather, it is easy to mistake the entrance as a route down from Lingmell Col to Wasdale, which it is not. There is no phone coverage in the gill and it's often too late before people realise their error. The mistake is generally made by people descending but that can't rule out erroneously wandering in while climbing as well.
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| Piers Gill |
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| Broad Crag and the col separating it from Scafell Pike |
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| Lingmell |
We spent a moment peering down the ravine, trying to make a mental note of where the path crosses the top in case we find ourselves in the exact situation I've just described. After Piers Gill, the path climbs on, joining the motorway leading up from Wasdale, just above Lingmell Col. I wouldn't blame you in thinking you were nearly at the top, but Scafell Pike is a big mountain, there's still a 250m climb ahead of you, this time much steeper and rockier than anything experienced to this point.
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| Climbing the slabs beneath the summit |
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| Clouds swirl around Great End and Broad Crag |
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| Looking back down to Lingmell |
We plodded on, quietly covering the final climb until, finally, the large platform marking the summit comes into view and the steepness abates. We'd reached the top of the country and, importantly, our plan to time our arrival with the sun had worked.
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| Approaching Scafell Pike's summit |
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| The summit platform and trig pillar |
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| Scafell Pike's trig pillar |
While the immediate summit of Scafell Pike is a bit disappointing, take a trip to the edge of the plateau and you are rewarded for your efforts. A stony hop across the shattered rocks to the south-west reveals the imposing crags of Scafell and the notorious Broad Stand while heading to the south-eastern top presents a fine panorama of Eskdale and the high Broad Crag and Ill Crag to the north. It's a scene befitting Scafell Pike's lofty status.
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| Ill Crag and Bowfell |
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| Bowfell |
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| Sty Head, Borrowdale and the northern fells |
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| Great Gable |
A deep col separates Scafell Pike from Broad Crag, a bit dispiriting considering the efforts undertaken to reach Scafell Pike. Still, it would be even more dispiriting approaching from the other direction, the summit stands so close yet so very far away. We reached Broad Crag, staked our claim to it and pressed on, over the strewn boulders towards Great End.
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| Bowfell and Crinkle Crags |
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| Broad Crag |
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| Broad Crag col |
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| Sunlight picks out the small peak of Pen |
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| Scafell Pike |
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| Looking along the length of the Corridor Route |
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| Scafell Pike silhouetted against the clouds |
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| The bouldery Ill Crag - Great End ridge |
Other than craggy approaches and a lofty height, Great End does not share the summit characteristics of Scafell Pike or Ill Crag. Gone are the tumbled rocks and broken boulders, replaced with a luxuriant, flat turf, good enough to get a decent night's sleep on. Two summits are evident, the highest (I believe), being the one to the east, overlooking Borrowdale. It's a magnificent viewpoint, separated from the second summit by the immense tear of Central Gully. The western top looks down into Wasdale.
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| Green Gable |
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| Heading towards Great End |
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| Ill Crag and Scafell Pike |
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| Glaramara and Allen Crags |
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| Great End's summit |
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| Borrowdale |
From Great End, a vague path drops down the stony slopes to the east to the true Esk Hause - the higher pass at Esk Hause (above the shelter we had visited earlier in the day). There was still plenty of climbing left to do with a crossing of Esk Pike and Bowfell on the cards. Fortunately, neither of these are particularly steep.
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| Esk Pike |
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| Esk Hause and Allen Crags |
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| Great End and the higher Esk Hause |
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| Ill Crag |
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| The route up Esk Pike |
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| Esk Pike's summit |
Beyond the summit of Esk Pike, the path drops down again, this time to red-stained rocks at Ore Gap. The sun had disappeared behind a bank of clouds as I began the steady climb towards the summit of Bowfell.
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| Ore Gap |
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| The Scafells over Pike de Bield |
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| A string of cairns line the path from Ore Gap |
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| The Langdale Pikes |
I eventually reached the summit of Bowfell, arguably one of the finest in the Lake District and certainly a favourite among many hill walkers. It is perfectly isolated and has a near 360-degree view including Eskdale, Great Langdale and perhaps the best view of the Scafell range. In addition to this, as it was getting towards the late afternoon, I had the summit entirely to myself which is a rarity.
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| The rocky summit of Bowfell |
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| Three Tarns and Crinkle Crags |
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| Bowfell and the Scafells |
I considered using the Climbers Traverse to make my descent but, keeping an eye on the time decided the quickest route back to Great Langdale would be along The Band. To get to The Band first requires passing the Great Slab and slithering down the steep eastern slope to Three Tarns.
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| The top of the Great Slab |
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| The Great Slab |
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| Crinkles Crags over Three Tarns |
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| The col at Three Tarns |
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| The Band stretches ahead |
Despite being the quickest and most direct route to Bowfell, The Band is pretty unrelenting, whether you are tackling it in ascent or descent. The path, while easy to follow, stays at a constant gradient and the farm at Stool End never seems to get any closer.
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| Bowfell from The Band |
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| The path down The Band |
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| Crinkle Crags |
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| Great Langdale |
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| The Langdale Pikes |
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| Lingmoor Fell |
From Stool End it's a short stroll to the car park at the hotel to conclude an epic day on the fells. It's quite rare that a plan falls well into place, but it all came together today, especially a well-earned pint in the pub afterwards.
Monster hike. How long did it take?
ReplyDelete8-9hours
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