Wigtwizzle - Norman Smith's Travel Blog.: langdale

Miracle of miracles, I was actually able to fine a parking space down Langdale! I have been down there countless times over the last three years and not once been able to park up and go for a walk. Today I managed to squeeze in to one of the last parking spots in the National Trust Car Park at the New Dungeon Gill. I only had enough change to park up for two hours as the parking machines don't take bank cards and there is no mobile reception to use their parking app so consequently it was only a short 'there and back again' walk.

Most of the crowds were heading off up The Langdale Pikes but I decided to head the opposite way and go past the Old Dungeon Gill Hotel and on to the path into Mickledon. It was good to see some old favourites again, especially Crinkle Crags and Bowfell which form a massive barrier at the head of the valley. Bowfell has one of the best summit views in the district in my opinion which, off the top of my head, is only marginally bettered by the view looking down Borrowdale to Derwentwater from the top of Great End. Unfortunately my days of going up the high fells is just about over although I reckon I could still tackle Dalehead from the top of Honister Pass but only at my pace.

I sat and watched a couple of rock climbers on Gimmer Crag on my way back and it looked as though there had been a recent rock fall up there. My walk hadn't been very long but I was nice to be back in Langdale again.

The Langdale Pikes

Tree Trunk

The Langdale Pikes

Crinkle Crags

The Langdale Pikes

Path to Mickledon

Rock Climbers

Path to Mickledon

Langdale Pikes

Gimmer Crag

Langdale Beck

This must have been the third time this year when I have visited Langdale in the vain hope of getting parked up. Mind you, I should have known better than paying a visit of a crisp, sunny Sunday. I did manage to pull off the road at one spot to take some photos but I was blocking a farmer's field so quickly took a few snaps and moved on. Both National Trust car parks were full as well so, as the valley was running out, I found myself heading up the road leading across to Little Langdale and Wrynose Pass with the hope of getting a parking spot in the Blea Tarn car park but luck wasn't on my side there either. At this point I had more or less resigned myself to being stuck in the car all afternoon!

Also the drive along Little Langdale was a nightmare due to inconsiderate parking and sheer volume of traffic. So, as a last resort I tried the side road leading up to Hodge Close Quarry and lo and behold there were a couple of parking spots in the pull of area near Shepherd's Bridge.

With sheer relief, I donned my walking shoes and headed off on a path which said Yew Tree Farm. I'd never been on it before and it was a sheer delight to walk on. Part way along I came across a couple out with their dogs who told me of a path which turned off just before the farm and led in to Yewdale and eventually Holme fell.

Up for a bit of an explore, I took this path and was rewarded by a beautifully peaceful walk going through both woodland and rocky scenery. They mentioned that it was a sharp scramble to get up on to Holme Fell so, as the path began to steepen and the light began to fade, I turned round and retraced my footsteps back.

I think it was about three when I got back to the car but even at that time of day, the sun had dipped below the fells. Days are very short at this time of year in The Lakes and a lot of people on the higher fells are caught out by this. A group of ten people had to be rescued off of Scafell Pike the other week after running out of daylight, mainly because the idiots hadn't set off until half past two!! The Mountain Rescue are always polite when discussing their rescues but it would have been nice to be a fly on the wall at one of their debriefs when something like that happens.

After consulting a map once I'd got back, I found that my path was part of a network linking Coniston to Skelwith and Elterwater . It's an area I will bear in mind in future although I cant see me ever using it to get up Holme Fell as there are easier and more scenic paths up from both Hodge Close and Tilberthwaite.

All in all I was just pleased that I had managed to get out of the car for a stroll and visiting a new area was an added bonus.