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Exploring the great Langdale Valley

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Our view

"Turn right to cross beyond the mini-roundabout, then follow the road back toward Grasmere and the car park."

Walk directions

Locate a right of way at the back of the National Park Authority New Dungeon Ghyll car park. Follow this enclosed byway down the valley for nearly a mile (1.5km). After crossing a small beck turn right, signposted ‘Chapel Stile and Ambleside’. In around 100yds (91m) turn right again at another fingerpost.

Follow the stony track across the virtually flat valley bottom. A gated bridge takes you over Great Langdale Beck and on the far side turn right up a farm track heading for a white farm building at Oak Howe.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Stony tracks (some enclosed) and rocky paths

Landscape - Meadows and fell in valley bottom

Dog friendliness - Some fields grazed by sheep, so take care towards Oak Howe

Parking - Choice of National Trust (Stickle Ghyll) or National Park Authority (New Dungeon Ghyll) pay-and-display car parks near the head of Great Langdale

Toilets en route - National Trust Stickle Ghyll car park

Walks in Cumbria Dog-friendly walks in Cumbria

About the walk

Great Langdale – literally the big, long valley – has always played a key role in the story of the Lake District. In the 1920s there was a slightly unseemly row here, between outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists. The former, led by T E Leonard’s Holiday Fellowship, wanted to build a campsite at... the head of the dale in Mickleden, closer to the fine crags and mountains that inspired them. The latter, under the leadership of Dr G M Trevelyan opposed this intrusion into a landscape barely touched by human intervention for 200 years. The two men were pioneers of a new way of seeing the countryside, both passionately committed to its recreational value to the common man. After a few public letters, Leonard relented. The Holiday Fellowship built their encampment at Wall End Farm and Trevelyan bought up much of the upper valley and donated it to the National Trust. It was a measure of Langdale’s hold on the popular imagination that things had come this far. Perfect stone Five thousand years ago the valley would have looked very different, without the farms and field boundaries established from medieval times. On the high slopes of the Langdale Pikes, the shapely crags that form the valley’s northern boundary, neolithic man had discovered the perfect stone for shaping into axes. Imagine a world without metal, and then the impact a ‘factory’ that could turn out thousands of sharpened stone blades would have had. Axes made with Langdale’s distinctive stone have been unearthed from neolithic sites all over Britain and Ireland and even a few in Europe. These were the tools that cut down the trees that allowed farmers to farm, and settlements to grow. Neverthless, it would be several thousand years after those first farmers cleared the upper reaches of this valley that there was anything obvious for us to see. Stone Walls Walking through the valley now it is the stone walls that most obviously draw our attention. The valley floor is separated from the open fell by a ‘ring garth’. Perhaps 13th century in origin, it would have protected the open valley fields from the beasts grazing on the upland ‘waste’. Later field divisions followed, as agricultural techniques improved and the current field pattern would have been established pretty much as we see it today by the end of the 18th century.

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About the area

Cumbria's rugged yet beautiful landscape is best known for the Lake District National Park that sits within its boundaries. It’s famous for Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, and Derwent Water, ‘Queen of the English Lakes', but other lesser-known areas in the south, such as the Lune Valley and the coastal towns, are secret gems of wide cobbled streets and rolling hills.

Route details

Difficulty:

Medium

Gradient:

Moderate

Distance:

2.5 miles (4kms)

Ascent:

190ft (58m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

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Exploring the great Langdale Valley

Recommended by

Our view

"Turn right to cross beyond the mini-roundabout, then follow the road back toward Grasmere and the car park."

Walk details

Difficulty:

Medium

Gradient:

Moderate

Distance:

2.5 miles (4kms)

Ascent:

190ft (58m)

Walk directions

1 of 4

2 of 4

Beyond the buildings turn right at a signpost on a footpath skirting the flank of the little hill and descending to a gate. Beyond this a stony track follows the base of the open fell with a wall on the right. The path ascends gradually and is rough underfoot in places. The ascent continues to a high point beyond a single slate bridge, with excellent views to Crinkle Crags and Bowfell at the valley head. The walls converge to a gate. Beyond this it descends briskly towards buildings at Side House.

3 of 4

TThrough a gate continue on a level path, cross a footbridge and pass through a kissing gate into the farmyard. Bear right along the access track to a bridge over Great Langdale Beck. Continue, emerging on the main valley road opposite the National Trust’s Stickle Ghyll car park. Turn right if you left your vehicle in the National Park Authority car park.

4 of 4

Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Stony tracks (some enclosed) and rocky paths

Landscape - Meadows and fell in valley bottom

Dog friendliness - Some fields grazed by sheep, so take care towards Oak Howe

Parking - Choice of National Trust (Stickle Ghyll) or National Park Authority (New Dungeon Ghyll) pay-and-display car parks near the head of Great Langdale

Toilets en route - National Trust Stickle Ghyll car park

Walks in Cumbria Dog-friendly walks in Cumbria

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Cumbria

Exploring the great Langdale Valley

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

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Exploring the great Langdale Valley

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