Bowfell & Crinkle Crags Walk

A great place to park your car is just before Rossett Bridge in Great Langdale - it's found between New Dungeon Ghyll and Old Dungeon Ghyll on the left-hand side, there is roadside parking for half a dozen cars, but a word of warning, it fills up very quickly - I was lucky to get a spot today, but it was 9:00am on a Friday morning. There's loads of parking spaces at the New Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park a few hundred yards back if these spaces are all taken.

Looking ahead towards today's walk - looks a bit cloudy on the tops, hopefully it will clear as the day goes by.

Passing the Old Dungeon Ghyll Bus Stop - A great service to get you to or back from one of my favourite places - Used this bus stop many times before.

Leaving the country lane and heading straight on towards Stool End Farm.

And there it is - The welcoming sight of Stool End Farm. They are used to walkers going through their property here and are always friendly, so say hello as you pass by.

The very distinctive Langdale Pikes set - with the most recognisable Pike of Stickle bump being on the left hand side and Loft Crag to the right.

Starting the ascent of Bowfell via The Band - the right hand path leads the way up, whereas the left (straight on) path heads into Oxendale.

Suns out, which makes for a warm climb and done alongside stunning scenery.

Looking back down 'The Band' and into Great Langdale.

The well worn path is easy to follow as height is gained. Crinkle Crags can be seen getting closer on the left hand side.

The path, which can be seen in this photo, veers off to the left as the col between Bowfell and Crinkle Crags is reached.

A right turn at the col (Three Tarns) and then its a steep climb up to the summit of Bowfell.

Bowfells summit is a shattered pyramid, a great heap of stones and boulders and naked rock - a giant cairn in itself. I took the direct route this time when arriving, but it's probably slightly easier to ascend by going round to the Esk Pike side, and boulder hopping up from there.

Within seconds of getting to the top, the clouds rolled over and any view were gone.

A peek over to the 'Great Slab' - easily missed if you're not careful.

The end of the Crinkles at Three Tarns

Arriving back at Three Tarns - it's now the start of the climb up to Crinkle No 1 (from the North) or No 5 (from the South) - depending on the route taken.

Typical !!

Bowfell is now completely clear of cloud - fifteen minutes later and it would have been perfect for me.

At least I can now see the Scafells - well just about.

Dramatic views start to unfold as the clouds clear.

On my way along this fantastic ridge - not a sharp one, but one that undulates and winds it's way on good solid ground. Probably not ideal in poor weather/visibility conditions, as care is still needed for navigation.

Sheltered from the cool westerly breeze - I enjoy my lunch with the best of views ahead of me.

The highest point on Crinkle Crags (Long Top) - Crinkle No 2 from the South.

Still beyond me - and I'm not getting any younger.

The 'bad step' is so easy to avoid by following the gentle path around it. I've only ever been here once where I actually saw someone climb up and over it (and that was my mate Paul), everyone else just takes the easy way round now.

The gradual path down towards Red Tarn.

You can just about make out the path that I would soon be taking back down into Oxendale. The path roughly follows the route of Browney Gill.

Arriving at Red Tarn - the consideration to go straight up and over Pike of Blisco before heading back down into Great Langdale was soon dismissed as I though I had a chance of bumping into my sister and her husband at ODG - As it turned out, I had plenty of time to have done both, but I wasn't to know.

Great Knott.

The very long descent into Oxendale and towards Great Langdale.

Crossing Oxendale Beck.

As I reach flat and solid ground, I head into Great Langdale with views of my favourite Lingmoor to my right.

Great Langdale Beck at the ODG Bridge.

After quite a bit of waiting, I was finally able to surprise my sister Karen and her husband Paul at the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel - I had waited in the Stickle Barn beer garden for about an hour (trying not to drink too much on a hot sunny day after a walk - not easy), I had given Karen a nice valley walk to do for her birthday which involved quite a few pubs - so no wonder they were behind schedule.

But it was a lovely hour or so with them before I had to head for home.