It has been too long since I’ve been to Great Langdale.
In fact, from what I can make out, the last time I visited Great Langdale was November 2020. That’s bad.
And a shame. Great Langdale is one of my favourite places in the whole of the Lake District.
Thankfully I have some time off whilst I transition between jobs, and the UK summer is in full swing. It was time to reacquaint myself with some of the Lake District’s most recognisable peaks.
Great Langdale did not disappoint. My goodness.
All photos shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105mm ƒ/2.8–3.8 zoom lens. Images made 90% in-camera using the Velvia film simulation, finished off in Affinity Photo.
I managed to get some parking at the LDNPA’s official car park, right in the heart of the Great Langdale valley. Merely stepping out of the car park offers you scenes like this.
A true Lake District scene: towering craggy fells, stone walls and cottages, green grass, Herdwick sheep.
There were plenty of ewes and their lambs freely milling around the roads and lanes in the valley.
The first leg of the hike I wanted to explore was to head east towards Oak Howe. This part of Great Langdale is heavy with summer meadows and at this time of the year they’re brimming with flowers. Plus, you get panoramas like this.
I threw my lens wide open and got down low to snap the Langdale Pikes high above the fields and fields of buttercups.
Oak Howe cottage, with Oakhowe Crag towering above, itself a subsidiary top of Lingmoor Fell.
One of my favourite spots in Great Langdale, shot near Oak Cowe cottage next to Great Langdale Beck. The Langdale Pikes looking as epic as ever.
For the second leg of the hike, I traced my steps back west, capturing compositions of the Langdale Pikes along the way.
The fist-like crags of the Langdale Pikes to the right, Bowfell to the left.
Whitegill Crag stands protectively over the valley floor and its inhabitants.
Rossett Farm with Thorn Crag and Loft Crag above, like axe heads thrust into the sky.
The western aspect of Great Langdale features its highest fells, accessible via the fell in the middle of this photo known as “The Band”. To the left is Crinkle Crags (859 m/2,818 ft) and to the right is Bowfell (902 m/2,959 ft).
Some kind of rose, I think? I couldn’t tell you which one but it were pretty, just sitting there in the hedgerow.
As I head closer to Stool End Farm, Pike o’ Blisco (705 m/2,313 ft)—south of Crinkle Crags—makes its presence known.
A pied wagtail ( Motacilla alba yarrellii ) sits atop a drystone wall long enough for me to focus and nab this shot.
A side valley that branches off the main Great Langdale valley, Mickleden, features this great wall of rock known as Rossett Crag, peaking at Rossett Pike (651 m/2,136 ft).
The road to Stool End Farm, which marks the beginning of many popular ascents up to the likes of Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, and beyond.
The western aspect of the Langdale Pikes peaks at Pike o’ Stickle (709 m/2,326 ft), before dropping sharply down to the valley floor.
Heading back east towards the car, this part of the Langdale Pikes is very popular with rock climbers who fancy tackling some tricky climbs.
I love this place.