Get Lost Mountaineering

Bow Fell, Esk Pike & Rossett Pike via Hell Gill

from Old Dungeon Ghyll

Start/Finish

Old Dungeon Ghyll at the end of Langdale. Turn right into the hotel where there are two car parks. The first (on the right) is owned by the hotel at £3 per day in 2015. Just past this car park and not at all obvious at first is the National Trust car park at £6.50 per day but free to National Trust Members.

Distance/Time

14 km.     About 6 - 7 hours

Peaks

Bow Fell, 902 m, NY 245 064.

Esk Pike, 885 m, NY 237 075.

Rossett Pike, 650 m, NY 249 076.

OS 90 Penrith & Keswick.    OL6 South Western Lakes.

Introduction

This is a tough walk as there boulder fields on both Bow Fell and Esk Pike. The usual approach to Bow Fell from Langdale goes up a long ridge known as The Band which starts at Stool End and this route could easily be followed instead of the one below from Stool End. This route goes along Oxendale before ascending the path up the side of Hell Gill and its gorge which is one of the most dramatic in the Lake District. On a clear day, there are superb views which include Crinkle Crags, Pike of Blisco, Scafell range, Great Gable, Allen Crags and the Langdale Pikes with Skiddaw and Helvellyn seen on a very clear day. Much of the route on Bow Fell and Esk Pike is cairned which helps in mist.

Route

(1) Walk back towards the road but before reaching it, take the path for The Band and Oxendale which goes over an old bridge before joining the tarmac track to Stool End Far. Here the route splits. The path up The Band goes up the obvious ridge above Stool End whereas this route goes along Oxendale Beck ignoring the first bridge which would take one to Red Tarn between Pike of Blisco and Crinkle Crags. Continue on the path near the beck until it becomes faint and wet then go up slightly to follow a better path which goes past a large mound studded with boulders before reaching a footbridge over the foot of Hell Gill. Cross over and ascend about 40 m to a brow then go right up a path on the ridge by the side of Hell Gill. Follow this up. Higher up, it crosses the gill then crosses back just below the gorge. These crossings may be awkward in spate conditions. Continue up alongside the edge of the gorge which it is difficult to see into. Highe rup the path can be faint and wet but it eventually joins the path from The Band just below Three Tarns which is the col between Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell. Go N here and follow the obvious path up the stony slopes. Higher up, the path turns W and cairns lead through a boulder field to the small cairn which is the summit of Bow Fell, 902 m. The boulders around the summit are very large so care is needed.

(2) Descend carefully through the boulders to rejoin the cairned path which leads N. Once the boulders are left behind, the path is more obvious and is easily followed down to the col known as Ore Gap. Ascend the other side on the obvious path which leads up to the two rocky tops about 40 m apart with the cairn on the W one being the summit of Esk Pike, 885 m.

(3) The descent path goes down a shallow easy gully close to the summit and heads roughly N then continues to Esk Hause – the col between Esk Pike and Great End. Go NE here and soon meet the main path coming down from Scafell Pike which leads to Lower Esk Hause below Allen Crags. An obvious path descends SE into a dip then up again before descending to the outflow of Angle Tarn. The path continues up to a brow where a cairn marks the start of the path to Rossett Pike (left off the path). It is a short ascent to the medium cairn which marks the summit of Rossett Pike, 650 m. A lower cairn, a little further, is the best viewpoint for looking down Mickleden. On the way to it, a faint path forks off left which roughly follows the edge of Rossett Crags.

(4) Follow the path along the edge of Rossett Crags which descends gently and, in about 1 km, reaches the col between Rossett Pike and Top 588. A more distinctive path goes roughly E here and makes a gently descending traverse around the S and E side of Top 588 before dropping down to meet the path comong down from Stake Pass where it crosses Stake Gill. Turn right, S, and follow the path down to Mickleden. Cross the bridge and follow the path SE back to the start.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 6^th September, 2015.

(b) A quicker route back from Rossett Pike is to retrace to the main path from Angle Tarn and follow it SE down Rossett Gill to reach the bridge in Mickleden. It is an obvious path but has many stone steps and may be harder on the knees than the Stake Pass path.