Walking Britain Lake District Walk
Between Grasmere and Langdale
Maps | |||
| Ordnance Survey Explorer OL6 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Explorer OL6 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Ordnance Survey Explorer OL7 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Explorer OL7 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Ordnance Survey Landranger 90 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Landranger 90 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY |
It is recommended you take a map. The preferred scale is 1:25k. | |||
Walk Route Description
Click thumbnails for larger images.
The high land between Grasmere and Great Langdale is great walking country. Not blessed with any major peaks it more than rewards the walker with excellent views to a large portion of Lakeland and its fells. This Lake District walk was designed to visit three "Wainwrights" - Silver How, Blea Rigg and Tarn Crag which loosely form a horseshoe. The route is on good paths. Apart from the short section down to Belles Knot, all the descents are a pleasure with the final drop from Tarn Crag a pure delight on a wonderful grassy path.
Grasmere is blessed with reasonable car parks and all are convenient starting points for this walk. Leave the village on the lane that skirts the western side of the Lake. Take the walled footpath that leaves the road opposite the cafe (Grid ref. NY334072). This climbs easily along the flanks of Silver How with improving views over Grasmere and Rydal Water. Keep the wall on your left until it bends away to left. Here turn up a steep path on your right (it looks worse than it is) which leads you without any fuss to the cairn on Silver How.
From here the onward route to Blea Rigg falls into place with a well used path twisting and turning as it climbs slowly along the ridge. In some places there are a number of paths to choose from and I would advise keeping to the one that maintains the highest ground. This section of the walk is superb with wide-ranging views on both sides. It does look a difficult task of navigation on the map but it really is a case of following your nose (except in poor visibility when it could be a very confusing place to be). If you have the relevant Wainwright, then his description of the ridge route is very useful.
After Blea Rigg there are excellent views of the Langdale Pikes with Pavey Ark glowering over Stickle Tarn. Care is needed now. The start of the path descending to Belles Knot and Easedale Tarn is not too clear and is only marked with a small cairn. Assuming this junction is found (!) you now have a steep descent on a poor path. Below and to the left hand side of the path is Codale Tarn. You should be making for the eastern shore of this secluded expanse of water. Follow the shore to the northern end. Pass a large boulder and make for a sheepfold, from where a small but distinct path leads upwards to Tarn Crag.
Despite being a "Wainwright" Tarn Crag obviously sees few visits. The paths are excellent, still covered in grass with no evidence of erosion, and the going is easy. It is worth taking your time. The forward view and that down to Easedale Tarn are superb as you gradually descend over Greathead Crag. All too soon you reach a path from Easedale Tarn coming in from the right. Turn left along this to drop gently down to Far Easedale Gill. The remainder of the walk is straightforward, following paths and a lane back into Grasmere.
Other walks nearby
Walk 3625 Silver How from Grasmere - easy - 3.2 miles/5.2 km
Walk 1472 Alcock Tarn, Rydal Water & Grasmere from Grasmere - easy/mod - 7.0 miles/11.4 km
Walk 1565 Rydal Water & Grasmere from Grasmere village - easy/mod - 6.0 miles/9.8 km
Walk 1682 Rydal Water & Grasmere from Grasmere - easy/mod - 5.5 miles/8.9 km
Walk 1111 High Raise & Helm Crag from Grasmere - mod/hard - 9.5 miles/15.4 km
Walk 1823 Fairfield Horseshoe & Loughrigg from High Close - mod/hard - 14.0 miles/22.8 km
Walk 2254 Grisedale Tarn from Mill Bridge, Grasmere - moderate - 5.5 miles/8.9 km
Walk 2841 Grisedale Tarn & Seat Sandal from Mill Bridge, Grasmere - moderate - 5.0 miles/8.1 km
Walk 2932 A Green Burn horseshoe from Mill Bridge, Grasmere - moderate - 7.0 miles/11.4 km
Walk 2715 Skelwith Bridge & Loughrigg from Elterwater - easy/mod - 5.5 miles/8.9 km
Recommended Books & eBooks
Walking the Lake District Fells - Buttermere
Part of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 32 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from the Buttermere, Lorton and Newlands valleys, with highlights including Haystacks, High Stile, Grasmoor and the fells of the Coledale Round. Suggestions for longer ridge routes are also included.
More information
Walking in Cumbria's Eden Valley
Guidebook to 30 graded walks in Cumbria's Eden Valley. The routes, which range from 3 to 15 miles and are best from bases such as Kirkby Stephen and Appleby, explore the region's diverse landscapes and offer dramatic views, either of the Pennines, Lake District or the Scottish hills. Linear routes link with the Settle-Carlisle railway.
More information
Navigation
This pocket handbook to navigation will help you master the necessary map and compass skills for mountain walking. Chapters include map scales, symbols and contours, grid references, map reading, bearings, route planning and night and bad-weather navigation, as well as navigating with a GPS.
More information
