Lake District Walk
Pike o' Blisco from Blea Tarn, Langdale

Walk Route Description

     
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Blea Tarn situated between Little and Great Langdales at the foot of Pike o' Blisco is one of my favourite places in the Lake District. Surrounded by mountains the view across the water to the Langdale Pikes is perfect especially in morning sunshine. This Lake District walk is an out and back excursion to the superb summit of Pike o' Blisco and for most of the way is over good paths.

I parked in the small parking area just off the road that runs on the east side of Blea Tarn (grid ref. NY296042). From here take the signed footpath along the southern shore of the Tarn with the wonderful view to the Langdale Pikes on your right. Continue down to the small wood, cross the bridge and turn right along the path that skirts the western shores of the tarn. Heading north this path leads back to the road linking Great and Little Langdales just below the shapely outline of Side Pike, which is reminiscent of a miniature Langdale Pike.

Do not exit to the road but instead bear half left across a boggy area and just before you start to lose height turn left to contour across the fellside. In summer the route follows a broad grassy path that leads to a narrower path through bracken. Neither losing or gaining height you cross two becks on of which might cause problems if in spate to reach the main path coming up from Great Langdale. Turning left onto this paved path you have twenty minutes of steady climbing before the walk becomes easier.

As you climb there are excellent views behind over Great Langdale to the shapely Pikes. Eventually the path levels off and continues across a broad area of open fell with the craggy summit of Pike o' Blisco ahead. Surrounded by low rock walls, the summit area is a scramblers paradise although all the "hand work" can be avoided by careful route selection.

In places the route of the path is not too clear but a few small cairns help direct you to the topmost point. On the day we did this walk, a large new cairn was being built (see Site Magazine for details). Whatever your views on cairns, the summit is a great place to stay a while. In every direction there are grand fells including the Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, the Carrs, Wetherlam and the Langdale Pikes. Having absorbed the view return to Blea Tarn by the outward route having filled a pleasant half day with a mountain excursion.

 
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OS Map showing start

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Recommended Reading

Short Walks in Lakeland Book 2: North Lakeland

This guidebook contains 57 short half to full-day walks in the northern Lake District. Walking areas include Borrowdale, Newlands, Bassenthwaite, Thirlmere, Ullswater, Haweswater and the area north of Keswick up to Caldbeck. Part of a three-volume series, and predominantly focusing on low-level walks between 2 to 9 miles, and graded for difficulty.
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