Spare Weekend

Crinkle Crags & The Band, in March

March 11th, 2007

Walk Stats
Length: 10.8 km
Ascent: 851 m
Highest point: 858m
Time: 5:00 hrs
Condition: Low lying mist & 40 to 50mph gusts
Maps: Explorer OL6 and Landranger 90
Difficulty: 3/5

Route download: KMZ; Go4aWalk similar route C108; GPX

Summary:

A typical walk in the Langdales, starting at the Old Dungeon Gill (ODG) through Stool End Farm, up Crinkle Crags and back down the Band. Plenty of opportunity to extend the walk, however due to the wind and the visibility we decided to come down the band for a hot chocolate at the ODG.

Description:

We started off from the Old Dungeon Gill (parking NY 28600610) headed WSW through Stool End Farm, and took the left fork, enjoying the view ahead of The Band. Crossing the river over the wooden bridge took us to the start of the ascent, which was mainly stepped and was approximately half of the days ascent.

Unfortunately the visibility at this point dropped to around 50 yards, but the path reached a clear ‘t-junction’ from which we took the sharp right & headed up Hard Knott with the incline easing prior to the ascent of Crinkle Crags.

The ascent of Crinkle Crags was relatively easy walking, and occasionally we required a hand to steady ourselves, due to the poor visibility we can’t say much about the view, but we could make out the odd silhouette of a mountain behind the curtain of mist. Any ascent of Crinkle Crags has got to cover the infamous ‘Bad Step,’ which looks worse than it actually is, however if your short like me it takes a bit more skill. In-fact while we where waiting to climb the step, a couple decided to miss out the step and took a different path around which took a little longer but was a little easier. After the step we thought it was an opportune time to have a pitta pocket & a pork pie, with a nice cup of tea (well we try to be civilised occasionally).

We followed the path which disappeared at times and bimbled up and down the Crag until we reached Three Tarns, the gusts of wind made it a little hairy at times, but enjoyable none the less. From here we followed the path down The Band, there was meant to be a path down the valley, but we assume due to the lack of visibility we couldn’t see it.

The descent from here is relatively quick and easy, and when we descended below the mist there was a nice view of the Langdale valley & the ODG. The Band returns you to Stool End Farm and the same path we took to get there.

All in all a good walk despite the wind and mist.

Entry Filed under: Routes, Walks, General