| Mountain Range | The Southern Fells |
| Difficulty Level | Easy – some hands on rock Grade <1 scrambling required |
| Distance | 4 miles |
| Time | 4 hours |
| Elevation | 3,012 ft |
| Starting Point | Blea Tarn NT Carpark LA22 9PG |
| OS Map | OS Explorer OL6 |
| Winter Conditions | could be precarious when navigating via Side Pike |
When I purchased ‘The Lake District’ LANDSCAPE AND GEOLOGY book, (as above overlaying my own image), I instantly recognised the cover image as Side Pike at Great Langdale. My last hike there being eight years ago at least. So I knew it was about time to head back…!
The overall route is short, easy and starts at the Blea Tarn National Trust Carpark, sat above the valley of Great Langdale. The image below is looking back at the very narrow, bumpy road, which you drive up to reach the Carpark. Once parked, paid and ready to head off, cross the road, through the gate and head towards the tarn, turning right through the small woodland for a short distance.
Through the wood, continue on the well laid path until you arrive back at the road further up. Cross over to the way signs heading up towards Side Pike. As you ascend the views through the valley open up.
Follow on up the obvious track until you reach a small grassland plateau. From this point you can continue to the summit of Side Pike (not a Wainwright) or head to the right of the pike, to continue your journey to Lingmoor Fell.
To the right, the beautiful views look back over Blea tarn, but in order to continue on your route you need to navigate through what is known as ‘Fat Man’s Agony’ below.
As our plan was to have a slow lazy hazy day, we did just that and stopped for a rest in the long golden grasses.
Before continuing on to the right of the dry stone wall, cross over a stile and continue up along the left side, until you reach the summit of Lingmoor Fell, known as Brown How.
After securing the obligatory summit selfie, you can head back down over the stile below.
As the hike is short and likely still early afternoon, you are able to appreciate the views while you trundle through a vast carpet of Bog Asphodel which grows in the lakes boggy moorlands.
Blea Tarn (left) and the Langdale Pikes (right)
As we had wiled away the hours on our short hike, returning to the van early, meant an opportunity for a detour to St Oswalds Church, Grasmere, which is the resting place of William Wordsworth. It felt peculiar sight seeing a place of rest, but I doubt William cares much for all the footfall after all these years. And what a beautiful old church, you can imagine the local parishioners of the day, descending religiously every Sunday.
“What we have loved, others will love,
and we will teach them how,
instruct them how the mind of man
becomes a thousand times more beautiful
than the earth on which he dwells…”
William Wordsworth