Lingmoor Fell and Side Pike

From the car park, return to the road and turn right. Seemingly at the end of the road take the sharp left turn to continue. In 100m (110 yards) cross the bridge, and bear left to the gate at the edge of the National Trust's Great Langdale campsite, signposted "Side Pike Lingmoor Fell". Go through the gate into the campsite. In 50m (55 yards) bear right at the footpath marker to head through a stand of trees.

Continue ahead to the kissing gate, go through and cross the field, bearing slightly right to another kissing gate, and go through into the stand of larch. At the top of the larch go through another gate onto the open fell. The path here zigzags up the fell side in an obviously engineered way although it is quite rough.

Nearing the top bear right to the gate to the road beside the cattle grid.

There is a traverse path which avoids some road walking, but it is rather tedious. Using the road is quick and easy. So at the road turn left and head round to Blea Tarn House, the only building on this road. Just past it bear left to take the grassy path on the right hand side of the ghyll. It is well worn and easy to follow. Go through the gap in the wall and continue climbing. Reaching the small knolls and bracken slopes, the path threads its way through never far from the ghyll. Continue to the wall at the head of the ghyll.

Bear left to drop down to cross the wall at the step stile. The other side of the stile, bear left over a boggy patch and continue climbing through knolls and up grass and bracken rakes, but keep near the fence. Under snow the route was a bit of a free-for-all with no clear consensus.

At the top, bear left and cross the step stile just below the Brown How, Lingmoor Fell summit cairn. The views are stunning and well worth the effort.

Bear left at the summit cairn on the path beside the fence. With excellent views ahead to the Langdale Pikes, this path follows the fence, and wall, all the way to the col below Side Pike. A small number of rocky scrambles and boggy patches in the heather adds further interest. As does a sharp corner in the wall where the path drops down alongside in a short loose gully. Reaching the step stile, bear left to cross, and then bear right to follow the wall now on your right hand side.

At the col below the cliffs of Side Pike there is a fence across the ridge with a kissing gate providing access for climbers. Turn left and descend the zigzags to another step stile.

Cross the step stile and bear right up beside the beck. There is a path of intermittent sorts through bracken covered slopes. Crags hide the easier ridge path you seek, that is over to the left or above you depending on your energy levels at this point. Bear left and cross the stream to ascend an easy rake climbing the fellside from right to left. Continue climbing and threading your way through the crags to the wall and west ridge path. Bear right and continue to the top, beware of false summits. The summit lies a little further on from the brief respite of a small knoll.

Care is required at the top. Precipitous drops lie all around apart from the west ridge of ascent.

Return down the west ridge and continue over the knoll. Follow the path alongside the wall, initially on the left hand side (south) it swaps over to the right and descends through rocky terraces. A little down climbing might be required but it should never be troublesome. Hand and foot holds are well worn and easily spotted in the short sections.

At the bottom of the ridge, bear left and go through the kissing gate with the exceptionally strong springs. Cross the field to the top of the zigzag path back down to the campsite. Drop down through the stand of trees, the field and bear left through the campsite. At the road bear right to return to the Old Dungeon Ghyll.