Bowfell & The Great Slab Guided Walk

A guided walk taking on Bowfell and the Great Slab. The distance is 8 miles approx 3340ft approx. ascents and undertakes summits of Bowfell, Esk Pike and Rossett Pike. A brilliant guided walk of the Great slab area and a great way to see Bowfell. 

From The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel we will follow the path climbing along The Band, but instead of following the path all the way to Three Tarns we turn off to the right, following the Climbers Traverse. This path leads to the foot of Bowfell Buttress, a wonderful huge rock face high above the Langdale Valley.

Here we turn off the climbers routes and instead pick a path climbing along the Great Slab, a huge slab of volcanic rock at an angle that is easy enough to walk over! In damp conditions there is a path to the side of the slab.

As we reach the top of the slab we will have breathtaking views behind us over the Langdale Valley and ahead of us will come into view the summit of Bowfell, one of the best summits in Lakeland.

A short walk brings us onto the rocky summit where we will be rewarded with views on a good day to the south and west over the Coniston Fells, Morecambe Bay and to the summits of Scafell & Scafell Pike.

A short walk over Ore Gap will bring us onto our next summit of Esk Pike with great views down the Eskdale Valley before we descend to Esk Hause, the main pass between Eskdale and Borrowdale.

After descending below Esk Pike to Angle Tarn a short climb will bring us to the summit of Rossett Pike, here we will be rewarded with great views along the Langdale Valley before our descent to Mickleden and the valley walk back to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel.

Itinerary

Difficulty: Moderate / Hard

A few steep sections and one exposed section with a drop to one side

Distance:13km / 8 miles approx.

Ascent:1030m / 3340ft approx.

Time:6 hours

Start Time:10am

Summits included on this route:

Bowfell 902 metres/2959 feet

Esk Pike 885 metres/2904 feet

Rossett Pike 650 metres/2133 feet

Pickup / Dropoff

Where to Meet: The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, Langdale

Time:10am

Postcode: LA22 9JY

Grid Reference: NY 286 061

Directions: From Ambleside – Leave on the A593, signposted to Langdale and Coniston, follow this road until the junction with Ellers Brow, turn right onto Ellers Brow, signposted to Chapel Stile and Langdale. Follow this road through the village of Chapel Stile and continue past the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel to the right, continue along this lane to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, on the right, there is a National Trust pay car park outside the Hotel for walkers

Essential Information

Each participant is expected to have suitable personal equipment for their activity this should include the following:

Walking shoes / Boots

Waterproof clothing (Jacket and trousers)

Suitable clothing for walking (no jeans)

Warm tops

Packed lunch

Spare clothing

Water

Hat

Gloves