Langdale Walks

Great Langdale is one of the finest walking valleys in England. A broad, flat-bottomed glacial trough runs west from Elterwater and Chapel Stile to the valley head. There it splits into two side valleys, Mickleden and Oxendale, beneath a ring of famous fells: the Langdale Pikes, Bowfell and Crinkle Crags. It has been a magnet for walkers and climbers since Victorian times, and it still feels like proper mountain country.

Why walk here

Langdale packs extraordinary scenery into a small area. Even a short walk from the valley floor puts you among crags, becks and waterfalls. Our Whorneyside Force walk follows quiet Oxendale from the Old Dungeon Ghyll to a hidden waterfall tucked into a rocky amphitheatre, then returns to one of the best-loved walkers' pubs in the country.

The valley also has deep history. High on the scree of Pike of Stickle, Neolithic people quarried stone for polished axes that were traded across Britain and Ireland around 5,000 years ago. This is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the region.

Getting there and around

The 516 Langdale Rambler bus runs from Ambleside up the valley to the Old Dungeon Ghyll. It makes a car-free day easy and avoids the busy car parks. Check the current timetable, as services vary by season. By car, the National Trust car parks at Stickle Ghyll and the Old Dungeon Ghyll fill very early on fine weekends. Arrive first thing, or come midweek.

Where to base yourself

The valley has a small number of historic inns, campsites and hostels, and the village of Chapel Stile has a shop and a pub. For a wider choice, Ambleside is about 20 minutes' drive away and is on the bus route. Staying in the valley itself means you can be on the fells before the day visitors arrive.

When to visit

Langdale is superb in every season, but it rewards good weather. Clear, settled days are best for the higher fells, and waterfall walks such as Whorneyside Force are at their most dramatic a day or two after rain. Becks in Oxendale rise quickly after heavy rain, so turn back if a crossing looks unsafe. In winter the surrounding tops become serious mountain terrain that needs full winter kit and experience.

More to explore

Over Wrynose and Hardknott passes lie the wild western valleys covered in our Wasdale & Eskdale guide. The central lakes and Ambleside are in our Ambleside & Grasmere guide. For more cascades, browse the Lake District waterfall walks.