Route: Lingmell
Area: Southern Lake District
Date of walk: 25th November 2021
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 4.9 miles
Ascent: 2,500 feet
Weather: Sunny, very cold
It’s been over 5 years since I last climbed Lingmell and a return visit was well overdue. I parked in the National Trust car park at Brackenclose, where a small visitor centre has recently been added in order to serve the needs of the many walkers who climb Scafell Pike from here. I made an early start and set off along the Hollow Stones path to Scafell Pike, which follows the course of Lingmell Gill. After a short distance I turned off to the left to follow a fainter path up the nose of Lingmell. There then followed 2,500 feet of relentless ascent at varying angles. Sometimes the path was a gentle climb up a grassy slope and at others it was steep and rocky, but never so steep as to involve the use of hands. This is a perfectly safe route up the fell
After various false summits, I reached Goat Crags, a rocky section below the summit of Lingmell. A vague path took me to the summit from where there are awe inspiring views over Lingmell Crags to some of the most dramatic scenery in lakeland. It was bitterly cold up here – several degrees below freezing, with a wind chill factor making it feel even colder. I was glad to have brought full winter gear
I then descended to Lingmell Col, and made my way across to the Hollow Stones path to Scafell Pike. The descent is obvious from here and it’s simply a question of following the well made rocky path back down to valley level, with lovely views of Wast Water along the way. Eventually I rejoined the path to Brackenclose and retraced my steps to the start of a wonderful walk
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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A few photos taken last week week - red squirrel in the garden...
A full moon, known as the 'Beaver Moon', setting behind trees on Fellbarrow
The start of today's walk as I follow the Hollow Stones path to Scafell Pike. I'll return along this path later, but here branch left to start the climb up to Lingmell
Lingmell - the summit is unseen from here and is some distance away from what appears to be the highest point
The moon above Wastwater
Looking up to Scafell Pike and Scafell
A view back over Wastwater, with the Irish Sea in the distance
An easy grassy section
More views back over Wastwater as I gain height...
I cross this ruined dry stone wall to follow a faint path towards Goat Crags on the left
Looking across to Great Gable
Goat Crags ahead
Looking back
Nearly there
A thrilling vista opens up, with Styhead Tarn and Borrowdale appearing beyond Lingmell Crags
Styhead Tarn and Lingmell Crags
Great Gable on the left...
...and Great End on the right
Summit cairn on Lingmell
Looking back along my ascent route
The view into Borrowdale again
Great End
It was bitterly cold up there, and no place to linger, so I made my way down to Lingmell Col. Scafell Pike is within easy reach, but is usually very crowded so I gave it a miss
Looking across to Great End as I descend to the col
Illgill Head and Wastwater
The chasm of Piers Gill on my left
I cross the ruined dry stone wall to seek out the nearby path to Scafell Pike, which I'll use for the descent
Looking up to Mickledore between Scafell Pike and Scafell
I reach the Hollow Stones path, which is well engineered and easy to follow
Lingmell Gill
Looking back up to Pulpit Rock on Scafell Pike
Back down to valley level, and I follow the path across the head of Wastwater
A view back to the lower slopes of Lingmell on the left
Wasdale Head
Another view of Wasdale Head as I approach Brackenclose and the end of a fabulous walk
On the way back I stopped the car to admire the view along Wastwater to the head of Wasdale
