Exploring Great Langdale — A Local Guide

The Langdale Pikes

Stickle Tarn sits at 470 metres in the cwm directly below Pavey Ark — black water held under a 275-metre cliff face. You reach it via the Stickle Ghyll path from the New Dungeon Ghyll car park: 45 minutes of steady climbing up a ravine carved by the gill. Above the tarn, the ridge opens to the four summits: Harrison Stickle (736m), Loft Crag (682m), Pike of Stickle (709m), and Pavey Ark itself. Harrison Stickle is the highest and gives the broadest view — west over the Coniston fells, south to Morecambe Bay, north to Helvellyn and the Skiddaw group.

Pavey Ark’s cliff is divided by Jack’s Rake, a diagonal scrambling route that requires hands-on rock throughout. Below it, the Great Slab holds several defined climbing lines used by technical climbers from the valley. Most walkers take the Easy Gully route from the tarn to the summit — steep and loose in places but straightforward without technical difficulty. Return the same way or continue along the ridge to the other three summits before dropping back via Dungeon Ghyll.

Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Climbers Bar

The CAMRA Good Beer Guide-listed Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel has stood at the western end of the valley for over 300 years. The Climbers Bar was converted from the original stone cattle stalls — the partitions remain as booths, the stall fittings are original, and the bar has had no significant renovation since the mid-20th century. Climbers arriving from Gimmer Crag or Raven Crag in harness is a common sight on summer afternoons; the social patterns of the climbing community here are essentially unchanged from the post-war era.

The New Dungeon Ghyll, a mile east, is more modern and serves the main car park and trailhead traffic; better suited for families or groups wanting a cafe alongside the pub.

Crinkle Crags, Bow Fell and the Big Ridge Days

The start is from the Old Dungeon Ghyll car park, heading south-west to Red Tarm before the Crinkle Crags ridge. There are five distinct crinkles; the fourth has the Bad Step — a short descent with real exposure on one side. A bypass path on the right avoids it without losing the route. Bow Fell (902m) follows the ridge north from the final crinkle and gives a 360-degree summit view in clear conditions. The Band — a long, broad ridge — returns to the valley floor close to the Old Dungeon Ghyll. Total: roughly 12km, 900m of ascent, 5-7 hours for most parties.

Rock Climbing Heritage

The routes on Gimmer Crag were being established in the 1890s, before climbing grades existed as a formal system. The crag’s 120-metre face runs from Moderate to E grades; the classics — Amen Corner, Gimmer String, F Route — have been in continuous use for more than a century. Raven Crag above Chapel Stile and White Ghyll Crag further into the valley offer more traditional climbing lines above different sections of the valley floor. The Dungeon Ghyll pubs serve as bases; arriving from a route and sitting in the Climbers Bar is a living tradition, not a revival.

Holiday Cottages in Great Langdale: Choosing Your Base

The valley is compact — roughly 5 miles from Elterwater to the Dungeon Ghyll hotels — so any cottage puts you within reach of the main routes. The village base shapes the character of the stay, and the three main options suit different types of visit.

Elterwater (2 miles east of New Dungeon Ghyll) is the quietest option. The Britannia Inn faces the village green, and the riverside path to Chapel Stile is flat enough for children in ordinary footwear. Holiday cottages in Great Langdale around Elterwater tend to be the larger barn conversions — stone steadings set back from the green, often sleeping 8 or more, with gardens facing the lower fell flanks. This is the right base for groups who want somewhere that feels genuinely away from things: Ambleside is 20 minutes by car for larger shops and restaurants.

Chapel Stile, a mile further down the valley, is slightly more practical: a village store, a church, and direct access to the valley path. Holiday cottages in Great Langdale around Chapel Stile are typically closer to the road and benefit from better mobile signal than properties deeper in the valley.

The Dungeon Ghyll end puts you within minutes of the Stickle Ghyll trailhead and both Dungeon Ghyll hotels. Several properties close to both hotels operate as holiday cottages in Great Langdale throughout the year, and for a walking-focused visit centred on the Pikes or the Crinkle Crags ridge, the convenience is hard to match.

Self-catering suits the rhythm of fell walking here. Early starts before the trailhead car parks fill by 9am in high summer, late returns from a ridge that took longer than expected, picnic lunches rather than a fixed pub schedule — holiday cottages in Great Langdale are built for exactly that pattern. Most properties have drying rooms or boot stores; worth confirming if you are visiting between October and April.

For larger groups, the barn conversions around Elterwater and Chapel Stile often sleep 8-12 and include substantial gardens. Couples here for climbing on Gimmer Crag or Raven Crag will find a smaller property close to the Old Dungeon Ghyll more practical. The main trade-off across holiday cottages in Great Langdale is between seclusion (Elterwater end) and immediate access to the walking routes (Dungeon Ghyll end).

Pet-Friendly and Family Holiday Cottages in Great Langdale

Dogs are well-suited to this valley. The fell paths above the intake walls are largely unfenced, the Stickle Ghyll path is wide enough for a dog on a lead to the tarn, and the valley floor circuit from Elterwater to Chapel Stile is straightforward in any weather. Most holiday cottages in Great Langdale that accept dogs have enclosed gardens or secure outdoor space; this varies between properties so worth checking the listing. The Britannia Inn at Elterwater and both Dungeon Ghyll hotels accept dogs in at least part of the building.

For families, the valley offers a range of difficulty that suits mixed-ability groups. Younger children manage the valley floor circuit easily; the ascent to Stickle Tarn is achievable for confident walkers aged around 10 and above. Holiday cottages in Great Langdale that sleep larger groups — typically the barn conversions at the Elterwater end — are often the most practical option for families, with space for drying kit and parking for multiple vehicles.

Several holiday cottages in Great Langdale have hot tubs — not an unreasonable amenity when you may return from 5-7 hours on the ridge in damp kit at 6pm in October. Check whether the hot tub is included in the base price or charged as a supplement, as the convention varies. A wood-burning stove is the other feature worth prioritising for autumn and winter; the valley can be cold and wet between October and March, and holiday cottages in Great Langdale with open fires make a material difference to an evening in after a long day on the fells.

What to Bring for a Walking Holiday in Great Langdale

The Lake District’s weather changes quickly at any time of year. The standard kit list for a day on the Langdale Pikes includes waterproof jacket and trousers, an insulating layer (fleece or lightweight down), and walking boots with ankle support and a waterproof lining. Gaiters are useful on the Stickle Ghyll path in wet weather; trainers are not suitable above the tarn.

A map — the OS Explorer OL6 covers the entire valley — and a compass are necessary if you are going onto the Pikes or The Crinkle Crags ridge in anything other than clear visibility. Navigation apps work here but phone batteries in cold and wet conditions drop faster than at lower altitudes; a paper map as backup is sensible.

For the valley floor walks between Elterwater and Chapel Stile, ordinary walking shoes are adequate in dry conditions. For families with children, the Stickle Ghyll path in summer is manageable in decent trainers but becomes genuinely hazardous when wet — proper footwear makes the difference between an enjoyable ascent and an anxious one.

Most holiday cottages in Great Langdale have drying rooms, utility rooms, or at least a porch for boot storage. Check this specifically if you are visiting in autumn or winter — returning from wet fells with nowhere to dry kit is a significant inconvenience in a multi-day stay.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Great Langdale?

Late September and October give the best combination of accessible car parks, reliable autumn colour, and walking conditions that are still reasonable for most fell routes. The New Dungeon Ghyll car park fills by 9am on most summer Saturdays — staying in the valley in holiday cottages in Great Langdale removes that problem entirely.

May and June offer the best balance of day length, clearer skies, and car parks accessible before the school holidays start. The Pikes hold snow well into March in harder winters; winter visits are for experienced walkers with navigation skills and appropriate kit. The valley floor walk from Elterwater to Chapel Stile is accessible year-round.

The mixed woodland above Chapel Stile and the birch and rowan on the lower fell flanks are best in the second and third weeks of October. Most holiday cottages in Great Langdale are available year-round; booking at least 6 months ahead is sensible for August and school half-terms.

Getting to Great Langdale

Great Langdale is reached from Ambleside by the B5343, running west through Chapel Stile and Elterwater to the Dungeon Ghyll hotels at the valley head — about 6 miles and 15 minutes by car. From Keswick, the route goes south via Grasmere before joining the B5343: around 35 minutes.

There is no through road at the valley head. The Wrynose Pass road exits via Little Langdale on a single-track route with limited passing places — not suitable for motorhomes or large vehicles. The Langdale Rambler (bus 516) runs between Ambleside and Elterwater during summer months. The Lake District National Park publishes live car park information on busy days.

Staying in the valley rather than driving in from Ambleside removes the car park problem. Most holiday cottages in Great Langdale are within 5 minutes walk of the main trailheads. A car is still useful for longer drives to Keswick or Windermere on rest days — parking at the valley is easy when you are already based there.

Holiday Cottages in Great Langdale — Quick Reference

• Holiday cottages in Great Langdale sleeping 2–12: Elterwater, Chapel Stile, and the Dungeon Ghyll end all have options
• Holiday cottages in Great Langdale with dogs: most properties accepted; check listing for enclosed gardens
• Holiday cottages in Great Langdale with hot tubs: available at selected properties; check if included or extra
• Holiday cottages in Great Langdale with open fires or wood burners: common, especially barn conversions
• Holiday cottages in Great Langdale with drying rooms: standard at most properties; confirm for autumn and winter visits
• Holiday cottages in Great Langdale nearest the Langdale Pikes: Old Dungeon Ghyll end for shortest approach to Stickle Ghyll
• Holiday cottages in Great Langdale near Elterwater: largest barn conversions; quieter base; best for groups sleeping 8+

What is Great Langdale famous for?

Great Langdale is famous for the Langdale Pikes — Harrison Stickle (736m), Loft Crag (682m), Pike of Stickle (709m), and Pavey Ark (700m) — whose silhouette defines the central Lake District. The valley is also known for Stickle Tarn beneath Pavey Ark’s cliff face, the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel (over 300 years of continuous hospitality, the Climbers Bar intact in its original cattle stall form), and the Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell ridge walk. Gimmer Crag has been a significant traditional climbing venue since the 1890s.

What are the Langdale Pikes?

The Langdale Pikes are a group of four fell summits at the head of Great Langdale: Harrison Stickle (736m), Loft Crag (682m), Pike of Stickle (709m), and Pavey Ark (700m with a 275-metre cliff face above Stickle Tarn). They form the most photographed skyline in the Lake District. The standard ascent from the New Dungeon Ghyll car park via Stickle Ghyll reaches Stickle Tarn in around 45 minutes and the summit ridge in a further 30-40 minutes; most fit adults complete the return walk in 3-4 hours.

Where do you stay in Great Langdale?

Holiday cottages in Great Langdale — in the valley itself and in the nearby villages of Chapel Stile and Elterwater — are the main accommodation option for groups and families. The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel both offer rooms. Elterwater, 2 miles east of the New Dungeon Ghyll, is the quietest base: the Britannia Inn, a small green, and easy access to the valley’s best circular routes.

Is Great Langdale good for beginners?

The valley floor path from Elterwater to the Old Dungeon Ghyll (5km, mostly flat) is accessible to any reasonably fit adult. The ascent to Stickle Tarn via Stickle Ghyll is a moderate fell walk — most adults complete it without difficulty, though the path is steep and loose in places. The Langdale Pikes summits themselves are straightforward in good conditions, but waterproofs, a map, and appropriate footwear are necessary. Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell are not suitable for novice walkers: sustained terrain and the Bad Step require scrambling experience.

How do you get to Great Langdale?

From Ambleside, take the B5343 west through Chapel Stile and Elterwater to the valley head — 6 miles, around 15 minutes. From Keswick, go south via Grasmere then west along the B5343: around 35 minutes. The Langdale Rambler (bus 516) runs between Ambleside and Elterwater in summer. Valley head car parks fill quickly on summer weekends; staying in holiday cottages in Great Langdale rather than driving in from Ambleside removes this constraint entirely.

More Holiday Cottages in Great Langdale

Great Langdale is one corner of the Lake District’s central fells — and the wider region rewards the same approach of self-catering in the landscape. From the shores of Derwentwater above Keswick to the ridges above Ullswater, the Lake District has a range of locations that suit different kinds of walking holiday.

Holiday Cottages in the Lake District