Stake Pass, Martcrag Moor to Angle Tarn, Rossett Pass

After a night of heavy rain this was a decidedly wet hike through some of the more remote parts of the Langdale Valley. I followed the valley towards its upper reaches before beginning the long climb up to Stake Pass, one of the historic mountain passes linking Great Langdale with Langstrath and Borrowdale.

From the top of the pass, the route continued across the exposed landscape of Martcrag Moor. The weather had closed in by this point, with heavy rain making the moorland feel particularly wild and remote. After reaching Angle Tarn, the descent took me via Rossett Pass and down the steep-sided Rossett Gill, with a couple more heavy showers and eventually bringing me back into the upper Langdale valley. 

The weather certainly added to the character of the walk. There were occasional spells of sunshine between some very heavy showers, but by the time I reached the van I was thoroughly soaked.

Crinkle Crags

Starting from Great Langdale, I headed up into the fells towards Crinkle Crags.

Crinkle Crags forms part of two major rings of mountains surrounding the valleys of Great Langdale and Upper Eskdale. The name comes from the distinctive shape of its summit ridge, which rises and falls through a series of five rocky summits and depressions, or ‘crinkles’, that are particularly striking when viewed from the valley below. The name is thought to derive from the Old English cringol, meaning twisted or wrinkled.

The summit ridge offers impressive views in every direction, taking in Great Langdale, Eskdale and Dunnerdale. Looking north-west, there is also a view of Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain, just four kilometres away.

This was a tough hike, with plenty of steep climbs and descents along the ridge, as well as several sections of hands-on rock scrambling. It was hard work, but the views and the character of the ridge made it well worth the effort.