| Rock Type | Mostly rhyolite, some slate |
| Access |
Langdale is 6km west of Ambleside and lies
west to east. The B5343 leaves the A593 at Ambleside and runs along great Langdale,
until the Old Dungeon Ghyll pub, where it heads south past Blea tarn to
join little Langdale and Wrynose pass.
There are car parks at the Old and New Dungeon Ghyll hotels. These can fill up very quickly so it is often wise to not visit Langdale during the height of the summer. |
| Comments |
Langdale is a large open valley, formed by a
glacier. This has left it with a wide base, and steep sides. This is most
evident in Mickleden at the end of great Langdale.
As the glacier moved it formed hundreds of crags, of all different sizes and shapes. The best crags seem to be the ones formed by ghylls and not the glacier, white ghyll for instance. |
| Crags |
Raven Crag Walthwaite, S - E5. Away from
the crowds, clean solid rock, and a good pub in easy walking distance.
Scout Crag, VD - E6. Three crags, each offering different experiences. The lower crag gets a lot of group use. White Ghyll Crag, D - E4. Despite the horrendous walk up the ghyll, this crag has some of the best climbs in Langdale. Pavey Ark, VD - E9. The largest wall in the valley, where Dave Birkett keeps finding more difficult lines. Far West Raven Crag, D - E3. Small, clean, out of the way. Middle Fell Buttress, D - E4. Has one classic climb. Gimmer Crag, D - E4. A lot of climbs in the mid grades, and an excellent position. Black Crag, D - E5. The BEST crag in Langdale, despite its small size. Side Pike, M - E5. This crag deserves more visitors. The rock is clean, the routes are steep, and the crag is not too far from a road. Helm Crag, MS - E3. Not strictly in Langdale, but it is still a good buttress with 14 nice routes. |
| Guide Book |
Langdale by Fell & Rock Climbing Club |
| Local Facilities | The Old Dungeon Ghyll sells the best ice cream, the raspberry ripple is delicious. It is also the best hotel in my opinion. The Sticklebarn is probably the best place to get hammered. The National Trust campsite is excellent. The campsite shop sells hamburgers that you cook in the microwave, no need for a crappy camping stove. |