Rossett Pike, Allen Crags, Great End & Esk Pike

Rossett Pike, Allen Crags, Great End & Esk Pike -
Thursday 28 March 2019

Route 

Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel (ODG) - Mickleden - Rossett Gill - Rossett Pike - Angle Tarn - Allen Crags - Esk Hause - Great End - Esk Hause - Esk Pike - Ore Gap - Angle Tarn - Rossett Gill - Mickleden - ODG

Parking

ODG Hotel, Langdale £3 (Pay in Hotel) - Grid Ref NY285060

Mileage

11.8 miles

Terrain

Mainly good paths throughout. Care needs to be taken on the higher part of Rossett Gill where we deviated away from the main path - minor scrambling. The area in and around Esk Hause can be confusing in mist.

Weather

A mixed weather day. Low cloud in the morning followed by blue skies in the afternoon.

Time Taken

8hrs 15mins

Total Ascent

3667ft (1118m)

Wainwrights

4

Map

OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)

GPX File

28_mar_19_-_great_end_actual.gpx
File Size:	278 kb
File Type:	gpx

Download File

Walk Description

Langdale has always been a favourite destination for us - it has so much to offer for the walker & mountaineer with lots of different routes with plenty of variety & appeal. Today we were joined by Jessie, a native of San Jose in California who was over here on holiday and who we had walked Bowfell with a few days before. The walk today would follow the path up through Mickleden to reach Rossett Pike - firstly via the Rossett Gill path before breaking off to scramble up alongside the ravine. In our opinion, this is a better route up than the flagged path and provides a bit of hand on rock without getting too technical. The intention then was to summit Allen Crags, Great End and Esk Pike to then drop down into Ore Gap below Bowfell. We would then join our outward route but would remain on the Rossett Gill path to then reach the valley floor and our outward path back to the ODG via Mickleden.

At the foot of the Rossett Gill path at the head of Mickleden is a path junction - today we were off to Esk Hause.

Leaving Mickleden to head up the Rossett Gill path - the Langdale Pikes provide the backdrop

We took a detour well off the main path to visit the Packwomans Grave. A small cairn and cross of stones pointing south east indicate the grave which contains the remains of a woman who used to call at Langdale farms with various items for sale. Her remains were found & buried here over 200 years ago. As Wainwright himself said "it has suffered little disturbance down the years, but because so many folk nowadays seem unable to leave things alone its precise location is not divulged here" (Rossett Pike 4).

I shall not divulge its location either.

An alternative way up to the top of Rossett Gill is via an enjoyable scramble which rejoins the main path at the col near Rossett Pike

Heading up the loose stone scramble - Fudge as usual is in sniff mode & leads the way

Looking back down the scramble ascent from near the junction with the main Rossett Gill path.
In my opinion this is a far more enjoyable way up than the stepped path.

Another view of the scramble ascent from the junction with the Rossett Gill path

The western cairn on Rossett Pike - the summit of the fell

It is worth walking along the summit ridge of Rossett Pike to the eastern cairn for an excellent view of Mickleden, The Langdale Pikes & High Raise.

Angle Tarn - it has just dawned on Fudge that there is water to be swam in

Hanging Knotts on the northern end of Bowfell

The transit towards Allen Crags from Rossett Pike.
The Langdale Pikes are to the left, Rossett Pike centre with Hanging Knotts to the right.

The summit of Allen Crags looking to Esk Pike, Ore Gap & Bowfell

Allen Crags looking to Great End & Ill Crag

Looking back to Allen Crags from just below Esk Hause near the cross shelter.
The path coming in from the left is from Styhead & Sprinkling Tarn whilst the one to the right is the path coming up from Rossett Pike

Ill Crag from Esk Hause

Esk Hause looking to Esk Pike - we were off to Great End first

The summit of Great End looking to the north western cairn

As we had time to spare we headed over to the north western cairn of Great End across the summit plateau

A moody and misty looking Lingmell from Great End

Looking back to Great End's summit from the north western cairn

Looking to Ill Crag & Scafell Pike from Great End

Descending from Great End via the stony scree. The 2 people below are on the popular Scafell Pike path from/to Esk Hause.

The scree descent from Great End down to Esk Hause.
If you want to avoid this then head south/south west from Great End's summit to reach the Scafell Pike path.