Pike of Blisco Round

Walking the Pike of Blisco Round is a fun adventure that is filled with some rugged terrain and more than its fair share of ascents and descents. In order to better traverse the rocky and sometimes boggy terrain of the moor, be sure to wear sturdy walking boots. Additionally, make sure to have your GPS handy, as portions of this route go off the trail for some scenic views.

Although this walk will see you gain a fair bit of elevation throughout its length, it is not an overly challenging or technical route. While out walking the moors, you will climb several peaks with incredible views over both the Great and Little Langdale valleys, as well as the surrounding fells that characterize the landscape. If you enjoy leaving the beaten path behind to blaze your own trail, then this walk is sure to be of interest to you.

Setting out from the car park next to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, head left along the road and follow it over Great Langdale Beck, continuing on until you arrive at the edge of the B5343. Turn right here and follow the road for 250ft, before turning left. After 0.1mi, turn left towards the Great Langdale Campsite and pick up the next trail on your right to begin the climb uphill toward the summit of Side Pike.

Keep straight along this path for the next 0.5mi, passing through a series of three kissing gates and one regular gate to eventually arrive at a junction. Make two successive lefts along the trail and keep right for the next 0.3mi to make your way up the rugged terrain to the summit of Side Pike. Here, you will find a short path on your left that will take you up to the summit viewpoint. After taking in the views of the surrounding fells and Blea Tarn to the south, head back to the main trail and follow it southeast for 0.94mi to arrive at the summit of Lingmoor Fell.

From the top of this peak, you will have some spectacular views stretching out to the east over the Great Langdale Valley and to the west toward the final summit of the day, Pike of Blisco. From the summit viewpoint, follow the path leading southwest and keep right for the next 0.62mi, crossing over a stile to descend the hillside with views overlooking Blea Tarn.

Arriving at the edge of the road near the Blea Tarn House, turn left and follow the road south for 0.3mi, passing by the tarn until you reach the National Trust car park. Turn right and pass through the gate to access the trail, following it west through another gate to cross over Bleamoss Beck. From here, turn right and make your way along the western shore of Blea Tarn, taking a few moments to appreciate the calm surrounding of the lake.

After passing through the forest on the edge of the tarn, you will quickly arrive at a junction. Head right and pass through the gate, continuing on for 0.1mi to another junction. Take the path on the left and follow it up the steep hillside for the next 0.3mi, turning left along the path to continue on for 0.1mi. Here, you will need to keep an eye on your GPS as you leave the trail behind and climb up along the rugged terrain of the moor for 0.4mi between Bleaberry Knott and Blake Rigg. From here, you will have an amazing view to the southeast overlooking Little Langdale Valley.

Take in the sights along this off-trail portion of the walk and make your way west for 0.4mi to meet back up with the trail. Once there, continue west for 0.63mi to climb up the craggy terrain that characterizes the ascent of Pike of Blisco. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the surrounding fells, with the Langdale Pikes to the north and Cold Pike to the southwest, before descending the hillside to the west.

After 0.4mi of downhill walking, turn right and follow the path as it runs parallel to Browney Gill for 1.0mi and meets up with Oxendale Beck. Pass through the gates here and make your way over the bridge, taking the track on the right to walk along the valley floor while enjoying the views of the surrounding fells.

Pass through the gate and the kissing gate to continue straight along this route to the northeast, reaching the grounds of Stool End Farm after 0.5mi. After making your way through another gate, keep right onto the road and follow it for 0.7mi as you enjoy the scenic views across the valley. Turn left along the road here to cross back over Great Langdale Beck and arrive back at the car park where you began the Pike of Blisco Round.