Our guide to the prettiest valley in the Lake District covers all the best things to do, from walking the Langdale Pikes, photographing Blea Tarn, and ghyll scrambling to where to stay and how to get there.
By: Mark Barnes | Last Updated:
Great Langdale is our favourite valley in the Lake District, and after more visits than we can count, we still can’t quite agree on the best bit.
Paul loves the view of the Langdale Pikes reflected in Blea Tarn. I like a pint at the Old Dungeon Ghyll with sore legs after a long walk. But there is so much more to choose from.
Ascend the summits of the Langdale Pikes on a great hike, or take Jack’s Rake Grade-1 scramble up a steep rocky facade. Swim in a lake under towering peaks or slide down rocky waterfalls sunk in deep ravines.
At the end of the day, Great Langdale’s pretty villages and country pubs offer a lovely place to wind down, and its central location is an ideal base for exploring the rest of the Lake District.
Whether you’re here for a single big walk or a few days based in the valley, below is everything we think you need to know: the best hikes, where to swim, where to scramble, where to stay and how to get there.
Map: Great Langdale & the Langdale Pikes
Great Langdale is the most beautiful valley in the Lake District National Park.
It stretches from Skelwith Bridge near Ambleside in the east to the majestic peaks of Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell in the west. Its central location makes it an excellent place to base yourself in the Lakes.
The eastern end of the valley has a couple of charming villages (Elterwater and Chapel Stile). The western end is little more than a campsite and a couple of old hikers’ inns surrounded by towering mountains.
Dominating the northern side of the valley are the Langdale Pikes. These dramatic crags consist of four different mountains: Pavey Ark, Harrison Stickle, Loft Crag and Pike o’Stickle.
Below is a Google Map of the valley. We have marked the best things to do, where to stay, and helpful facilities like parking.
Click on the top right corner to open our map in your Google Maps app. Click the star next to the title to save it to your Google account.
Things to Do in Great Langdale
1. Best Hikes in Great Langdale
Many of our favourite walks in the Lake District leave from Great Langdale; in fact, the valley is one of the best bases for hiking in the Lake District.
Langdale Pikes – This jagged skyline of rocky summits rising dramatically above Great Langdale is one of the Lake District’s great sights. Fortunately, the walk to their summits is just as distinctive as the peaks themselves. After many ascents, we have picked our favourite route; details are on our Langdale Pikes walk.
Elterwater – This gentle there-and-back amble along the River Brathay to Elterwater starts and ends at the Britannia Inn. We try to go on cold mornings, when mist from the Brathay River hangs in the air and makes it very atmospheric.
Bowfell – A classic walk in the Scafell massif, this rugged yet wonderful hike ascends Rossett Gill to Esk Hause, crosses over Esk Pike and Bowfell before dropping over The Bands back into Great Langdale. The views and path are magnificent.
2. Take in the Views from Blea Tarn
Blea Tarn is nestled in a saddle between Great Langdale and Little Langdale. A narrow road twists and turns its way to a National Trust parking lot just a couple of minutes walk from the tarn.
The view here is one of the best in the Lake District. We try to come here in the morning or evening, on a still day, when the waters reflect the Langdale Pikes in all their glory.
Even better views can be had from the top of nearby Side Pike. It takes us about 30-minutes to walk from the car park to the summit.
Note that the car park is free for National Trust members, but for non-members, the ticket machines only take cash, so bring some change with you. There are a couple of free spaces next to the cattle grid as you reach the crest of the hill from Great Langdale.
3. Ghyll Scramble in Stickle Ghyll
Stickle Ghyll is a dramatic ravine cut deep into the Langdale Pikes. Walls of vertical rock rise on either side of a river containing deep pools and cascading waterfalls.
It provides one of the best places in the Lake District to try ghyll scrambling.
Ghyll scrambling involves leaping into pools, sliding over waterfalls and climbing the vertical walls up the river. You need a sense of adventure and a decent level of fitness, but no prior experience is necessary.
We always go with the team at Crag’s Adventures, who have us leaping off waterfalls and sliding down rocks we never knew possible.
The guides provide all the equipment you need, including a heavy-duty wetsuit and helmet. You’ll need sturdy shoes with a good grip that you are happy to get wet, as you’ll be climbing over polished rocks in the water.
4. Wild Swimming
Great Langdale has some of the best wild swimming in the Lake District.
Chapel Stile – Hidden away in Chapel Stile, there is a wonderful wild swimming spot in Great Langdale Beck, which is particularly good for kids. A small footbridge has a deep pool below it and plenty of room to scramble around on the rocks. Fifty yards downstream, a rope hung from a tree allows you to swing into the river.
Blea Tarn – We can tell you from firsthand experience that this place is cold. But it is also stunningly beautiful. Save for a still, warm, sunny day – if you get one.
Whorneyside Force – A dramatic waterfall that drops into a striking pool. It’s a great place for a dip, especially after a long hike. 1-hour walk each way from Old Dungeon Ghyll.
5. Jack’s Rake Grade-1 Scramble
There are some great Grade-1 scrambles in the Lake District, but possibly the finest is Jack’s Rake.
Jack’s Rake is a groove that cuts diagonally across the face of Pavey Ark. At first glance, it looks like only climbers could make their way up. But the narrow groove forms a chimney, and rocks on either side allow you to pull yourself up.
The chimney stack ends at a narrow unprotected ledge (nerve-wracking if you don’t like heights), before entering a series of blocks and grooves linked by ledges that ascend to the summit of Pavey Ark.
You need a sense of adventure, good conditions and a head for heights. I completed the scramble when I was younger, but not for quite a few years now!
Details on our Langdale Pikes walk.
6. Grab a Pint in a Hiker’s Pub
We have spent many a happy hour nursing sore limbs in the pubs of Great Langdale. Here’s our pick.
Old Dungeon Ghyll – A perennial favourite, this old hikers bar has cosy dark interior and a great beer garden. Perfectly located at the western end of the valley, the views to Crinkle Crags and Bowfell are exceptional.
Sticklebarn – A National Trust property now run by Lanty Slees, this bar/restaurant sits at the bottom of the Langdale Pikes walk. The views across to Side Pike and Pike o’Blisco are wonderful.
Wainwright’s Inn – Nestled in pretty Chapel Stile with a great wild swimming spot next door, we try to come here for Wednesday Quiz Night. Paul and I are not the best, but my brother is a quiz legend, so he has been known to win the odd free wine.
Where to Stay in Great Langdale
Great Langdale is the prettiest valley in the Lake District and, being central, it can make a great base for exploring the Lakes.
You can find all our favourite areas to stay in our Where to Stay in the Lake District, but below are our recommendations in Great Langdale.
Guesthouses, Hotels, Inns & B&Bs
Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel – Old-school hikers’ pub with rooms, just 20 minutes’ walk from the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. Very atmospheric and the best place in the valley for an end-of-walk pint. Free parking for guests and numerous trails head from its door, including routes up Bowfell and Crinkle Crags, and across Stake Pass.
New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel – The rooms could do with an update (based on our last stay), but you cannot complain about the location. Perfectly positioned at the beginning of the walk in the most beautiful of valleys, there are few better spots to stay. Free parking for guests means you’re not rushing to the trailhead in peak season.
The Britannia Inn – An excellent pub in pretty Elterwater, at the entrance to Great Langdale Valley. A good compromise between being in the heart of the valley and having easy access to Ambleside and the rest of the Lake District.
Langdale Hotel & Spa – Splash out on a little luxury in one of the most beautiful properties in the Lakes. On offer are award-winning dining, a pampering spa treatment, and leisure facilities, including a gym and an indoor pool. We have never stayed here, but we can dream.
Chapel Stile Airbnb – Chapel Stile is a charming little village halfway along Great Langdale. There is a pub (Wainwright Inn), a shop (Co-op), and a great spot to wild swim, making it an excellent village for an Airbnb. There are a few cottages to choose from, but Silver Howe is a good option for a family with two kids and dogs.
Campsites
Great Langdale National Trust Campsite – It has 175 pitches scattered across the fields of the valley (2-night minimum). Motorhomes and campervans (no caravans) are parked on hardstanding pitches with electric hook-up by the car park.
Not got a tent or van? No problem; there is a choice of basic or standard pods that sleep three adults or two adults with two children.
There are showers and toilets, as well as laundry, washing-up and drying facilities. The shop sells hot drinks, fresh pastries, and breakfast baguettes in the morning, as well as basic food supplies, confectionery, toiletries, local maps, and camping equipment.
Even better, it’s only a 5-minute walk to the Old Dungeon Ghyll pub.
Bays Brown Farm Campsite – Large, well-laid-out campsite with a back-to-nature feel and stunning views over Langdale Pikes, Bowfell, and Crinkle Crags.
The campsite does not take bookings but operates on a first-come, first-served basis between 2 pm and 8 pm. You can stay for one night most days, but 2-night minimum on bank holidays. £15 per person per night.
Stickle Tarn Wild Camping – Wild camping is not legal in England, but is often tolerated in the higher fells, and the grassy banks around Stickle Tarn are a popular spot.
Remember to arrive late (dusk) and leave early (dawn) and pack out all rubbish, do not light open fires, and avoid washing directly in the tarn water. It’s a 1-hour walk from the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel.
How to Get to Great Langdale
Great Langdale is centrally located in the Lake District. The easiest way to get around is with your own car.
By Car
To drive to Skelwith Bridge (at the eastern end of the valley) takes 10 minutes from Ambleside, 25 minutes from Grasmere and Windermere, and 35 minutes from Keswick.
From Skelwith Bridge, the drive to Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel (western end of the valley) takes 15 minutes along a narrow-ish lane that is single-track in places but has plenty of passing spots. It is not steep and is usually in good condition, making it one of the easier remote roads to drive.
There are several car parks all the way along the valley, including at Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. Both are run by the National Trust with payment machines that accept cards. You can also use the JustPark app; make sure to download and set up an account before arriving.
In peak season, both can fill up quickly, so try to arrive early (before 9 am).
By Bus
The 516 bus runs roughly every hour between Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and Ambleside (via Skelwith Bridge, Elterwater, Chapel Stile and the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel), and the journey takes 30 minutes.
If you are staying in Grasmere, Keswick, Windermere or Bowness, you’ll need to get a bus to Ambleside and change.
If you are considering visiting the Lakes without a car, read our guide on the best places to stay in the Lake District using public transport.
By Foot
By far the most fun way to arrive at Great Langdale is to hike in. There are three excellent routes.
One from Wasdale, heads up Moses Trod, over Esk Hause and down Rossett Ghyll. Another, from Borrowdale, comes over Stake Pass. Finally, you can walk in from Grasmere via Easedale Tarn.
The first two routes can be combined on an excellent multi-day hike, which can be done by sleeping in your tent at campsites or staying in inns, hotels and B&Bs.
It is our favourite way to see the Lake District, and you can find the route and booking details on the 3-5-day Lake District Hike. In my younger days, I camped, but on my last multi-day hike I treated myself to hotels and pubs.
Tips for Visiting Great Langdale
Here are a few helpful tips for visiting Great Langdale.
Great Langdale is not as remote as some other valleys. There is a Co-op and post office in Chapel Stile, a coffee shop in Elterwater, several pubs, and a shop at the Great Langdale National Trust campsite.
There is often no mobile signal in the valley, so download what you need (especially maps) in advance. The hotels & B&Bs do have wi-fi.
If you have a car and plan to use paid car parks, it can be helpful to download the JustPark app and create an account, before departing, so you can pay remotely.
Many of the car parks are run by the National Trust and cost roughly £10 per day. However, parking is free for members, so if you are touring the Lake District, consider joining the National Trust.
The best time to visit Great Langdale is May & June, when the days are long, the weather is most likely to be dry, and the summer holidays have not yet arrived. September & October are a bit wetter, but the hills have turned a lovely reddish brown.
If you are heading to Great Langdale in July & August, try to get here early (before 9am) to avoid traffic on the single-lane road.
More Lake District Guides
- Find your perfect area with our guide to the best places to stay in the Lake District.
- Use our detailed guide to see the Lake District without a car.
- Tackle one of our favourite hikes in the Lake District.
- Attempt one of the many routes up Scafell Pike.
- Or choose the best option and hike the Corridor Route.
- For the best Grade 1 scramble, hike Helvellyn via Striding Edge.
- Try one of these amazing wild swimming locations in the Lake District.
- There’s more than hiking; find more great things to do in the Lake District.
- Check out our easy-to-reach best views in the Lake District.
- Find all the great things to do in Keswick.
- Discover all the best attractions in Ambleside and the nearby area.
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Thanks for your support // Paul & Mark