Cracking one day circular from Wasdale taking in Lingmell, Great Gable and Kirkfell.
Walking Route - Lingmell Beck Circular,
Lakes
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Wasdale Head > Lingmell >
Sty Head > Kirk Fell > Wasdale
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Average Time: 4 hours 50
minutes
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Distance: 7.5 miles (12
Km)
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Height Gain: 4882 ft
(1488m)
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A stiff circular route taking in Lingmell, Great Gable
and Kirk Fell above Wasdale.
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Maps: OS LR 89, OS OL 6
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 3
Technicality: 1
Photo Grade: 4
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Start Point: NY186
087
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Overview: A circular route taking in Lingmell, Great Gable and
Kirk Fell starting and finishing from Wasdale. While these three
peaks are overshadowed by higher neighbours they give nothing away in
terms of spectacular mountain scenery.
It's a stiff walk, with over 4000ft of climbing in total, but
options for a quick return are available throughout via
Lingmell Beck if you find it hard going.
Section 1: Wasdale Head to Lingmell
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Distance: 1.8 miles (2.9km)
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Height Gain: 2329ft (710m)
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Starting from the Wasdale
Head Inn take the road down to the National Trust car park
and camp site, then take the lane towards Wastwater as far as the
bridleway signposted to "Eskdale, Scafell Route".
Follow the bridleway over the bridge then start the long climb up
Lingmell's West Ridge. The going for the first mile is consistent and
steep before levelling out at a cairn.
Gable and Kirk Fell from Lingmell - Diddy
Continue along the path towards Goat Crags then turn north east
for the final climb over grass to the summit of Lingmell.
From Lingmell the views take in Wasdale Great Gable and Kirk Fell.
Section 2: Lingmell to Great Gable
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Distance: 3 miles (4.75km)
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Height Gain: 1830ft (558m)
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Average Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
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From
Lingmell take the path south east, dropping down to
Lingmell Col, then directly turn east to pass the head of Piers Gill
and join the
Corridor Route.
Turn left heading steadily downhill to cross the head of Lingmell
Beck before arriving at Sty
Head. From the col head north to Styhead Tarn, one of the
Lakes' most popular - and sometimes overpopular - wild camp
spots.
Great Gable - Imperial
Dave
From Styhead Tarn you can backtrack slightly to tackle the the
path via Napes Needle, or the South East Ridge, alternatively a steep
1000ft ascent up Aaron Slack will bring you to the aptly named Windy
Gap.
Turn left her for the final pull up to the summit of Great
Gable with it's classic views over Wasdale.
Section 3: Great Gable to Wasdale
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Distance: 2.4 miles (3.8km)
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Height Gain: 692ft (211m)
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The quick way down from Great Gable is to drop down to the col
between Gable and Kirk Fell then turn left and follow the stream down
to join Lingmell Beck.
Having gained the height, however, it makes sense to take in
Kirk Fell too. If anything the views from the summit, achieved
by a straight climb from the col, are even better than those from
Great Gable.
The descent from Kirk Fell straight down into Wasdale -
Chris
Harper
The return to the starting point is visible from here on,
consisting of a steep and straight descent of the south ridge that
dominates the head of Wasdale.
At the bottom of the path turn left to return to the pub and your
start point. Alternatively from Kirk Fell you can carry on north west
to Black Sail Pass, where a left turn will bring you down into
Mosedale and the path back.
