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This walk starts from the Three Shire Stone on the Wrynose Pass. The Wrynose Pass is a small road that heads across the South Lakes crossing two seriously steep and winding mountain passes. To find the pass take the A593 road between Coniston and Ambleside and just a mile south and uphill from Skelwith Bridge head off down the road signposted for Elterwater and Little Langdale. After reaching the bottom of that valley and crossing the river take the steep road off to the left signposted for Little Langdale. You should pass through the beautiful Little Langdale village and the Three Shire Inn and eventually see picturesque Little Langdale Tarn on your left. After crossing a cattle grid keep to the road on the left signposted to Wrynose and ignore the road to the right to Langdale. Drive slowly through the idyllically located Fells Foot Farm, a 17th century Grade II listed National Trust property. The road now ascends the steep gradient and eventually reaches the summit where a dozen or so road side parking places can be found.
Three Shire Stone |
Wrynose Pass |
The Three Shire Stone is an impressive triangular limestone pillar that marks the position where until 1974 the old counties of Lancashire, Cumberland and Westmorland once met. The stone is carved with the name Lancashire on one side and W.F. 1816 on the other which is the initials of the Furness roadmaster William Field for whom the stone was made in 1816. The stone wasn't erected until 1860 and stood the test of time until 1997 when it was damaged by a motor vehicle, it was soon restored by Gordon Greaves of Troutbeck Bridge a year later. There are several other Three Shire Stones in Britain which were used for the same boundary marking purposes.
Car parked by Three Shire Stone on the Wrynose Pass |
The Three Shire Stone is situated on the summit of the Wrynose Pass road. The Wrynose Pass summit reaches a lofty height of three hundred and ninety three metres above sea level making it an ideal starting point for a mountain walk with the Coniston Fells easily accessible from a path leading off it to the South and the rest of the Central Fells easily accessible from a path leading off it to the North. The views from the pass are incredible with a view over the Little Langdale valley when descending back towards Ambleside and a view into the Upper Duddon Valley when descending west towards the even steeper and windier Hardknott Pass. The Wrynose Pass is one of the steepest roads in England, and is no place for an inexperienced driver in winter conditions so do take care.
Long Scar on Pike of Blisco |
From Three Shire Stone take the path that heads north to Red Tarn. The path crosses a few boggy patches on the first few hundred yards and never really improves that much but is always an obvious path. On your right as you follow the path the crags of Long Scar on Pike of Blisco's south side dominate the view. The path crosses a few streams at an area known on the map as the Duddon Grains, these are the source of the well known River Duddon which makes its way through the Duddon Valley and out to the Duddon Estuary. Looking back now as the path gains height you can see over the Wrynose Path to the Coniston Fells on the south side of the pass. From left to right you should be able to identify Wetherlam, Swirl How, Great Carrs and Grey Friar. Also visible from this point at the end of the westerly view down the Upper Duddon Valley you may be able to make out the cars struggling up the Hardknott Pass and the lonely hill of Harter Fell.
Duddon Grains |
Red Tarn & Swirl How |
Once the path levels out it will then take an easy descent to the eastern side of the beautiful Red Tarn. High above Red Tarn on the other side of the valley is Cold Pike, Pike of Blisco's relatively less trodden neighbour. The scene here in winter is often a cold one as the valley sees little sunshine on a winters day, it being shadowed for most of the day by these two mountains and by the Coniston Fells. The views ahead now will open up for you to get your first glimpse of Crinkle Crags and the mighty Bowfell beyond. Walk to the far north eastern end of the tarn and just as the path turns left heading towards the path crossing the stream there is a rough path heading right off the main path that will take you up a rough ascent to Pike of Blisco. Take this path off to the right and head up the side of Pike of Blisco. You may have spotted some of the local Herdwick Sheep by now, local to the Cumbrian Fells and to many the nicest sheep your likely to see.
Cold Pike above Red Tarn |
Herdwick Sheep |
The path up Pike of Blisco is quite rough in places but fairly obvious most of the way and its fairly obvious which direction is heading up towards the summit. Once you reach the top you will see that there is actually two summits, the highest of the two summits is the one to the north with a big round stone cairn looking down into the Langdale Valley. A faint path heads up on the left hand side of the summit rocks avoiding the more difficult route on the right. The summit of Pike of Blisco stands at a proud seven hundred and five metres above sea level, just four metres higher than its neighbouring Cold Pike.
Crinkle Crags & Bowfell from Pike of Blisco |
The mountains name is often surrounded in controversy as it was originally known as Pike o' Blisco and over the years has been anglicised into Pike of Blisco and now appears as such on OS mapping. Alfred Wainwright certainly knew which was his preferred name and said that "the man has no blood in his veins who does not respond eagerly to its fine-sounding, swashbuckling name". He'd most likely not be happy at the Ordnance Survey or myself for referring to it by its anglicised name.
Bowfell from Pike of Blisco |
Pike of Blisco Summits |
From the summit of Pike of Blisco you can do a complete panorama starting with the obvious Cold Pike across Red Tarn turning clock wise you will pass the line of bumps known as Crinkle crags with there mighty neighbour the pointy Bowfell, turning clockwise again across the Langdale Valley below you will be in direct view of the Langdale Pike. Continuing round in the distance you'll see the mighty massif of Helvellyn which eventually slopes down from the Fairfield Horseshoe to Ambleside at the top of Windermere. Then of course looking to the south you see the Coniston Fells with the bulk of Wetherlam on the left directly to the south of Pike of Blisco.
Crinkle Crags & Bowfell from Red Tarn |
After experiencing the views from both of Pike of Blisco's two summits descend the same path back down to Red Tarn, this time enjoying the views you couldn't see on your way up. Once back at Red Tarn turn left heading back down the path the same way you came. On you return you can now marvel at the Coniston Fells. The path will lead you back to the Three Shire Stone at Wrynose Pass where care should be taken on your drive back down the steep road. The Three Shire Inn in Little Langdale now awaits you with local real ales and freshly made food. |
Duration
: 2.5 Hrs
