Langdale YHA (High Close)
High Close was at one time our preferred destination for the autumn Wander and so having decided to make a return visit in 2016, we headed North in late September to once again experience the delights of Langdale.
What we didn’t reckon with, however, were the delights of the M6 motorway which these days seems to have turned into a giant linear car park for long stretches. A late arrival for some of us was inevitable, as was a stroll down to the Britania in Elterwater for a few ales.
On the Saturday, we opted to take a walk around the Langdale Pikes and after considerable car parking shenanigans (mostly because we all set off without agreeing where we were actually going), we eventually found ourselves heading up to Stickle Tarn via Stickle Ghyll from the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. The weather wasn’t tremendous, but at least the rain held off and by the time we arrived on Pavey Ark it was pretty misty, but with some visibility. After a lunch stop we headed over to Harrison Stickle and then onto Pike of Stickle (it’s all Stickles around here) for some interesting scrambling to reach the summit. By this point it was extremely windy with Phoebe being blown over and off the path at one point. After this, we headed back to the car park and then onto the Old Dungeon Ghyll for drinks. You can view the route for this walk here.
Saturday evening was spent in the very cosy common room at the hostel – everyone being too knackered to walk down into Elterwater again. On Sunday, before heading home, we took a boat trip on Coniston Water followed by drinks at the Bluebird cafe.
Until next time, keep wandering!
Photographs can also be downloaded here.
Wayne's Wanderers 