Starting point: NT car park, Blea Tarn  (NY 296043)  Distance: 3.13 miles  Ascent: 1205'

A walk up on to Lingmoor Fell with a return over Side Pike with its tremendous views across Langdale to the Pikes.  In summer, the heather on the top gives the fell a purple sheen, showing that it is well-named.  The route passes behind 'The Squeeze Flake' on Side Pike, apparently unknown to Wainwright when he wrote The Southern Fells.

Route: Start from the NT car park near Blea Tarn and walk north along the road towards Bleatarn House, described in 'The Solitary' as written by William Wordsworth.  For an extract of the poem, click here.  Take a path slanting up the fell, turning up on to the summit just past a fallen tree.  Follow the wall north west before dropping down steeply and then circumventing crags on Side Pike passing behind The Flake, climb up to the rocky summit where there is a superlative view of the Langdale Pikes.  Drop down to a stile leading on to the road.  Cross the road and find a well-made access path leading to Blea Tarn and a return to the car park.

A good place for 'a breather' and views of Blea Tarn with Blake Rigg and Pike o'Blisco beyond

Below, 'one bare dwelling', Bleatarn House...
...and distant views of Bowfell, with its head in the clouds!

Sunlit Langdale Pikes

Just beyond this fallen tree is the way up to the summit through a gap in the wall

A good place to sit for a while and enjoy the views

Windermere to the south east

The Coniston fells

The distant skyline dominated by Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and, closer to, the Langdale Pikes
The heather, or ling, is at its best, now

The way ahead - just follow the wall...

...with superb views ahead

Purple haze!

Sunshine on Blea Tarn below

The two valleys either side of The Band are Oxendale and Mickleden
The Band is the rising ridge leading to Bowfell, straight ahead
Just ahead and below is the next objective - Side Pike

Squeezing behind 'The Squeeze Flake' is the only direct way on to Side Pike from Lingmoor Fell, but AW did not seem to know of its existence
AW wrote in his chapter on Lingmoor Fell:
'Side Pike is accessible to the walker by its west ridge only, and there is no other safe way off.'
The Southern Fells Lingmoor Fell p. 6

Looking back, the whole route can be seen from here

Blea Tarn in a lovely setting
'A liquid pool that glittered in the sun'

The summit of Side Pike is another excuse for a rest!

Side Pike in profile

The walk ends gently by Blea Tarn
Must have another photo of Beattie!

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Comment from Gary
Hi Derek - lovely photo's of your walk on Lingmoor Fell, such a contrast from when did it in February this year when it was cold and frosty we visited the tarn to the north of the summit which was frozen!
Gary ...
I seem to remember that Lingmoor Tarn was quite difficult to get to, because of all that thick heather! derek

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Photographs taken with a Fuji MX-2900 Zoom or a Canon EOS 20D
Copyright © 2008 Derek Cockell     All Rights Reserved