Introduction
A guided walk up Bowfell and over to Great End is one of the most popular walks in the Lake District. On a fine day the views are spectacular. But the weather can often be poor or change quickly from good to bad. When the visibility goes, in rain or low cloud, it can be a scary place with dangerous cliffs around. A guide who knows the route can help keep you safe as well as sharing a host of useful tips with you.
Booking and Prices
If you want to book a guided walk up Bowfell and Great End in the Lake District then see the main page for more details and prices or see what our clients say about us. You can also have a look at the Calendar for forthcoming “Open” events.
When you are ready, then get in touch to make an enquiry or a booking.
We also guide walks in other parts of the Lake District, such as Helvellyn and Scafell Pike as well as in Snowdonia and the Scottish highlands.
Bowfell Guided Walk
One popular way of reaching the summit of Bowfell is via the steep ridge of The Band. You gain height rapidly with every step. Although it’s hard work, the views along Great Langdale get better and better with each step. The amazing Langdale Pikes are right opposite and this is one of the best viewpoints of them.
You can follow the path on The Band all the way to the Three Tarns and then turn right on a steep but good path to the summit of Bowfell. However, a more exciting and interesting way is to leave The Band and pick up the ‘climbers’ traverse’. This takes you across and underneath the huge cliffs of Bowfell. From this position, it is now possible to scramble up alongside Bowfell’s ‘Great Slab’, a dramatic sweep of rock. It’s not easy to find the best way, but it’s one of the options on a guided walk up Bowfell and around Langdale.
From Bowfell there are two main ways to appreciate the Langdale skyline. One is to traverse the skyline anti-clockwise and go over Crinkle Crags (and perhaps over Pike of Blisco too). This route will give ever-changing views of the Langdale Pikes across the valley.
The Langdale Pikes
The Langdale Pikes in the Lake District, seen from Blea Tarn in the early morning
The other option is to go clockwise, via Rossett’s Pike. This will take you onto and over the Langdale Pikes from where you can enjoy the views back to Bowfell and Crinkle Crags. If you can’t make your mind up which seems better, try combining them into one massive day’s walk and do the whole Langdale skyline in one go. Or do them as two separate walks on two different days.
However, the way to really appreciate this part of the Lake District is to continue further into the heart of the fells, to Great End. Great End is very much at the centre of the fells, with spectacular views in every direction. It’s an easy approach from Bowfell and anywhere to the south. However, to the north, it has steep cliffs which plummet down seemingly vertically, giving superb views of Sprinkling Tarn far below.
