The Wainwright routes have continuously gained in popularity, ever since the eponymous Alfred Wainwright published his seven guides on the cumulative 214 walks in the Lake District in the mid 20th century. Since then, these books have seen a revival through the publication of the second editions. These document how best to approach Alfred’s routes today, as well as accounting for any changes made to the natural landscape by mother nature or man alike.
In this article, we’ll be looking at the Wainwright walks situated in the natural beauty that is Langdale. From most of our properties in the Lake District, Langdale is an atmospheric forty-minute drive through the center of Cumbria. Here, we’ll be focusing on two walks of differing difficulty.
Climbing Langdale can be a bit of a monster for the unprepared or unskilled fellwalker, but for the tried and tested, completing the Langdale Ten is the ultimate test of endurance. In this section, we’ll be looking at a circular route which can tick the box of three Langdale fells – including Harrison Stickle, Stickle Pike and Rossett Pike – all of which are certified Wainwrights.
Of Langdale’s greatest peaks, Pike O’ Stickle arguably provides the best view, as it looks across the neighbouring fells to Glaramara, Great Gable and Skiddaw. The views from the top are nice, but there are also some brilliant features at the lower levels of this adventure, most notably the starting and end point – The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. If you thought this friendly hotel and pub-restaurant was a friendly sight at the start of your journey, you’ll love it all the more at the end of your route, when you’re sat beside the fire with a hot dinner and a good drink.
The circular route for this fell is estimated to take no less than 5 and a half hours for an experienced walker. The difficulty varies at different points in the walk. The route begins with a series of steep inclines and rough screes that will impede travellers and slow progress. This is the section of the walk that will likely defeat any inexperienced walkers attempting to scale this height, but it also provides the most gratifying rewards once ascended.
On the other hand, once you’ve descended Rossett Pike, the hike turns into a gentle walk down the hill and back towards the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. This section of the trail wanders through the valley of Little Langdale and snakes between the high fells, reminding you how high you managed to ascend during your walk.
If you’re in love with Langdale like we are, but you’re either not confident in your hiking ability or want a walk that’s more suitable for children, then we recommend the hike to Stickle Tarn. This linear walk will take most families around 2 hours to complete, assuming that you don’t plan to take a dip in the lake.
You will pass Stickle Tarn at the start of the circular route around the Langdale peaks, so while it’s not an official Wainwright fell, it is a family-friendly section of a Wainwright walk that could lead you to Harrison Stickle, if you were willing to climb a further 250m.
Helm Mount Lodge is currently our closest property to the central lakes, situated in the peaceful village of Barrows Green, a stone’s throw away from Kendal. Helm Mount Lodge can be hired as the full lodge – comprised of both the Spring cottage and Autumn Cottage – or you can pay for an individual cottage. This makes Helm Mount the perfect solution for a large group getaway or a sophisticated hen party.
Overall, Helm Mount can comfortably cater for 14 people in 7 bedrooms. Spring Cottage is one of our dog friendly holiday cottages in the Lake District and permits one well-behaved, medium-sized dog.
Helm Mount is situated near Kendal, making it a prime location for enthusiastic walkers looking to take on some of the Wainwrights, but many of our other properties around Kirkby Lonsdale are only a short drive away from the best fells in Cumbria. If you’re interested in more of our luxury holiday cottages in the Lake District, we have plenty of properties to peruse on our website.
Located in the dainty parish of Barbon, near Kirkby Lonsdale in South Lakeland, there’s nothing dainty about The Old Post Office. This cottage sports a mix of grey, white and black paint and furnishings, mixed with light wood tables and matching tiles. We chose a mix of neutral and natural colours to give this cottage a clean yet homely feeling.
The Old Post Office is the perfect getaway for a family looking to spend some quality time together, in a quality cottage. The kitchen table comfortably supports four people for homely family meals together. If you’re in Lakeland to visit family or friends in the area, then the main dining table can seat up to six so you can host a wonderful evening for your favourite local Cumbrians, should you so desire.
The Old Post Office is a fully equipped, 5-star holiday cottage in the Yorkshire Dales. Any family vaguely interested in outdoor activities will be glad of the in-house washer-dryer, especially those with young children who love puddles.
We want you to have a relaxed time from start to finish, and we’re thinking of you before you even arrive in our luxury cottages. We include the washer and dryer so you don’t have to contemplate packing a suitcase full of spare clothes, but we also include towels and linens at no extra price. You shouldn’t have to worry about squeezing necessities into your suitcases that we can easily provide.
For those looking to spend a quiet holiday inside a beautiful cottage, The Old Post Office has free wi-fi – great for a bit of late night entertainment and keeping your teenagers happy.
Due to the high standard of this property, we are sad to say that pets are currently not permitted in The Old Post Office. If you’re looking for a holiday with the whole family, dog included, you should peruse our dog-friendly cottages in Scotland, Lake District, and the Yorkshire Dales.
The parish village of Barbon is perfect for a peaceful getaway on most occasions, but three times a year the site becomes a haven for motorsports enthusiasts. The Barbon Speed Hillclimb is the fastest Hillclimb course in the UK and has been running annually (save for a couple of exceptions) since 1950.
The Barbon Speed Hillclimb is a fun day out for spectators and competitors alike. The entire track can be seen from the viewing area, and there is access to the paddock where cars and drivers alike rest between runs.
Aside from the Barbon Speed Hillclimb, there is plenty to experience in and around the quaint Old Post Office.
This renovated church is very aptly named: The Churchmouse at Barbon is a haven for cheese lovers. They supply everything from speciality cheeses to bespoke wedding cheesecakes. The Churchmouse at Barbon is a store-café like no other and must not be missed.
If you’re with us for a long weekend, we recommend that you attend their Friday night bistro, open from 6 pm till last orders at 8 pm, this is a chance to dine from an ever-changing menu. The Churchmouse at Barbon really supports their local community by creating a new menu to reflect seasonal local produce every Friday, including a minimum of two vegetarian options each week.
There are only twenty-four seats available, so be sure to book your place in advance.
If you can’t get enough of Post Office accommodation, you’ll be pleased to know that as well as living in one during your holiday stay with us, you can visit a kitsch café going by the same name in Ingleton, a short drive from Barbon. The Old Post Office in Ingleton has a fantastic range of alcoholic, still and hot beverages alike, alongside a couple of mainstream board games like Scrabble for a fun family occasion.
Not only is this a great café, but it’s also worth the trip to Ingleton simply for the walk to the picturesque Ingleton falls.
Kirkby Lonsdale is a beautiful place full of things to do and places to eat, but if you’re looking for something a little different, we can only recommend our other 5-star holiday cottages in the Yorkshire Dales. We have plenty of romantic getaways for couples, as well as accommodation for much larger groups should your plans change. Please contact us with your queries and we will be glad to help.
