Crinkle Crags

Overview

About Crinkle Crags

Why go

A classic five-crinkle ridge traverse with wide high-level views
Red Tarn, Three Tarns, and rugged fell scenery in one loop
No shuttle logistics from the valley start

Heads up

Long, steep climb before the ridge and a rough descent
Intermittent paths and large boulders slow progress
Exposed terrain with few easy exits once high

The ridge earns its name: five abrupt rocky tops make a natural roller coaster above Oxendale. Look across to Bowfell, the Langdale Pikes, Pike o' Blisco, Cold Pike, and the Scafell range; the high ground gives wide views in clear weather. The exposed rock and open grass leave little shade. Early or late light is best for the ridge texture and long valley shadows. This is a stronger choice than a low-level valley walk if you want a proper fell traverse, but a worse choice in poor visibility or if you dislike route-finding.

Parkwolf’s verdictThe payoff

Map & elevation

The route

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Full map

Elevation97–838 m

TrailheadCrinkle Crags54.44525, -3.10225

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Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Use the Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park beside the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in Great Langdale, at OS grid reference NY 286 061 and postcode LA22 9JY. The route starts by returning to the valley road, then walking toward Stool End Farm. Do not use the hotel's residents-only parking or confuse this access with the smaller roadside spaces at Three Shire Stone.

Best time to go

There is no route-specific permit identified for this public footpath and open fell route. Dogs can legally accompany walkers, but steep drops, boulders, and the Bad Step make this a poor choice for inexperienced or small dogs. Use the bypass and keep dogs close around livestock; on access land, follow the seasonal short-lead rule from 1 March to 31 July. Spring through autumn usually offers the best combination of daylight and visibility, while winter snow and ice can change the route into a mountaineering outing.

Safety

This is a high, exposed fell route with steep grass, loose rock, large boulders, and close crag edges. The Bad Step is a short hands-on scramble; use the bypass on the left if you do not want it, and dogs should use the bypass. Wayfinding becomes less obvious over the crinkles, and there is no dependable water source on the high ridge. Carry a map and enough water for the whole outing. Snow and ice can turn the route into a mountaineering day.

8 active Lake District alerts

ClosureChapel Stile footpath closed for retaining-wall riskPart of Footpath 543030 between Chapel Stile and Baysbrown campsite is closed because a retaining wall beside the path could collapse and material it supports could fall across the footpath.Official details
ClosureStanley Ghyll Lower Falls footpath closed for rockfallThe section of Footpath 408037 leading towards Stanley Ghyll Lower Falls is closed because severe rockfall damage has made the path unstable and further rockfall remains a danger.Official details

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Lake District Tour Guide

Your drive to Crinkle Crags, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake District National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

Recorded for this trailhead

Great Langdale: Crinkle Crags and Bowfell

0:00 / 1:23

“Up ahead is the head of Great Langdale, where you can start a mountain circuit over Crinkle Crags and Bowfell.”

Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.

Hiking Crinkle Crags

The routeThis is a 7.9-mile (12.

This is a 7.9-mile (12.7 km) loop from the Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park, measured as the complete outing back to the same car park. Start along the valley road toward Stool End Farm, cross Oxendale Beck, climb beside Browney Gill to Red Tarn, then turn west over Great Knott. The route crosses all five rocky Crinkles, with Long Top the high point, reaches Three Tarns, and returns down The Band. It does not include Bowfell, Esk Pike, or the longer Great Langdale circuits.

What it feels likeThe lower climb is steep but mostly on a clear, stone-pitched path.

The lower climb is steep but mostly on a clear, stone-pitched path. Above Red Tarn, expect rough rock, short steep steps, intermittent tread, and large boulder fields. The Bad Step is the memorable awkward bit; a bypass avoids the hands-on move. Once over the ridge there are few easy exits before Three Tarns, so this is a mountain day even though 7.9 miles sounds modest. Allow about 5 to 6 hours with normal stops.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Lake District

All Lake District wildlife maps

81 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

13 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

76 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 8 AMSighting map

51 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

233 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

176 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.