What makes Langdale famous? 

There are many reasons why the Lake District is so famous, but specifically for Langdale, the valley holds a few unique treasures that make it special…

  • Langdale Pikes

Arguably one of the best-known features of Great Langdale are the Langdale Pikes. A group of peaks on the northern side of the dale favoured by Wainwright and climbed by thousands, Pike of Stickle, Loft Crag, Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark dominate the skyline above Langdale, making themselves memorable in the minds of every visitor to the valley. Wainwright contributed to the fame of the Langdale Pikes through stating, “No mountain profile in Lakeland arrests and excites the attention more than that of the Langdale Pikes,” in his Central Fells pictorial guide in 1958. 

  • Dungeon Ghyll & Stickle Ghyll 

A well-known ravine on the north side of the valley, Dungeon Ghyll inspired the name of Langdale’s popular pubs and hotels Old New Dungeon Ghyll and New Dungeon Ghyll. 

The Old Dungeon Ghyll hotel is over 300 years old and popular amongst traditional climbers and hikers. Famous names in the outdoor industry have stayed and drank here including Sir Chris Bonnington. 

Although Dungeon Ghyll itself is inaccessible to walkers due to its narrow position on the slopes between Harrison Stickle and Loft Crag, Stickle Ghyll, one the most popular becks in the Lake District, and Stickle Tarn are much more open and accessible. Stickle Ghyll inspired the name of the nearby National Trust pub the Sticklebarn. 

  • Historic Slate and Axe Industry

Great Langdale and Elterwater were historically the centre of the Lakeland slate industry. Many quarries in the area are now disused including Lingmoor, Banks, Thrang Crag and Colt Howe. However, Elterwater Quarry and Spout Cragg Quarry are still in use today using modern methods.  Both quarries are now owned and operated by the company Burlingston Stone. 

As well as quarrying slate, the Langdale area is famous in history for its productive stone axe industry during the Neolithic period.  Fine-grained greenstone has been found in the area which was used to make polished axes which have been found distributed across the British Isles. It is believed the greenstone was quarried or collected from the scree slopes in the Langdale Valley on Harrison Stickle and Pike of Stickle. 

When exploring Langdale, remnants of old slate mining are still visible today.