Pike 'o' Blisco & Cold Pike finishing with a visit to Black Crag for a look at Black Crag Needle.

8miles 2800ft

I parked the car by the cattle grid on the road to Little Langdale. Clouds were just lifting from Great Langdale leaving views of  Mickleden & The Band leading up to Bow fell

I set off for Pike 'o' Blisco following the little used fell runners route. Clouds were still clinging to the Langdale pikes

Mickleden again after gaining some height

Oxendale with the waterfall of Hell Gill just visible centre left

Zooming in on Hell Gill waterfall

Blea tarn just below to the south

Ahead the summit of Pike 'o' Blisco was still in cloud....

However hopes of sunshine were raised when a patch of sun appeared in Great Langdale 

Pike 'o' Stickle was clear of cloud to the right but Bow fell and Crinkle crags were still covered in cloud

Looking down on the Old Dungeon Ghyll hotel

Following further climbing I arrived at the wind shelter on the summit of  Pike 'o' Blisco. Crinkle crags were just appearing as the cloud lifted

 As usual I was not alone as I left the summit cairn ....

.....and headed for Cold Pike

Pike 'o' Stickle looking good as the sun begins to shine  

 

From the summit of Cold Pike there was a view down the Duddon valley to the coast and zooming in I could just make out....

 

 .....Walney island

I was quite taken with this rather attractive pool

 

I then started the descent and climb to Black Crag....

....where after a little exploration I found its 'needle'

It's still waiting for someone to try to stand on its summit!

The final part of  the walk took me alongside     Blea tarn and back to where the car was parked.

 A great day's walking with some superb mountain scenery and plenty of interest along the way....highly recommended

Ascent of Steeple from Ennerdale via the North East Ridge:  Part One 9miles 1700ft

Setting off from the Bowness Knott car park looking over Ennerdale to Angler's Crag with Crag Fell above

Walking up Ennerdale with Steeple on the far horizon

It was a beautiful warm sunny morning with a just few  clouds touching the ridge that I was heading for

Now crossing the river Liza which flows down the valley into the lake

After leaving the lake the path climbed steeply up beside the deep gill of Low Beck

Once above the gill the view opens up down the length of Ennerdale to the Cumbria Coast in the distance

Looking ahead now to the splendid North East Ridge leading to the pointed summit of Steeple, however.... 

....on reaching this point looking at the start of the ridge, due to an unforeseen problem, I decided to abandon the climb for today and return to the car....

.....but not before a final lingering look up to the summit of Steeple

Enjoying some fine views down Ennerdale on the way back

Zooming in on the place where the river Liza enters Ennerdale Water

Another view down the length of the lake

 

Finally back at the car park with a lovely place for my lunch before setting of home

 Too hot to walk until later this week so to cool you down in the meantime here are some photos from a couple of my winter walks this year....

A climber emerging from Swirral Edge on to Helvellyn summit

The snow cornice on the summit

Helvellyn summit shelter

Red Tarn and Ullswater from the summit

Striding Edge from the summit

Approaching Patterdale down Deepdale....

....Ditto

St Sunday Crag from Deepdale Hause.....

....Ditto

Cofa Pike from Deepdale Hause

Fairfield and Grisedale Tarn from Seat Sandal

Sunrise from Seat Sandal

The Western fells from Seat Sandal  

Grasmere from the same place....

....and Steel Fell....

....and finally Thirlmere