Climbers' Traverse up Bowfell: route map, distance and time

903 m · Lake District

Bowfell is a rocky pyramid at the head of Great Langdale, one of the finest fells in the Lakes, climbed by The Band or the Climbers' Traverse.

Leave The Band for the narrow path beneath Flat Crags to the Great Slab, then climb the boulders beside it to the top.

Climbers' Traverse at a glance

Distance	6.1 km one way, to the top
Ascent	886 m
Time up	2h 40m by Naismith's rule
There and back	3h 55m, down the same way
Grade	Hard
Start	Old Dungeon Ghyll car park, Great Langdale
Start grid reference	NY 286 061
Summit grid reference	NY 244 064

Climbers' Traverse map

The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.

Height profile and getting to the start

Start grid ref NY 286 061 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.

How long the Climbers' Traverse takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	2h 10m	3h 15m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	2h 40m	3h 55m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	3h 20m	4h 50m

Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.

Today: sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08. Start by 13:13 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 13:11 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.

Bowfell summit weather for this route

Good Today Sunday 18 October

Partly cloudy, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 17 mph gusting 21 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:08.
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October

Dense drizzle, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 39 mph gusting 49 mph, 51% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06.

Best day of the next seven for the Climbers' Traverse: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 21 mph and a 0% chance of rain.

Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 18% (Low), best around 05:00. 7-day inversion outlook.

Hour-by-hour Bowfell forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Bowfell?

Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.

What to take today

An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -4°C on top.
A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.

About Bowfell

Bowfell is a rocky pyramid at the head of Great Langdale, one of the finest fells in the Lakes, climbed by The Band or the Climbers' Traverse. More about Bowfell, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, HuMP, Birkett.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

Bowfell North Top (866 m), 0.6 km north
Shelter Crags North Top (776 m), 0.8 km south-east
Shelter Crags (815 m), 1.2 km south-east
Rossett Pike (651 m), 1.2 km north
Esk Pike (885 m), 1.3 km north-west
Crinkle Crags - Long Top (859 m), 1.6 km south

Challenges that include Bowfell

More walks from Old Dungeon Ghyll car park, Great Langdale

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

Great Langdale via Rossett Gill up Allen Crags
Great Langdale via Red Tarn up Cold Pike
Old Dungeon Ghyll via Oxendale and Red Tarn up Crinkle Crags - Long Top
Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns up Crinkle Crags - Long Top
Great Langdale via Rossett Gill and Esk Hause up Esk Pike
Langdale via Rossett Ghyll and Angle Tarn up Glaramara
Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes up Harrison Stickle
Mickleden via Stake Pass up High Raise
Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes up Loft Crag
Great Langdale via Red Tarn up Pike of Blisco
Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes up Pike of Stickle
Old Dungeon Ghyll via Rossett Gill up Rossett Pike

Other routes up Bowfell

Route	Distance	Ascent	Time up	Grade
Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band	5.2 km one way	810 m	2h 25m	Moderate

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 286 061, the summit at NY 244 064), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.

Climbers' Traverse: questions and answers

How far is the Climbers' Traverse?

The Climbers' Traverse is 6.1 km one way to the summit of Bowfell, with 886 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.2 km.

How long does the Climbers' Traverse take?

About 2h 40m to the summit of Bowfell and 3h 55m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 4h 50m for the round trip.

Where do you park for the Climbers' Traverse?

The Climbers' Traverse starts from Old Dungeon Ghyll car park, Great Langdale. The grid reference is NY 286 061.

Is the Climbers' Traverse suitable for beginners?

Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first, such as Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band.

What time should I start the Climbers' Traverse today?

By 13:13 at the latest. Sunset on Bowfell today is 18:08, The Climbers' Traverse takes about 3h 55m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for the Climbers' Traverse?

Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).