Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band 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.

Climb The Band to Three Tarns, then follow a rough path north through boulders to the summit.

Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band starts at about 97 m and gains 777 m over 5.2 km to 871 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 14 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 5 km, which climbs 222 m at an average of 22%, with a 500 m stretch from 1.6 km at about 31%. The final 0.2 km eases to the top. About 25% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.

Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band at a glance

Distance	5.2 km one way, to the top
Ascent	810 m
Climb on the track	777 m up, 0 m down on the way
Start and top of the track	97 m to 875 m (summit 903 m)
Steepest 500 m	About 31%, from 1.6 km
Steeper than 1 in 5	25% of the way
Time up	2h 25m by Naismith's rule
There and back	3h 25m, down the same way
Grade	Moderate
Start	Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park
Start grid reference	NY 285 060
Summit grid reference	NY 244 064
Parking	Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park

Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band map

The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.

Height profile and getting to the start

Start 97 m5.2 km to the top

Start grid ref NY 285 060 · Driving directions · By bus or train

Near the start

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

Download the Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band GPX

Ascent only: plan your way down. A planning track, not checked on the ground; it doesn't show safe scrambling moves. Track data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), heights from a terrain model.

Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band kilometre by kilometre

Height, climb and average gradient for each kilometre of the track, with a grid reference at the end of each one to check your position on the map.

At	Height	Climb	Gradient	Grid ref
1 km	111 m	+14 m	1%	NY 277 056
2 km	319 m	+208 m	21% steep	NY 269 057
3 km	527 m	+208 m	21% steep	NY 260 058
4 km	636 m	+109 m	11%	NY 251 061
5 km	858 m	+222 m	22% steep	NY 245 064
5.2 km	871 m	+13 m	6%	NY 244 064

How long Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band takes

Pace	To the top	There and back
Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up	1h 55m	2h 50m
Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up	2h 25m	3h 25m
Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up	2h 55m	4h 15m

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 13:43 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 25m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 13:41 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 25m 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 Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band: 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 National Trust car park

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
Climbers' Traverse	6.1 km one way	886 m	2h 40m	Hard

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 285 060, 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.

Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band: questions and answers

How far is Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band?

Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band is 5.2 km one way to the summit of Bowfell, with 810 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.4 km.

How long does Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band take?

About 2h 25m to the summit of Bowfell and 3h 25m 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 15m for the round trip.

How steep is Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band?

The steepest 500 m averages about 31%, starting 1.6 km from the start, and 25% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band climbs 777 m in all on the track.

Where do you park for Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band?

Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band starts from Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park. The grid reference is NY 285 060. Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park

Is Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band suitable for beginners?

Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.

What time should I start Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band today?

By 13:43 at the latest. Sunset on Bowfell today is 18:08, Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band takes about 3h 25m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.

Is there a GPX for Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band?

Yes. Download it from this page. It is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.