Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns up Crinkle Crags - Long Top: route map, distance and time
859 m · Cumbria
Long Top is the highest of the Crinkle Crags, a rough, knobbly ridge above Great Langdale with a rock step known as the Bad Step.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park.
Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns starts at about 97 m and gains 756 m over 5.8 km to 838 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 14 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 208 m at an average of 21%, with a 500 m stretch from 1.6 km at about 31%. The final 0.8 km eases to the top. About 21% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns at a glance
| Distance | 5.8 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 770 m |
| Climb on the track | 756 m up, 13 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 97 m to 839 m (summit 859 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 31%, from 1.6 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 21% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 25m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 35m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park |
| Start grid reference | NY 285 060 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 248 048 |
| Parking | Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park |
Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
- Old Dungeon Ghyll Climbers Bar0.1 km
- Walker's Bar1.0 km
- Sticklebarn1.0 km
- Public toilets1.0 km
- Great Langdale Campsite0.3 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns 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.
Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns 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 | 774 m | +138 m | 14% | NY 249 055 |
| 5.8 km | 838 m | +64 m | 8% | NY 248 048 |
How long Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 3h 0m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 25m | 3h 35m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 0m | 4h 25m |
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 07:49, sunset 18:06. Start by 13:31 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:03. Start by 13:28 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Crinkle Crags - Long Top summit weather for this route
-
Marginal Today Monday 19 October
Moderate drizzle, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 35 mph gusting 44 mph, 39% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:06.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October
Slight rain, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 2°C, summit wind 20 mph gusting 29 mph, 99% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:03.
Best day of the next seven for Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns: Monday 19 October, with summit gusts around 44 mph and a 39% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Crinkle Crags - Long Top forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Crinkle Crags - Long Top?
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 -2°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 44 mph.
- 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 Crinkle Crags - Long Top
Long Top is the highest of the Crinkle Crags, a rough, knobbly ridge above Great Langdale with a rock step known as the Bad Step. More about Crinkle Crags - Long Top, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, HuMP, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Crinkle Crags South Top (834 m), 0.3 km south-east
- Shelter Crags (815 m), 0.5 km north
- Shelter Crags North Top (776 m), 0.9 km north
- Great Knott (695 m), 1.2 km south-east
- Cold Pike Far West Top (669 m), 1.4 km south-east
- Little Stand (740 m), 1.5 km south
Challenges that include Crinkle Crags - Long Top
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
- Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band up Bowfell
- Climbers' Traverse up Bowfell
- Great Langdale via Red Tarn up Cold Pike
- 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 Crinkle Crags - Long Top
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Dungeon Ghyll via Oxendale and Red Tarn | 6.0 km one way | 782 m | 2h 30m | Hard |
| Wrynose walking paths and the Cold Pike ridge | 8.0 km one way | — | — | 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 248 048), 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.
Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns: questions and answers
How far is Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns?
Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns is 5.8 km one way to the summit of Crinkle Crags - Long Top, with 770 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 11.6 km.
How long does Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns take?
About 2h 25m to the summit of Crinkle Crags - Long Top and 3h 35m 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 25m for the round trip.
How steep is Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns?
The steepest 500 m averages about 31%, starting 1.6 km from the start, and 21% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns climbs 756 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns?
Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns starts from Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park. The grid reference is NY 285 060. Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park
Is Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns 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.
What time should I start Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns today?
By 13:31 at the latest. Sunset on Crinkle Crags - Long Top today is 18:06, Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns takes about 3h 35m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns?
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.