Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns up Crinkle Crags South Top: route map, distance and time
834 m · Cumbria
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 761 m over 6.3 km to 797 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 0.3 km eases to the top. About 19% 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 | 6.3 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 790 m |
| Climb on the track | 761 m up, 58 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 97 m to 840 m (summit 834 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 31%, from 1.6 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 19% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 35m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 50m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park |
| Start grid reference | NY 285 060 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 250 045 |
| 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 |
| 6 km | 821 m | +47 m | 5% | NY 248 047 |
| 6.3 km | 797 m | -24 m | -8% | NY 250 045 |
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 5m | 3h 10m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 35m | 3h 50m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 10m | 4h 45m |
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 13:16 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:03. Start by 13:13 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 50m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Crinkle Crags South Top summit weather for this route
-
Marginal Today Monday 19 October
Light drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 39 mph gusting 48 mph, 49% 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 0°C, summit wind 19 mph gusting 24 mph, 86% 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: Tuesday 20 October, with summit gusts around 24 mph and a 86% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Crinkle Crags South Top forecast
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.
- Waterproof jacket and overtrousers: 49% chance of rain.
- A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 48 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 South Top
More about Crinkle Crags South Top, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Crinkle Crags South 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
- 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
Other routes up Crinkle Crags South Top
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Langdale via Red Tarn walking paths | 5.9 km one way | 750 m | 2h 25m | Hard |
| Wrynose walking paths and the Cold Pike ridge | 7.4 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 250 045), 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 6.3 km one way to the summit of Crinkle Crags South Top, with 790 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.6 km.
How long does Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns take?
About 2h 35m to the summit of Crinkle Crags South Top and 3h 50m 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 45m 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 19% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns climbs 761 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 13:16 at the latest. Sunset on Crinkle Crags South Top today is 18:06, Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns takes about 3h 50m 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.