Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns up Shelter Crags: route map, distance and time
815 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 707 m over 5.2 km to 794 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%. It keeps climbing at 10% to the top. About 23% 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 | 5.2 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 720 m |
| Climb on the track | 707 m up, 8 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 97 m to 797 m (summit 815 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 31%, from 1.6 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 23% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 15m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 15m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park |
| Start grid reference | NY 285 060 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 249 053 |
| 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 |
| 5.2 km | 794 m | +20 m | 10% | NY 249 053 |
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 | 1h 50m | 2h 40m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 15m | 3h 15m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 45m | 4h 0m |
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 13:51 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 15m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:03. Start by 13:48 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 15m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Shelter Crags summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Shelter Crags right now. The main Shelter Crags page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Shelter Crags forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Shelter Crags
More about Shelter Crags, with the live forecast.
Challenges that include Shelter Crags
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 Shelter Crags
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wrynose walking paths and the Cold Pike ridge | 8.5 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 249 053), 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 5.2 km one way to the summit of Shelter Crags, with 720 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.4 km.
How long does Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns take?
About 2h 15m to the summit of Shelter Crags and 3h 15m 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 0m 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 23% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns climbs 707 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 13:51 at the latest. Sunset on Shelter Crags today is 18:06, Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns takes about 3h 15m 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.