The Lakeland Three Passes with Contours Holidays

About

The Lakeland Three Passes walk begins in Borrowdale. With its emerald pastures, crystal rivers, ancient oak woodlands and tranquil villages, it is widely regarded as the prettiest of all the Lake District valleys. Setting off from the village of Rosthwaite, the walk follows an old packhorse track past the pretty hamlet of Stonethwaite and into Langstrath. Here it runs along Langstrath Beck, described by the painter W. Heaton Cooper as ‘the wildest, rockiest, most colourful and interesting mountain stream in England’, and then crosses Stake Pass into Langdale.

With the prominent rocky summits of Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes rising abruptly from the flat valley floor, Langdale has some of the most dramatic scenery in the Lakes. From here, the route follows the old pony track up Rossett Gill to Angle Tarn, which lies in an ice-scoured hollow beneath the sombre cliffs of Hanging Knotts. It also visits Sprinkling Tarn, one of the prettiest tarns in the Lake District, before descending into the third valley of the trail, Wasdale. 

Wasdale is perhaps most famous for its breath-taking mountain scenery: the awesome Screes plunge 2000 feet from Illgill Head into the crystal waters of its lake, whilst the highest peaks in England — the Scafells, Great Gable, Kirk Fell and Pillar — crowd around the head of the valley, creating an enticing and impressive backdrop to the walk.

The final stage of this outstanding walk returns to Borrowdale via Sty Head, along a packhorse track that was still in use as late as 1930. When you finally return to Rosthwaite, you can celebrate your fantastic achievement with a well-deserved drink in a cosy Lakeland pub, swapping stories and reminiscing on an unforgettable adventure.

Summit-baggers will be pleased to learn that the high-level options available on each stage of this walk offer you the opportunity to take in Raise, Thunacar Knott, Harrison Stickle, Scafell Pike, Great Gable, Green Gable, Brandreth and Grey Knots, while those seeking a gentler walk can opt for the low-level routes.

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