This is the 4th of a series of walks following the 73-mile Cumbria Way between Ulverston and Carlisle.

Great Langdale is one of the most popular places in Central Lakeland for easy scenic walks and features great views of the Langdale Pikes.

This walk follows 4 miles of the Cumbria Way from Elterwater to Old Dungeoun Ghyll and returns through the valley using different paths for most of the way.

It makes for an enjoyable walk in the shape of a double figure of eight.

It can be enjoyed at any time of the year but go in the winter to avoid masses of visitors. A shorter 4-mile walk is possible by catching the 12:01, 14:01 or 16:01 bus back from Dungeon Ghyll.

Description

1. Cross the bridge over the River Brathay then turn immediately right up the lane. After ¼ mile fork right onto the path down to the river.

Cross the footbridge and turn left past the Wainwright Inn then left onto a path before entering the village of Chapel Stile.

Keep left at a junction and pass to the right of Thrang Farm. Keep left at the next junction, going behind a row of recently built houses.

The lane bends left, crosses New Bridge, then bends right and goes alongside Great Langdale Beck. Turn left beside a bridge, pass the cottage and stone barn at Oak Howe then keep right onto the path signed New Dungeon Ghyll.

After 1 mile, turn right at Side House farm. Cross the road left then right and walk through Stickle Ghyll car park.

2. At the top of the car park (past the toilets) take the path leading up to Stickle Ghyll but after 100 yards, in a wooded area, turn left onto an uneven rocky path.

Follow the path alongside a wall on the left, crossing a footbridge over Dungeon Ghyll beside a small waterfall.

After passing behind buildings the walk leaves the Cumbria Way by turning sharp left to go around the back of the Old Dungeon Ghyll Inn.

3. For the short walk, follow the lane to the bus stop at the end of the B5343 and catch a bus back to Elterwater.

For the longer walk, cross the car park, go through a field gate and turn left to follow the path beside Great Langdale Beck.

After crossing a tiny beck, the path turns right to cross a bridge over Dungeon Ghyll then left across a field to enter Stickle Ghyll car park.

Turn right, left onto the B5343 then go through the Lake District National Park car park on the right.

4.Follow the wide gravel track for 1 mile, turn right onto the path signed Chapel Stile then right at a path junction to cross a bridge over Great Langdale Beck.

Keep right to pass Oak Howe cottage as on the way out but at the junction by the barn turn left onto the bridleway signed Chapel Stile.

Follow the path and lane ahead for the next 1.8 miles, passing Baysbrown farm, to meet a road opposite the Eltermere Hotel.

Turn left and return to Elterwater where the walk began.