Ideally I’d have made it up here a month earlier as the Heather that covers Lingmoor is a beautiful vibrant purple, there were patches left but largely it has gone by mid September this year. However, the view remains the same and as the colours on the fells start to turn brown and the light is a little more golden at the end of the day I wanted to see this location I’ve visited a few times previously, but not at the end of the day when hopefully the fells will come alive with golden browns and illuminate this amazing scene.

Here’s how I got on and make sure you check out the video at the bottom of this post for a snapshot of the walk and some aerial footage too.

Below Side Pike at the start of the ascent, Rowan Trees lead the way. Three to pass as my first goal.

Number 2 and 3 Rowan Trees reached. 162 BMP my heart rate got too on this climb, much more and I could have easily passed out.

Taking a moment to rest and take in the view over Blea Tarn towards Weatherlam.

Thomas and Lewis charging ahead up towards Lingmoor, Side Pike behind us now.

Over the dry stone wall to the Langdale Pikes. The lights getting good now. Hoping it stays a little longer.

A beautiful view of the Langdale Pikes over the wall…

…including Side Pike on the left hand side really makes this composition for me.

At the Stile and can’t resist another shot of this scene…

…or two…

Using my fixed 35mm lens means switching to portrait orientation for more foreground.

Climbing up Lingmoor now and the views just get better and better as well as the light.

Up on the Heather covered ridge of Lingmoor.

Looking over the Langdale Valley to the high fells beyond.

Where the fence meets the wall. Looking straight on to the Langdale Pikes.

Just a bit more height and I’ll have the composition I want.

The view starts to open up now with a little more height.

Fence and Wall

This is far enough tonight. The light is disappearing behind cloud over Crinkle Crags so I set up and make the best of the light.

A flat scene at the moment. Here’s hoping for one last blast of light.

Here it comes one last sight of the sun.

There we go, just what’s needed. Not the light I expected on the Langdale Pikes and Side Pike but happy just to be up here.

and it’s gone. A few moments of light. Good job I stopped and setup or the extra time it would have taken me to climb higher would have missed this, the light didn’t reach the area I wanted anyway so probably the best of what was around for tonight. That’s how I justify it to myself anyway.

Experimenting with High Dynamic Range. Not so sure…

The last of the light above Crinkle Crags.

The odd patch of light illuminates an outcrop above Lingmoor Tarn. Time to head back.

Side Pike at the end of the wall.

A wider perspective showing the surrounding area, Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes above Side Pike and the Langdale Valley.

Losing the light now.

That’s it from Lingmoor tonight. I needed this walk and what a beautiful setting. I’ll come back earlier next year to capture the Heather in flower.

Here’s a short video I have put together from my walk up Lingmoor Fell

You can see my current collection of Lake District Prints featuring Lingmoor Fell, Side Pike and the Langdale Pikes here in my gallery.

I climbed the Langdale Pikes in late Summer and can recall the cars temperature gauge suggesting it was 28 degree C. Parking at the Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust Car park you are at the foot of the Pikes and you start your ascent alongside Stickle Ghyll.

An attractive flow of water from Stickle tarn above. As I progressed some of this looked familiar, I recall a Ghyll Scrambling expedition with Secondary School where we came here probably 10 years earlier. It was winter then with Ice around and we all used wet suite to keep warm, no need for such dress today and given the temperature I could imagine myself cooling off in here later on.

As you progress up the Ghyll you eventually reach Stickle Tarn, A wonderful high-level fairly large Tarn, nestled below the magnificent Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle. For the brave amongst you there a grade 3 scramble up Pavey Ark called Jacks Rake. I plan on doing this in the future and taking 360 degree images throughout. For now though I took the easier route around the side.

Once on the summit of Pavey Ark you get a great view down over the Tarn below and the Langdale Valley. You can sit on the rocks edge and there’s a great sense of altitude at this point.

Moving onto Harrison Stickle I was pestered by really strong winds at this point, nevertheless stood on the summit with such strong wind blowing over you, It felt like I were flying for a moment, such a great view and with the cooling wind rushing over you it was a great experience.

An aerial view of Blea Tarn.

From this point I descended and returned to the Dungeon Ghyll Hotel for a cold drink then home.

Here you can see more of my Lake District Pictures from Langdale