Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Dungeon Ghyll
Cumbria
Crinkle Crags and Bowfell make one of the great ridge walks of the central Lakes, a five-topped crinkled skyline joined to the broad 902m summit of Bowfell by the high pass of Three Tarns. From the Old Dungeon Ghyll in Great Langdale the route climbs the Oxendale path past Red Tarn to the first Crinkle, traversing the five knobbly tops (easily skirting the Bad Step on Long Top with a dog) before the long pull up to Bowfell and a steep stony descent down The Band. It is a dog friendly walk for strong hill dogs, but long, steep and rough.
Park at the Old Dungeon Ghyll NT car park (pay and display, free for members). The valley is intensive Herdwick sheep country and the open fells carry ground-nesting birds, so dogs must be on a short lead from start to finish. The terrain is pitched stone path, rough open fell, boulder-strewn summit sections and a long descent on loose stone; the Bad Step is a grade 1 scramble and must be bypassed with a dog. The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and Hikers Bar are famously dog friendly for a pint at the end.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 15.0 km (9.3 miles)
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Duration
- 7 hr
- Walk Type
- Peak, Moorland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- None
- Livestock Risk
- High
- Facilities
- Dog friendly Hikers Bar at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel; no other facilities on the route.
- Parking
- NT pay and display car park at the Old Dungeon Ghyll; free for members, fills fast on clear weekends.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Dungeon Ghyll dog friendly?
This is a dog friendly route, rated 7 out of 10, but it's very much one for strong, fit hill dogs. The terrain is long, steep and rough — pitched stone paths, boulder-strewn summits and a loose stony descent — so it's not one to take on lightly. The reward at the end is a well-earned pint in the famously dog friendly Hikers Bar at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel.
Can dogs be off lead at Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Dungeon Ghyll?
No — dogs must be kept on a short lead for the entire route. The valley is intensive Herdwick sheep country and the open fells are home to ground-nesting birds, so there's no off-lead freedom anywhere on this walk. It's worth factoring that in if your dog finds a full day on the lead hard going.
What should I know before visiting Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Dungeon Ghyll with my dog?
This is a serious mountain day, so only bring a dog that's genuinely fit and used to rough fell terrain. The Bad Step on Long Top is a grade 1 scramble and must be bypassed with a dog — the description notes it's easy enough to skirt. Parking is at the NT pay and display car park at the Old Dungeon Ghyll (free for NT members), but it fills fast on clear weekends, so an early start is wise.
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