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Bowfell

903m Elevation
148m Prominence
England Country
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Overview

Bowfell

Bowfell rises to 902.9 m (about 903 m) in the Lake District’s Southern Fells. Its recorded prominence is 148.2 m. It is a Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall and Sub-Marilyn. This page concerns the main summit at NY244064, not the separate, lower Bowfell North Top.

Summit and landscape

The highest point is a rib of rock about 5 metres northeast of the summit cairn. Expect a rocky summit pyramid and careful movement over boulders. In clear weather the outlook includes the Scafell range and the surrounding valleys.

Bowfell’s rocks belong to the Borrowdale Volcanic Group. The Seathwaite Fell Formation includes sandstone formed from volcanic material deposited in water, alongside volcanic beds and intrusions.

Choosing a route

  • The Band and Three Tarns: the main approach from Great Langdale, finishing with a steep, stony climb to the summit. An out-and-back returns by the same col and ridge.
  • Climbers’ Traverse and Great Slab: a distinct variant leaving The Band for the crags. Loose boulders beside the slab provide a different line from scrambling on the slab itself. Choose this only with the experience and conditions it requires.
  • Bowfell and Crinkle Crags: return from Bowfell to Three Tarns before heading south across the Crinkles. A complete circuit continues towards Red Tarn and descends through Oxendale. Plan the western bypass if avoiding the Bad Step.
  • Rossett Pike and Esk Pike: a longer circuit from Mickleden, via Angle Tarn and Esk Hause, reaching Bowfell over Esk Pike and Ore Gap and returning down The Band.

Choose a complete mapped itinerary that includes your return, and check every descent junction. The routes differ substantially in terrain and length.

Access and facilities

The National Trust car park beside Old Dungeon Ghyll is a usual Great Langdale starting point. Stagecoach 516 serves the hotel from Ambleside; check the timetable and return journey for your date. The hotel’s bar provides refreshments during opening hours. Public toilets confirmed by the National Trust are at Stickle Ghyll car park.

Safety

Bowfell is a mountain outing requiring fitness, suitable equipment and navigation skills. Loose stones, wet rock and poor visibility increase the difficulty. Avoid improvising a descent across the Great Slab. Check the mountain forecast, leave your route plan with someone, and carry waterproofs, warm layers, food, water, a map and compass, headtorch and first-aid supplies. Be prepared to turn back. For a mountain emergency, call 999 or 112, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.

Snow and ice make Bowfell’s rough summit approaches and scrambling variants more serious; winter conditions require appropriate equipment, including an ice axe and crampons, and the skills to use it.

Climbing history

The Fell and Rock Climbing Club’s historical records date the first ascent of Bowfell Buttress to 24 May 1902, following an ascent of its north gully by W. P. Haskett-Smith in 1882.

Explore routes near Bowfell

Walks starting near this hill. Open a route to check its map, distance and full itinerary.

Bow Fell from Langdale

View route

Great Carrs Halifax Wreckage from Wrynose Pass

4.6 km ~3h Hard

View route

Scafell Pike from Seathwaite via the Corridor Route

14.1 km ~7h Hard

View route

Scafell Pike via Brown Tongue and Hollow Stones

8.1 km ~4h Hard

View route

Route planning notes

These notes describe possible approaches. Check a route's map and access information when planning your walk.

The Band and Bowfell Summit

From the National Trust car park beside Old Dungeon Ghyll, walk through Stool End Farm and climb The Band to Three Tarns. Turn north onto the steep, rough path to Bowfell’s rocky summit. Return through Three Tarns and down The Band. The Climbers’ Traverse branches away from this main approach and is a different route.

Strenuous

Bowfell via the Climbers' Traverse and Great Slab

Climb The Band from Old Dungeon Ghyll via Stool End, then leave the main path for the Climbers’ Traverse below Bowfell’s crags. The route reaches loose, rocky ground beside the Great Slab. Climbing the slab itself is an optional scramble for suitable dry conditions, not a compulsory section of the walking approach. After the summit, return through Three Tarns and down The Band. This variant needs confident route-finding and care on exposed ground.

Challenging

Bowfell and Crinkle Crags Circuit

From Old Dungeon Ghyll, climb The Band to Three Tarns and Bowfell, then return to Three Tarns before traversing Crinkle Crags southwards. The Bad Step is a steep downclimb on this direction of travel; a western bypass avoids it. Continue towards Red Tarn and descend beside Browney Gill into Oxendale, returning through Stool End. The figures describe the Ramblers’ published circuit and its estimated walking time; allow for conditions, navigation and stops.

12.6 km ~6.5 hours Hard

Bowfell via Rossett Pike, Esk Hause and Esk Pike

From Old Dungeon Ghyll, follow Mickleden and climb Rossett Gill, adding Rossett Pike before continuing past Angle Tarn to Esk Hause. Cross Esk Pike and Ore Gap to approach Bowfell from the northwest. Descend through Three Tarns and The Band to Stool End. The distance is for WalkLakes’ complete Rossett Pike–Esk Pike–Bowfell circuit.

15 km Strenuous

Bowfell and Esk Pike Traverse

From Old Dungeon Ghyll, climb The Band and Three Tarns to Bowfell. Continue northwest over Ore Gap to Esk Pike, then descend to Esk Hause. Return by Angle Tarn, Rossett Gill and Mickleden. This is a long, rough mountain circuit with several important junctions; it does not include the optional summit detour to Rossett Pike.

Hard
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Hill facts and local notes

Classifications

Hump Simm Hewitt Nuttall High Hills of Britain Submarilyn Wainwright Birkett Synge Fellranger

Elevation

903m

2,962 ft

Prominence

148m

Coordinates

54.4478, -3.1662

NY244064

OS Map

89 90

Explorer: OL6N

At the Summit

The summit is a rocky pyramid with a cairn. The recorded highest point is a rib of rock about 5 metres northeast of the cairn.

Terrain & Geology

Lower approaches include valley tracks and grassy slopes. The upper mountain has steep stony paths loose stones and large boulders; the final summit requires careful footing.

Bowfell exposes rocks of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, including the Seathwaite Fell Formation. Much of this formation is sandstone made from volcanic material deposited in water, with interbedded volcanic deposits and igneous intrusions.

Views & Scenery

In clear weather, views include the Scafell range and the valleys of Great Langdale, Langstrath and Eskdale.

History & Heritage

Historical Significance

Bowfell has a documented rock-climbing history. The Fell and Rock Climbing Club records the first ascent of Bowfell Buttress on 24 May 1902; its north gully had been climbed by W. P. Haskett-Smith in 1882.

Getting There & Facilities

Parking

Use the National Trust pay-and-display car park beside the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in Great Langdale (NY286061). National Trust members park free under the current arrangements; check the car-park notices on arrival.

Public Transport

Stagecoach service 516 links Ambleside with the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in Great Langdale. Check the timetable for your travel date and plan around the return service.

Nearby Facilities

The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel has a bar serving food and drinks; check opening and food-service times before relying on it. National Trust public toilets are at Stickle Ghyll car park, farther down the valley.

Safety Information

Known Hazards

  • The summit approaches are steep and rough, with loose stones and large boulders. Wet rock increases the risk of slipping.
  • Cloud can make the summit and its branching descent paths difficult to identify. Carry a map and compass and know how to use them.
  • The Climbers' Traverse and Great Slab are separate from the main route through Three Tarns. Their rocky and exposed ground needs route-finding skill; do not improvise a descent over the slab.
  • Crinkle Crags adds a complex rocky ridge and the Bad Step. Plan the western bypass in advance if avoiding the scramble, particularly when travelling south.

Seasonal Hazards

Snow and ice make Bowfell’s rough summit approaches and scrambling variants more serious; winter conditions require appropriate equipment, including an ice axe and crampons, and the skills to use it.

General Safety Tips

  • Check weather conditions before setting out
  • Carry appropriate clothing and equipment
  • Let someone know your planned route
  • Take a map, compass, and GPS device
  • Carry emergency supplies: food, water, first aid kit, torch

Hills

Some common questions about the hills answered

Are there group walks up Bowfell?

Many walkers use Walkmates to join or organise walks with others. You can check for group walks around Bowfell through the maps

Are there other walkers around Bowfell?

Activity varies by location and time, but Walkmates lets you see whether others have shared walks or shown interest in this area. Find other people through the walking friends search walking friends for Bowfell search or of course create your own walk for Bowfell

Can I organise a walk to Bowfell?

Yes. If there aren’t any walks listed already, you can create a walk and make it available for others to join.

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How do I find a walk up this hill?

There are often multiple ways to walk this hill, depending on experience and route preference. Walkmates helps you explore walks and routes that others have shared.

Can I suggest a new route up Bowfell?

Yes. You can suggest or create routes to share with others. Walkmates focuses on the social side of walking, so routes are used to help people organise walks and explore areas together, rather than as detailed navigation tools or route libraries.

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The is an error or something incorrect about this hill. How do I let you know?

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Location

Bowfell location map

Grid reference: NY244064

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