Mickleden valley trail, Lake District
After leaving the Old Dungeon Ghyll, the only sign of habitation you'll encounter is Stool End Farm which you'll see off to the left at the junction of Oxendale and Mickleden valleys.
Discover the uninhabited valley of Mickleden
The vast majority of the walk passes through an area that has a real sense of wilderness about it. The trail runs west along Mickleden on a well-defined, level path below Pike O’ Stickle on the right and The Band on the left. Glacial moraines come into view as you approach the head of the valley where the path splits at the bottom of two ancient mountain passes, Rossett Gill and Stake Pass. This is the turnaround point for the walk.
Map
Start:
Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park, grid ref: NY286061
1
Leave the car park and walk behind the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, through a gate and on to the stony track. You'll follow this path all the way along the valley.
Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel
The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel has welcomed fell walkers and climbers for more than 300 years. The Hikers' Bar is a great place to stop off for refreshments and share experiences with fellow walkers on your return from Mickleden.
2
The crags up on your right-hand side are very popular with climbers. It's not always easy to spot climbers at this distance, but keep your eyes open for glimpses of their coloured outfits against the grey rockface.
3
A little further along the path, the slopes below White Crag have been planted with juniper trees. Juniper is historically important to Cumbria - the wood was used for charcoal burning and the berries in the making of gin. The surrounding crags provide nesting for the peregrine falcon and the lower rock streamed valley is home to the migrating Wheatear.
Juniper trees
Many stands of juniper in Cumbria originate from the 17th to 19th centuries, but it has suffered a gradual decline since then. Re-planting on this fell side should hopefully lead to some regeneration of the juniper here in Langdale.
4
As the valley opens up, you get a sense that this place has always been an uninhabited wilderness, but you would be mistaken. Neolithic stone axe making existed here as long as ago as 3000 BC. The earliest permanent settlers were probably Norse (by way of Ireland) after the tenth century. Norse influence in the valley can be seen in place names such as Thrang, Rossett and Oxendale. The word ‘Mickleden’ comes from the old Norse for great (mickle), added to the old English for valley (den).
Neolithic axe making
The rock in this area is perfect for the manufacture of axes and similar stone implements because of its very hard, yet easily workable nature. As you stop to admire the views of Gimmer Crag and Pike O’ Stickle, close your eyes and imagine the sound of rock cracking against rock as stone axes are made by workers in Neolithic times.
5
As you near the head of the valley look out for the strange lumps and bumps on the valley floor. These are glacial moraines.
Mickleden moraines
The moraines are remnants of the last Ice Age. They are accumulations of rock and soil scraped up and carried along by glaciers, and then dumped as the ice melted and the glacier receded.
6
Continue on the path past the glacial moraines until you reach the wooden bridge across the stream near to the walled sheep pen. This is the turnaround point for the walk. Take time to rest and enjoy the views before heading back along the same route to your start point at the Old Dungeon Ghyll.
Sheep pen or sandwich stop?
The walled sheep pen at the head of the valley is a good place to shelter from the wind, eat your sandwiches and take a breather before heading back.
End:
Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park, grid ref: NY286061
