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Elterwater to Cathedral Quarry

Lake District

Inside Cathedral Quarry at Little Langdale
Inside Cathedral Quarry at Little Langdale | © Chee Wai Lee

A scenic walk to Little Langdale and Cathedral Quarry with views over Little Langdale tarn and the surrounding fells

Near to

The Langdales 

Start point

Elterwater National Trust car park, Ambleside, Cumbria. Grid Reference: 32770476 what3words location: nest.frosted.blotchy

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Trail information

View route 
Print trail 

Difficulty

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 1.9 (km: 3.04)
Duration1 hour
Dog friendly

Rockfalls, sheer drops and deep water

As a disused quarry the site has unprotected sheer drops, deep water and there is a chance of rockfall, so if you choose to visit, please come prepared.

  • Total stages: 15

    Total stages: 15

    Start point

    Elterwater National Trust car park, Ambleside, Cumbria. Grid Reference: 32770476 what3words location: nest.frosted.blotchy

    Stage 1

    Leave through the entrance of Elterwater car park turning left at the road junction. Walk over the stone bridge and remain on the road for 273yd (250m) until you reach the Eltermere Inn and a road junction on the right.

    Car park entrance with a drystone wall and a road with a stone bridge in the background, Elterwater, Cumbria
    Elterwater Car Park entrance and road junction, Elterwater, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

    Stage 2

    At the road junction, take the road on the right. It is signposted 'Coniston challenging option'.

    Road junction with a blue waymarker sign to show the route.
    Road junction from the Elterwater road, Elterwater, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

    Stage 3

    Continue straight on the road as it begins to climb, becoming a bridleway with large loose boulders. Ignore the footpath on the right and continue uphill for 656yd (650m).

    Loose gravel path meets a path junction and slopes steeply uphill, Elterwater, Cumbria
    Start of the steep uphill climb, Elterwater, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

    Stage 4

    At the metal gate, go straight through and ignore the adjoining bridleway on the right.

    Loose and large boulder footpath with a metal gate across it and a path junction, Elterwater, Cumbria
    The bridleway continues straight, crossing a field boundary, Elterwater, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

    Stage 5

    Continue on the path ignoring the footpath on the left.

    Loose gravel path with a field on one side and grassy banking on the other and views of the hills in the background, Little Langdale, Cumbria
    Bridleway continues straight towards the fells of Little Langdale, Little Langdale, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

    Stage 6

    Go straight through the metal gate and remain on the path as it passes alongside the farm buildings.

    Loose gravel path with a drystone wall on one side and grassy banking on the other and views of the hills in the background, Little Langdale, Cumbria
    Metal gate across the bridleway, Little Langdale, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

    Stage 7

    After the farm buildings, the footpath joins the road. Continue on the road downhill for 426yd (390m) until you reach a road junction.

    Narrow road with high hedges on either side, Little Langdale, Cumbria
    Narrow hedgelined road beyond farm buildings, Little Langdale, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

    Stage 8

    At the road junction, take the footpath opposite signposted 'Cathedral Quarry footpath only'. Follow the gravel track until you reach a farm and a slate sign for Slater's Bridge.

    Wooden footpath sign to Cathedral Quarry. Footpath lined with wooden fencing and a drystone wall, Little Langdale, Cumbria
    Wooden waymarker towards Cathedral Quarry, Little Langdale, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

    Stage 9

    At the farm entrance, follow the slate sign for Slater's Bridge, going through two wooden gates on your right.

    A large wooden gate across a footpath which slopes steeply downhill, Little Langdale, Cumbria
    Wooden gate and slate sign for Slater's Bridge, Little Langdale, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

    Stage 10

    Continue on the footpath at the top of the field, following it as it descends towards the river.

    Small gravel footpath across the field going down to Skater's Bridge, Little Langdale, Cumbria
    Footpath towards Slater's Bridge, Little Langdale, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

    Stage 11

    At the footpath junction, continue straight and cross over the stone bridge. At the other side, take the stone stile through the drystone wall and follow the path across the field to a wooden gate.

    Gravel footpath leading to a stone bridge over the river, Little Langdale, Cumbria
    Footpath over Slater's Bridge, Little Langdale, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

    Stage 12

    Go through the wooden gate and turn left on the gravel track. Follow the track round until you reach a wooden gate.

    Gravel footpath between two drystone walls along the edge of woodland, Little Langdale, Cumbria
    Bridleway towards Cathedral Quarry, Little Langdale, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

    Stage 13

    Go through the wooden gate and remain on the footpath for 142yd (130m) until you reach the entrance for Cathedral Quarry on the right.

    A wooden gate across the gravel footpath lined by two drystone walls, Little Langdale, Cumbria
    Wooden gate across the bridleway below Cathedral Quarry, Little Langdale, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

    Stage 14

    Go through the wooden gate and take the short climb up the footpath to the information panel at the top.

    A stone footpath leading uphill to a wooden gate with large piles of stone in the background, Cathedral Quarry, Cumbria
    Access point into Cathedral Quarry, Cathedral Quarry, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

    Stage 15

    On the right of the information panel is a long tunnel which takes you directly into the cave.

    Information board in a wooden frame, Cathedral Quarry, Cumbria
    Information panel mounted in a wooden frame, Cathedral Quarry, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

    End point

    Cathedral Quarry, Little Langdale, Cumbria

    Trail map

    An Ordnance Survey map showing the route from Elterwater to Cathedral Quarry, Little Langdale, Cumbria
    Elterwater to Cathedral Quarry Trail Route, Little Langdale, Cumbria | © National Trust/ Lucy Baird

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Stickle Tarn trail 

Take on a challenging and rewarding walk up Stickle Ghyll to the tarn above, surrounded by high fells, waterfalls and rockpools.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 1.9 (km: 3.04)
View of the rock-strewn lake at Stickle tarn with mountains rising above it and reflecting in the water

Blea Tarn trail 

Surround yourself with views of the Langdale Pikes and other Lake District fells, without the tough climb, as you explore tranquil Blea Tarn on this easy, well-made trail.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 1.8 (km: 2.88)
Blea Tarn with the Langdale Pikes in the background

Mickleden Valley trail 

Explore an easy route along the valley floor of Mickleden in the Langdales, taking in Neolithic history, looming crags and spectacular views of the Langdale Pikes.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 3.8 (km: 6.08)
View of the head of a valley with fells looming over, and grassy rounded hillocks of moraines in the foreground

Get in touch

Great Langdale, near Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9JU

langdale@nationaltrust.org.uk

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