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View of the head of a valley with fells looming over, and grassy rounded hillocks of moraines in the foreground
Moraines at the head of the Mickleden Valley trail | © National Trust/David Hamer
Lake District

Mickleden Valley trail

Walk into the wilds of Mickleden, a Langdale valley where clues to Neolithic and Norse settlers lie beneath dramatic views of pikes and crags. This easy out-and-back route follows the bridleway along the valley floor, on a section of the Cumbria Way.

Stony terrain

The track is easy to follow but stony in places. Wear sturdy footwear suitable for the weather conditions.

Total steps: 6

Total steps: 6

Start point

Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park, grid ref: NY286061

Step 1

Leave the car park and walk behind the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, through a gate and onto the stony track heading left. You'll follow this path all the way along the valley.

Step 2

Begin your walk along the stony track, looking up to see the rocky outcrops of Raven Crag above you on the right.

Step 3

Continue along the main track, ignoring any small paths climbing up the fell to your right. With navigation easy, keep an eye out for wildlife around you. The surrounding crags provide nesting for the peregrine falcon and the lower, rock-strewn valley is home to the migrating wheatear.

View of a fellside with rocks and brown grass, and small leafless trees
Juniper trees on the fellside in Mickleden | © National Trust/David Hamer

Step 4

The valley opens up in front of you as you pass the last sign of habitation on the left of the valley, Stool End Farm. As you admire the views of Gimmer Crag and Pike O’ Stickle, close your eyes and imagine the sound of rock cracking against rock, as Neolithic workers made stone axes. The rock in this area is perfect for stone tools, because of its very hard yet easily workable nature. Rejected axe heads have been found on the slopes of Pike O’ Stickle.

View of a rocky, rounded mountain peak above a brown grassy fellside
Pike O'Stickle, seen from the trail through Mickleden | © National Trust/David Hamer

Step 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.

View of the head of a valley with fells looming over, and grassy rounded hillocks of moraines in the foreground
Moraines at the head of the Mickleden Valley trail | © National Trust/David Hamer

Step 6

Continue on the path past the glacial moraines until you reach the wooden bridge across the stream, near 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.

A drystone wall circular sheep pen surrounded by rocky and grassy terrain
The sheep pen at the head of Mickleden | © National Trust/David Hamer

End point

Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park, grid ref: NY286061

Trail map

Ordnance Survey map of the Mickleden Valley trail route
Map of the Mickleden Valley trail | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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Great Langdale, near Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9JU

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