This is a quick, easy, quiet and delightful descent from the moor between the Langdale Pikes and the Stake Pass, as an alternative to the usual descents to the Dungeon Ghyll Hotels or the Stake Pass itself. Wainwright extolled its virtues, but it seems they have been forgotten by all but sheep. Well constructed (a long time ago) in zig-zag course, of not too steep a gradient, regularly crossed by drainage channels, and not worn, in fact mostly grass, it is odd that no-one uses it, except us, as the zig-zags can be seen clearly at midheight from a distance.
The entrance at the top is not marked, but is found to the west of the ravine by some rocks, just as the hillside steepens downwards. The first bit is a little awkward, but can be bypassed, and at the bottom the path is indistinct, but still west of the Beck.
Thanks Hugh! We followed this route down on a lovely, clear autumnal day this week, using the GPX file to find the start of the route down, as it certainly wasn’t obvious, even on a clear day! Joining the route takes you across quite boggy ground to the West of the beck, but once over the lip, you can clearly see the zig zag path down. I have to say that it is still a pretty steep descent, which takes its toll on your knees and upper thighs, so take it easy!