UKC

Sure, you could treat Pike O’Blisco as just a stepping-stone onto the more famous heights of Crinkle Crags and Bowfell. It could barely register as a waymark on a full Langdale horseshoe if you're blessed with that kind of animal vigour. But it's a fine, shapely hill in its own right and there could be good reasons for a standalone ascent if mist is low, time is constrained or energy is short. It can be tackled from the Little Langdale side but this short loop from Great Langdale showcases the deep gullies fanning out from Oxendale. Wainwright reckoned Blisco's name redolent of the Spanish Main and lambasted anyone uninspired by it as lacking blood in their veins. The descent into Oxendale will probably shiver yer timber, too, with Hell Gill, Skull Gill and Redacre Gill all tumbling down.

4.60 miles, 7.40 km, 596m ascent, 1:30 – 2:30 hours. Ambleside

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