Cold Pike

The walk up Cold Pike from Great Langdale is straightforward and rewarding - a proper fell rather than a slog. It's about an hour and a half from the valley floor to the summit, gaining 600 metres with no scrambling involved, which means families with older kids can manage it without drama. The views on a clear day stretch across the Lake District fells; Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes dominate the skyline, and on good visibility you can pick out Windermere. It's not the highest peak around Ambleside, so it won't challenge serious hill walkers, but that's precisely why it works well. The fell is rocky at the top with a small cairn marking the summit - nothing fancy, just honest moorland fell walking. Most people tackle it as part of a longer day in Langdale, combining it with Crinkle Crags or Pike o'Stickle if they've got the legs for it. Allow three to four hours for a relaxed round trip with time to sit and take in the views. Winter can be grim if there's ice about, so spring through autumn is best. If you're based at Great Langdale Campsite or any of the other sites scattered through the valley, you can walk to the trailhead and back - no road walking needed. Cold Pike itself won't hold you for hours, but the valley and surrounding fells will. Worth the effort if you're after a moderate walk with genuine views and actual isolation, even in peak season.