Langdale

Great Langdale is a valley in the Lake District National Park in North West England, the epithet Great distinguishing it from the neighbouring valley of Little Langdale.

Langdale is a popular location for hikers, climbers, fell-runners and other outdoor enthusiasts who are attracted by the many fells ringing the head of the valley. Among the best-known features of Great Langdale are the Langdale Pikes, a group of peaks on the northern side of the dale. England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike, can be climbed by a route from Langdale. Langdale has spectacular views of, in particular, Dungeon Ghyll Force waterfall, Harrison Stickle and Pike of Stickle.

Langdale was an important site during the Neolithic period for producing stone axes, and was also one of the centres of the Lakeland slate industry.

Langdale is also the name of a valley in the Howgill Fells, elsewhere in Cumbria.

Langdale is known to archaeologists as the source of a particular type of Neolithic polished stone axe head, created on the slopes of the Pike of Stickle and traded all over prehistoric Great Britain and Europe. It also supplied stone for some Bronze Age items, such as stone wrist-guards. Neolithic cup and ring marks are found on the Langdale Boulders at Copt Howe.

The mouth of the valley is located at Skelwith Bridge, which lies about two miles west of the town of Ambleside. The Langdale valley contains two villages, Chapel Stile and Elterwater, and a hamlet at High Close. Great Langdale is a U-shaped valley formed by glaciers, while Little Langdale is a hanging valley.

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