Great Langdale
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  Map sources for Great Langdale at grid reference NY305065
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Great Langdale is a valley running from the town of Ambleside to the highest peaks of the Lake District in the county of Cumbria, in the northwest of the England. It is often simply referred to as Langdale, the epithet Great distinguishing it from the neighbouring Little Langdale.
It is a popular place for hikers, attracted by the many fells that ring the head of the valley. England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike, can be climbed by a route from Langdale. It has spectacular views, in particular, Dungeon Ghyll Force waterfall, Harrison Stickle and Pike of Stickle. It is a U-shaped valley formed by glaciers while Little Langdale is a hanging valley.
It is also known to archaeologists as the source of a particular type of Neolithic polished stone axe head, created on the slopes of 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.
One of the best known feature of Great Langdale are the Langdale Pikes, a group of peaks on the northerrn side of the dale. From below they appear as a sharp rocky ridge, though they are only precipitous on their southern side: to the north the land sweeps gently to High Raise, parent peak of the range. The Pikes themselves include (from west to east) Pike of Stickle, Harrison Stickle, Loft Crag and Pavey Ark.
[edit] Slate industry
Langdale and Elterwater were centres of the Lake District slate industry. There is only one green slate quarry operating in 2007, but the whole area is dotted with disused mines and quarries.
Langdale is also the name of a valley in the Howgill Fells, elsewhere in Cumbria.
[edit] See also
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