The Great Slab. Bow...
 

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The Great Slab. Bowfell.

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Anyone ridden it? What route did you use? Worth the effort?

Thinking maybe come at is from Wasdale and Sty Head. Would you need to drop into Langdale or could you head west inthe direction of Eskdale?


 
Posted : 20/11/2022 4:49 pm
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Ooh....

https://flic.kr/p/2n9wyqW
.

https://flic.kr/p/2n9wyp8
.
https://flic.kr/p/2n9vktE
.

https://flic.kr/p/2n9GFwg

Anyone ridden it?

Down yes. Up nearly. It was slightly damp at the bottom and so I couldn't start on the bit I wanted to. Each time I went perpendicular to the slope I could feel the front wheel lifting. Utterly terrifying. 🙂

What route did you use?

Borrowdale, Stake Pass, shortcut across the bog to Angle Tarn, Ore Gap, Bowfell, Slab, Bowfell! Esk Pike, Esk Hause, Styhead, Stockley Bridge

https://strava.app.link/pBnSZeAd7ub

Worth the effort?

Depends what you're after. I enjoyed it and think the photos are utterly brilliant. The descent from Esk Hause is of course also utterly brilliant but there's also a lot of HaB in between.

Thinking maybe come at is from Wasdale and Sty Head. Would you need to drop into Langdale or could you head west inthe direction of Eskdale?

Wasdale is a huge drive for most people. The descent to Borrowdale is amazing. On the Wainwright's thread someone said that The Band *does* go. That's by far the shortest route..... up Rossett then down the Band.

( I didn't get any responses about the Band on my thread)
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/2-questions/

When we going? 😉
I'm keen to go back when it's dry and see if I can do the start bit.

PS, be careful. The bit I did ends in a mass of boulders and scree which it's hard to stop before. The bit further out ends in a vertical cliff, which could seriously affect your day.


 
Posted : 20/11/2022 5:43 pm
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YES! That looks amazing, thanks for sharing.

Borrowdale, Stake Pass, shortcut across the bog to Angle Tarn, Ore Gap, Bowfell, Slab, Bowfell! Esk Pike, Esk Hause, Styhead, Stockley Bridge

SO a loop with a little extension/out and back to do the slab?

The route looks amazing I bloody love the sty head descent once you get past the boring flat section at the top.

Keen to do Esk Hause too!

When we going? 😉

Spring/summer 2023?


 
Posted : 20/11/2022 6:03 pm
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Hooray. Let's go up Bowfell and then get The Band back, together!


 
Posted : 20/11/2022 6:10 pm
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Sounds perfect!


 
Posted : 20/11/2022 6:52 pm
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Yes, mucked about on it last year or something: 

went up rossett ghyll from langdale, angle tarn, bowfell, then down the band. Didn’t try to ride up the slab, just rode down it.

the band is ace btw


 
Posted : 20/11/2022 7:20 pm
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Cool picture. I've heard that the farmer at the foot of The Band is not appreciative of people riding it, and it goes straight through his yard.


 
Posted : 20/11/2022 7:50 pm
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Didn't realise that you could ride down The Band? Always thought it'd make an amazing MTB descent the times I've walked up / down it.


 
Posted : 20/11/2022 8:25 pm
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Ah yes @justinbieber it is those very post on insta that have inspired me to go and ride it.

Up Rosset Ghyll you say... I am not doing that again. Ever.

Good news on the band thoug and will avoid the farmer. Somehow.


 
Posted : 20/11/2022 8:36 pm
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Re. The band, just turn left well before you get to the farm.


 
Posted : 20/11/2022 10:21 pm
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Hey. Just found this.
Does anyone know anything about the numerous ways down from the pike o stickle.

Heading g up bow this weekend and likely to come down band but seeing if anyone has alternative?


 
Posted : 12/01/2023 11:41 pm
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Looking at the forecast I’d say you’d be mad or stupid to head anywhere up high in the lakes this weekend. Weather looks atrocious


 
Posted : 13/01/2023 12:25 am
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Weather was cracking today, happen a little high wconsidering the overnight snow so did maiden Moor and causey instead. Top day


 
Posted : 15/01/2023 6:38 pm
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Does anyone know anything about the numerous ways down from the pike o stickle.

Heading g up bow this weekend and likely to come down band but seeing if anyone has alternative?

There's a lot of riding/pushing between Bow Fell and Pike O' Stickle - it's the other side of the valley from The Band.


 
Posted : 15/01/2023 6:42 pm
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BLISCO I meant.


 
Posted : 15/01/2023 6:50 pm
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Argh, in that case, the path from Crinkle past Great Knott and sort of south of Bliss past Red Tarn to Three Shires Stone is OK. Not sure it's worth the push over Crinkle though......


 
Posted : 15/01/2023 7:16 pm
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The descent from Blisco down to the little Landgdale road is just a long pitched staircase.

https://imgur.com/v4ueEhl


 
Posted : 16/01/2023 9:20 am
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Thanks guys. Doesn't sound worthy of going further over.
Sorry to hijack the thread but whilst we're in the same area, couple if weeks ago did Lingmoor in (terrible weather) decent down to blea tarn house was pretty good. I looked as though you could get across to side pike?
Does anyone know if its much to ride upthere? I'm aware there's a step down section but the bottom of the path looks ok. ???
TIA


 
Posted : 16/01/2023 11:58 pm
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I've pushed the bike up from Side pike to Lingmoor summit and seem to remember thinking that it wouldnt be much fun as a descent. It was a bloody awful push up anyway.


 
Posted : 17/01/2023 9:25 am
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Sooooo.....rode the great slab today. Holy cow, it is steep. Went down and up it three times. On the last go, I went down to the very bottom, turned round and just thought wtf. It looks like a wall of rock. Had the e bike with me which made for a clean ascent. Had to start at an angle as straight up was too steep to set off on. However, once moving, I was able to go straight up the fall line. What a hoot. Certainly entertained a walker who seemed to appreciate my efforts. 

Re Pike of Blisco. Agree with @lowey. The descent is just a steep stone pitched step affair while the top is a carry down a couple of awkward rock sections. I enjoyed the stone pitching once I got past the slimy top step section but it is not a classic. 

Cheers

Sanny

 


 
Posted : 01/04/2025 9:46 pm
rickmeister and scuttler reacted
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You desecrated the Great Slab by taking an ebike on it..... you monster.

😆


 
Posted : 07/04/2025 7:06 pm
chickenman reacted

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