Little Langdale has some obvious favourites. Cathedral Caves, Slater’s Bridge, the classic photos and then back on your way.

But just around the corner, there’s a whole side of the valley that most don’t ever see.

Head towards Hodge Close Quarry from Cathedral Caves and the landscape starts to feel a little wilder. Slate rubble stretches across the hillsides, the surrounding fells rise dramatically in the distance, and when the clouds roll in, the whole place takes on that wonderfully moody Lake District feel.

And then there are the locals…

Sheep are seen happily wandering across the slate-covered landscape as though it’s the most normal thing in the world. This one seemed particularly interested in what I was doing, posing for the camera!

It’s a small detour to a peaceful and quiet walk that most pass straight by.

So next time you’re visiting Little Langdale for Cathedral Caves or Slater’s Bridge, don’t rush off. Take a little detour, follow the valley a bit further and see what’s beyond the caves.

You might find your favourite view is the one you weren’t looking for.

Little Langdale is one of the quieter valleys in the Lake District but hotspots like Cathedral Caves, Slater’s Bridge and Three Shires Stone/Inn are what put it on the map. While it is not quite as famous as its big brother, Great Langdale, it is one of the most photographed corners of the Lake District and holds stories many visitors never hear.

Little Langdale has a rich history of mining and quarrying. In the 17th century, quarrymen working in nearby Tilberthwaite built a slate packhorse bridge across the River Brathay, creating a better route for local workers and communities. The bridge is made up of slate pieces and one huge boulder/slab of slate that connects the far side. This is what we know as Slater’s bridge – “the most picturesque footbridge in Lakeland” (Alfred Wainwright). Each year, thousands of visitors walk over this bridge and stop to take photos not knowing its folklore.

I was walking past the bridge one day with Jonny (my partner) when he asked if I knew the story of Slater’s Bridge. According to local folklore the quarrymen had been working on the bridge and went home for the night. The next day when the men returned, they found an enormous slab of slate had been placed at the end of the bridge with no sign of hoof prints from a horse or any struggle. There is no physical way for one man to carry this piece of slate alone and so it became known as the devil’s stone… Spooky! This wonderfully strange story has been passed on through generations and will continue for many more.

So next time you’re wandering through Little Langdale and crossing Slater’s Bridge, take a moment to look beyond the view and think of this story. After all, it’s not every day you stumble across a piece of landscaping allegedly designed by the Devil himself!