Route: Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle
Area: Central Lake District
Date of walk: 12th July 2014
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 4.9 miles
Weather: bright and warm
I parked in the car park opposite the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and joined the path which leads up beside Stickle Ghyll, crossing it a couple of times before emerging at Stickle Tarn
The imposing crags of Pavey Ark loom over the tarn – a very impressive spectacle. I walked round the tarn and the foot of the cliff face to join North Rake, which rises steeply through a breach in the crags. Despite the steepness, the gully provides a straightforward way to the top of Pavey Ark. For adventurous souls who have a head for heights, an alternative route to the top is via Jack’s Rake, which is a scramble rather than a walk
I then went on to Harrison Stickle, an easy climb from the path leading away from Pavey Ark. The views were wonderful even though the sky was pallid
The route back to the valley from Harrison Stickle via Pike How was an exciting way to descend, as the narrow path contoured round the side of the crags giving dramatic drops down to Dungeon Ghyll below and over of Great Langdale ahead
It had been a really enjoyable morning well spent in the midst of dramatic mountain scenery
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The start of the walk, looking ahead to Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle in the background
The path follows Stickle Ghyll all the way up to its tarn
Crossing Stickle Ghyll
Looking back into Great Langdale
The ridge to the right, leading down to Pike How, will be my eventual line of descent
Stickle Tarn with the cliff face of Pavey Ark beyond
The path continues along the shore of Stickle Tarn
Jack’s Rake. I considered ascending via this route - for a nanosecond
Looking back along Stickle Tarn to Harrison Stickle
North Rake
Pavey Ark summit
Stickle Tarn from the summit - Windermere is in the background
Harrison Stickle ahead is the next objective
Delicately balanced boulder on Pavey Ark
Great Langdale and Windermere
Looking back to Pavey Ark with Stickle Tarn below
Great Langdale from the summit of Harrison Stickle
The distinctive outline of Pike O’Stickle, but I shall be turning left at the depression below
A narrow path traverses the fellside with Dungeon Ghyll below
Blea Tarn in the background
The path continues down to the foot of Pike How, skirting around it to the right
Lingmoor Fell and Side Pike across the valley
Looking down to the start - and finish - of the walk
A last lingering look up before I drive back home
