The walk commences from the National Trust Car Park on the right of the B5343 just past the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel.

There is a signed path at the Northeast end of the car park leading directly to Stickle Ghyll.

When there has been plenty of rain the numerous waterfalls of Stickle Ghyll can make a spectacular photograph.

The path follows Stickle Ghyll all the way up the fellside to the hanging valley at the top containing Stickle Tarn.

The ascent to the tarn should take approximately an hour.

There is a path leading up both sides of the ghyll, however the main route starts to the left, crosses to the right via a bridge and then crosses once more near the very top of the route.

Looking back from approximately half way, this image shows Lingmoor Fell rising on the far side of Langdale.

Along the valley to the left (East) lies Elterwater. To the right (West) is the head of the valley, Mickleden.

As the ascent of the valley nears Stickle Tarn, a craggy outcrop overhags the right side of Stickle Ghyll. This is Tarn Crag.

From here the view back into Langdale includes another buttress on the West side of the ghyll, know as Pike Howe (right). Between that point and Lingmoor Fell can be seen the Coniston Fells.

At the top of Stickle Ghyll the path turns slightly to the West ad change the view over Langdale so that Side Pike is visible to the left of Pike Howe.

Also Wetherlam (2503 feet) in Coniston dominates the horizon.

At last the brow of the hanging Vally is reached. On the other side is Stickle Tarn, safely kept in position by the dam on the Southern side.

From this position we also get our first glimpse of the rocky cliff face of Pavey Ark.

Once over the brow we are met by a stunning view of the South face of Pavey Ark.

To the left is Harrison Stickle and Jack's Rake can be seen angling across the cliff face from right to left.

As you climb over the brow of Stickle Ghyll, Stickle Tarn comes into view.

This hanging Valley is a familiar glaciated feature in Lakeland where there once rested a glacier before slipping down the fell side under the force of it's own weight.

The delve left in the ground by that glacier is now filled with water, but to maintain the tarn and control the flow down Stickle Ghyll a dam has been build to block the Southeastern corner.

This image illustrates the dam. The fell situated on the horizon is Blea Rigg.

Looking back from the Northeast corner of Stickle Tarn on a winter's day at Harrison Stickle.

There is an ascent path to the gap between Pavey Ark and Harrison Stick running up the side of the fell from left to right in this picture.

This snow-dusted photograph of Pavey Ark serves to highlight the two routes up the cliff face. Jack's Rake angles upwards to the left, Easy Gully to the right.

Probably the best times to visit Lakeland is in Autumn when the heather turns colour, and in Winter when the air is crisp and clear and the fells sprinkled with white.

Here, Stickle Tarn is frozen over, requiring the fellwalker to resist the strong temptation to walk on the ice.

There are three possible ascents of Pavey Arc; Around a grassy bank and gentle climb to the right called North Rake, Easy Gully and Jack's Rake. If none of these are preferred the walker can choose to ascend the gap between Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle along a well worn and easy path.

A. Harrison Stickle.
B. Jack's Rake.
C. North Rake.
D. Easy Gully.

Jack's Rake:
1. East Buttress.
2. First Ash Tree.
3. Second Ash Tree.
4. Third Ash Tree.
5. Rake End Chimney.
6. Gwynne's Chimney.
7. Easy Terrace.
8. Great Gully.
9. Little Gully.
10. Pinnacle.

Jack's Rake starts from the base of the East Buttress at the bottom of Easy Gully. There is an easy path over grass to the start of a steep rock groove. This first section is about 20 yeards in lenght and takes you up to the first of three Ash trees on the left side and Rake End Chimney disappearing up the cliff on the right.
There now follows an even steeper and awkward 40 yard setion passing another Ash tree up to where the path turns slightly to the right and a third Ash tree. From here the climbing eases off a little across a section leading to Gwynne's Chimney, wherethe sttepest precipice lies below.
From Gwynne's Chimney there is a difficult steep ascent to a flatter section under a steep rock wall, called Easy Terrace. This ends at an easier rock groove which after 25 yards brings you out onto Great Gully. From here the path turns right to climb directly up the rock face over rock steps where there is a choice of direction.
At the very top of the cliff is a Pinnacle that marks the brow of the fell. From there the summit cairn is just a 100 yard amble to the right, accompanied by a great feeling of achievement.

Jack's Rake is classified as a rock climb, graded as easy. It is NOT a walk. Alfred Wainwrigth commented on it's ascent with:

"Walkers who can still put their toes in their mouths and bring their knees up to their chins may embark on the ascent confidently; others, unable to perform these tests, will find the route arduous".

From the Tarn the Rake looks dangerous and exposed, but this is, on the whole, deceptive. Most of the ascent takes place within a cutting between the cliff face and a protruding parapet. This groove has been formed by the erosive effects of water and consequently when rain falls the ascent will be unpleasant and treacherous.

The initial ascent of the Rake contains the most awkward scrambling, to the third Ash Tree (visible in photo).

Jack'r Rake is 225 yards in length, climbing 400 feet at an average angle of 30 degrees.

Before concentrating on the demands of Striding Edge, it is worth admiring the view across the void to St. Sunday Crag.

It is the north western face above Grisedale that is St Sunday Crag's chief glory. The long graceful curve of the top is set above a wall of crag half a mile long, the whole face being neatly symmetrical. A series of vertical gullys slice through the crags, which together with the intervening ridges provide sport for scramblers and climbers. The crags peter out at about 1,800 ft, to be replaced by a steep scree slope falling to the valley floor, a further 800 ft below.

Easy Terrace is a relatively flat shelf that follows Gwynne's Chimney below a steep rock wall often used by true climbers.

Once you reach Great Gully the route heads directly up the cliff for about 15 yards following the right edge of the gully. From there the gully is crossed, with care, before a 40 yard easy ascent leads to the Pinnacle (see picture).

Once the Summit of Pavey Ark is attained the view presented is stunning.

To the left, above the bright green of Langdale is Side Pike with Blea Tarn just visible to it's right.

On the horizon, above and right of the tarn, are the fells of Coniston. The first peak on the left is Wetherlam. Then, following a gap, are Coniston Old Man, Swirl How and Dow Crag.
On the extreme right, following the mass of Harrison Stickle, can be seen Scafell Pikes.

This picture looks across Harrison Combe Westwards at Pike O'Stickle.

To the right of Pike O'Stickle, on the far side of Mickleden, is Rossett Pike. Above Rossett Pike in cloud is Esk Pike with Ore Gap to it's left leading to the flanks of Bow Fell.

The path off Harrison Stickle and across Harrison Combe to Pike O'Stickle is a wide and clear route.

The path running down to the left from Pike O'Stickle is the route down via Dungeon Ghyll.

In this image the view looks Southeastwards over Loft Crag toward Windermere.

On the Southern side of the fell is Gimmer Grag (visible as the drop-off on the right) a very popular climbing destination.

To the extreme right of the picture, Coniston Water can be seen just coming into view. To the left and below the summit of Loft Crag is seen Thorn Crag and our route home.

The Band is a long ridge that ascends Bow Fell Westwards from Langdale (here running upwards from left to right).

In this image, Bowfell is out of shot to the right but above The Band the distinctive pinnacles of Crinkle Crags are visible.

Looking further to the right (Westwards) from the previous picture, Bow Fell itself comes into view.

The prominent combe to the right of the picture is Rossett Gill. Just under the summit of Bow Fell can be seen the grey face of Cambridge Crag with the signature feature of The Great Slab running uphill from right to left, just visible.

Another interesting aspect in this photograp are the morraines of Mickleden. These almost ant hill like glaciated features (visible at the bottom of Rossett Gill) were formed from the dumping of debris by a glacier moving down the valley from the combe above.

Looking Northwards from the summit of Pike O'Stickle reveals the fells of the Northern Lakes.

This image shows the Skiddaw range. To the left are the peaks of Ullock Pike, Long Side and Carl Side. Then the distinctive summit of Skiddaw itself with the lesser Low Man to the right.

To the front, running upwards from bottom left to mid picture is the valley of Langstrath terminating at Stonethwaite.

From near the summit of Loft Crag the Northwesterly view includes Harrison Stickle with Dungeon Ghyll below.

In this picture the path back to Pike How can be seen on the far Northern side of Dungeon Ghyll. This is, however, not our route home as we shall return via the path over Thorn Crag on the Southern side of Dungeon Ghyll.

This image is looking back Northwesterly toward Pike O'Stickle. The ridge route between the two summits is some third of a mile in length and climbs a total of 170 feet.

To the right of Pike O'Stickle is the flat top of Glaramara and to the left totally obscured by cloud is Great Gable.

This Westerly panorama from Loft Crag illustrates the fells around Pike O'Stickle.

To the left of the Stickle is the sugar loaf shape of Great Gable with Allen Crags below and to it's left. Then further left is the huge rockface wall of Great End. In the foreground to the left is Rossett Pike and the valley of Mickleden.

To the right of the dome is the flat top of Glaramara with the far off heights of Grasmoor, Eel Crag and Grisedale Pike visible further to the right.

The route off Loft Crag leads down through the col between Loft Crag and Thorn Crag on the Southern side of Dungeon Ghyll.

However a short detour is adviseable to take a quick glimpse down the famous ravine. Here the view looks back at Pike O'Stickle from the stream at the top of the Ghyll.

This shot is again take from the Northeastern side of Dungeon Ghyll which can be seen running down from right to left in mid-picture.

Our descent route is on the far side of Thorn Crag which then angles across the face of the fell to rejoin Dungeon Ghyll Force near the valley bottom.

Chapel Stile and Elterwater are small hamlets at the mouth of Great Langdale valley.

Captured by the famous Lakeland artist Alfred Heaton Cooper, this view of Langdale Pikes has become a signature image for the National Park.

An alternative to our recommended accommodation in the Lake District are any of a number of Campsites in the National Park.

In Great Langdale there is a National Trust Campsite offering excellent facilities for those craving the real Outdoor Experience.

The campsite is situated in an excellent position close the
Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and within easy walking distance of the start of the walk at the National Trust Car Park next to the
New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel.

In this panoramic image of Great Langdale all the major fells in the area can be seen.

The Langdale valley terminates centre shot where it splits into two smaller valleys; Oxendale to the left and Mickleden to the right, separated by The Band ridge climbing to Bow Fell.

At the head of Oxendale can be seen the 5 crinkles of Crinkle Crags. The left most peak of the 5 is flat with the depression of Great Cove to it's right. Then there are 4 more peaks starting with a relatively flat summit and followed by 3 distinct pinnacles. The highest Crinkle is 2,816 feet in height.

Above The Band rises Bow Fell and to it's right is Rossett Gill and Rossett Pike. To the right of Mickleden are the Langdale Pikes starting with the domes Pike O'Stickle. Immediately to it's right are the almost twin peaks of Loft Crag and Thorn Crag. The deep gorge of Dungeon Ghyll is the next feature along the range before the land rises to it's highest point at Harrison Stickle. To the extreme right of the photo is the grooved cliff face of Pavey Ark.

At the very bottom of the picture, just to the right of centre, can be seen the Langdale National Trust Campsite with the buildings that form the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel just above.

Rossett Gill ascends the slopes of Bow Fell from the valley of Mickleden.

In this image, looking East, can be seen the dome of Pike O'Stickle, the highest peak of Harrison Stickle and the formidable South facing buttress of Loft Crag, Gimmer Crag.