Walking Route: High Raise and the Langdale Pikes, Lake
District
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Dungeon Ghyll > Sergeant Man
> Pavey Ark > Langdale
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Distance: 6.9 miles (10.9
km)
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Height Gain: 2810 ft ( 732
m)
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Overview: A classic route in the heart
of the Lake District taking in ghylls, craggy tops and
starting and finishing at a legendary outoors pub.
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Maps: OS Landranger 90,
OL6
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 2
Technicality: 1
Photo Grade: 4
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Start Point: NY292
062
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The knobbly tops of the Langdale Pikes are probably the most
distinctive and best known in the Lake District with a lovely mix of
rocky walking, craggy scrambles, ghylls and tarns rising above a
beautiful valley with the added bonus of a choice of mountain inns
for a post-walk pint.
This route is a great introduction to the range with lovely views
not just down to Langdale itself, but over to the Coniston and
Buttermere fells and beyond to Great End and Great Gable.
Section 1 - Langdale to Sergeant Man
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Distance: 2.2 miles (3.5km)
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Height Gain:2112ft (644 m)
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From the National Trust car park take the path through the gate at
the side of the new Hotel. Continue ahead where the Dungeon Ghyll
path exits to the left, and follow the path alongside Stickle
Ghyll, crossing the stream at the footbridge.
Continue uphill with Stickle Ghyll on your left, over a terrace at
the head of a small waterfall, and onwards to a crossing point. Cross
the stream to the left hand side and complete the ascent to Stickle
Tarn.
Pavey Ark towers over Stickle Tarn
- the slanting diagonal line from bottom right
to top left is the classic scramble of Jack's Rake
From here one path heads left towards Harrison Stickle and
another takes the right hand bank around the Tarn. Take the path
around the tarn to a point just before the northern end, where the
path splits into three.
Take the middle path, climbing up to Blea
Rigg and another junction. Turn left here and start up the
ridge ahead, meeting another junction just before the summit of
Sergeant Man. The path now curves left to the top of Sergeant
Man.
Section 2 - Sergeant Man to Pavey Ark
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Distance: 2 miles (3.1km)
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Height Gain: 274ft (84m)
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From the summit of
Sergeant Man a path heads across the open
ground north west, climbing almost imperceptably as it follows a line
of fence posts initially on the ascent to High Raise.
The climb from Sergeant Man to High
Raise is only around 100ft, but makes all the difference,
with the ground dropping away on all sides from the summit cairn and
trig point on High Raise.
The view right is of the Grasmere Fells, while the left drops down to
Langstrath and Borrowdale. From here, however you turn around and
head south on a good path towards the Langdale Pikes, with the
Coniston Fells behind and Bowfell off to the right.
The path drops steadily to the head of Bright Beck before turning
slightly left climbing again to the summit of Thunacar
Knott. Ignore the main path heading straight for Harrison
Stickle, but take a narrower path south east to two small pools,
where the main path to Pavey Ark joins on the left.
Continue along this path to reach the top of Pavey Ark,
with impressive views back down over Stickle Tarn and your earlier
ascent.
Section 3 - Pavey Ark to Langdale
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Distance: 2.7 miles (4.3km)
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Height Gain: 424ft (129m)
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From Pavey Ark backtrack to the two pools and head for
Harrison Stickle - below - dropping slightly before the short
steep pull up the rocks to the summit. The views here cover the
Langdale Valley below, a side on view of Pavey Ark and the next
target, Pike O' Stickle.
Drop back down off the summit to the small col then turn left into
Harrison Combe. After crossing the stream the path climbs directly
towards the distinctive cone of Pike O' Stickle - below - with
the choice of a scramble up the rocky summit or a slight detour right
to circle back to the top.
After a suitable break to admire the views of Great End and Great
Gable return to the base of the summit cone and cross the top of the
large scree run before climbing gently onto Loft Crag, passing Gimmer
Crag to your right.
Drop down left from Loft Crag onto easy ground to a large
cairn at a junction and go left to cross Dungeon Ghyll's stream. Once
over the stream the path widens and traverses the upper waterfalls
then slopes downhill below Harrison Stickle. Continue down the
steepening and winding path beneath Pike How to join a wall.
Now follow the path down to the kissing gate and the final short
stretch back to your starting point.
