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The view from the top of the exhilarating Jack's Rake scramble at the top of Pavey Ark in the Langdale Pikes. You can see Stickle Tarn to the bottom centre, Windermere Lake to the far left, Coniston Water centre in the far distance and the small Blea Tarn to the right.
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A breathtaking scramble up Jack's Rake to the summit of Pavey Ark, then onto Harrison Stickle & Pike of Stickle in Langdale, Lake District
Distance: 6.2 miles
Time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Hard
(Jacks Rake poses the greatest challenge. It's a grade 1 scramble, but no specialist equipment is needed and for experienced walkers/scramblers with a head for heights it is more than doable in good weather conditions ie. not windy, wet & cold/icey. Just be warned - it can be a little bit hairy! )
Map of the Jack's Rake scramble route:
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| (Click to Enlarge). We started this walk at the car park near the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel. We then walked up hill following the well marked path alongside Stickle Ghyll to Stickle Tarn. Then it was off the beaten track to scramble up Jack's Rake to the top of Pavey Ark. From there we headed to the summit of Harrison Stickle, then Pike of Stickle and then downhill back to the start via Loft Crag and Mark gate. This is only route for those with a head for heights! |
Photos from the walk:
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| The first section of the walk heads up alongside Stickle Ghyll to Stickle Tarn |
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| Looking back down the Langdale Valley on one of the many stops to "soak up the views" |
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| Stickle Tarn is an ideal spot to take a rest, grab bite to eat and drink, decide if you really want to do Jack's Rake and figure out the path you will need to take to get to the start of Jacks Rake. |
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| Here I've highlighted the route of Jacks Rake. It does look difficult (almost impossible without climbing equipment haha!) and dangerous from a distance! But if you've got a good head for heights and have done some scrambling before - I would say it's fine for most. Just don't do it in strong winds or wet/cold weather - as this is when it is most dangerous. Take note of where the scramble starts (at the bottom right of the yellow line). |
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| Approaching the start of Jacks Rake. It's quite slow going walking up the scree to the start of the scramble. |
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| When the weather is good Jack's Rake is a fairly well-known walk and on the day we are here a couple of groups are just ahead of us. As you can see - it looks much more manageable from this angle and you can see the gulley that is the first section of Jack's Rake. If you stay in the gully you will be pretty safe. |
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| When we get to the start of Jacks Rake the views of Stickle Tarn are already superb. |
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| Scrambling up the first section of Jacks Rake, you feel quite safe tucked in the gulley. Physically I would say this first section up to the Rowan Tree is the most demanding and steepest, but you feel the least exposed. It also get's your head used to the heights. |
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| Onwards and upwards |
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| As you can see it's pretty steep - but much easier going up than going back down - so make sure you definitely want to do it! |
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| We reach the Rowan Tree and the scramble is easier from here on, although you do start feeling a little more exposed. Nothing an experienced walker with a head for heights can't handle though. |
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| This is the most exposed section - a sheer drop to the right (200ft+) and where I believe most accidents/fatalities happen. On this day it was sunny/dry and not windy at all - so I felt pretty safe up here and not in danger once - it's a mind over matter thing, just stay away from the edge and be careful with your feet! |
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| We are getting quite high above Stickle Tarn now - and you can see Windermere in the distance. |
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| Making a final push to the summit of Pavey Ark |
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| There are stunning views from every step up Jacks Rake. |
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| More scrambling required as you approach the top |
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| Getting near the summit of Pavey Ark now and the going is a little easier and no hands required |
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| We made it! This picture is from the top of Pavey Ark, one of the Langdale Pikes. You can see Stickle Tarn to the centre quite well as it's the closest, Windermere Lake to the far left, Coniston Water centre in the far distance and the small Blea Tarn to the right. |
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| Me and my mates (the camera perched on a rock :-) |
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| Coming down from Pavey Ark we head to Harrison Stickle for similar views and then onto Pike of Stickle |
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| There were lots of groups of walkers coming down off Pike of Stickle when we got there. |
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| It's all down hill now from Pike of Stickle to Loft Crag. |
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| You can see Blea Tarn in the centre of shot here - with Side Pike to the left - a good place for a little visit in itself if you have time |
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| Looking back up to Harrison Stickle (right) and Loft crag (left) |
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| From here it's all downhill back to the start at the Dungeon Ghyll Hotel for a nice cold pint. This is a good exhilarating walking challenge if you like a bit of a scramble and highly recommended. |
Happy Hiking!
Post by Stuart Hodgson
'The Hiking Photographer'
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