Loft Crag, Pike O’Stickle, Thunacar Kott, Pavey Ark

This walk is dedicated to my mother-in-law Christine who passed away on 10th February 2008.


What better walk to celebrate the life of my mother-in-law. One of my favourite Lake District areas and a beautiful sunny February day. Parked at the National Trust car park just after the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel, and succumbed (yet again) to the warmth of a hot coffee before the walk. The route we decided was one we have walked several times, starting up the path towards Stickle tarn but soon turning left towards Dungeon Ghyll and then after crossing the ghyll ascending the path keeping the deep ravine on our right. Ahead, visible from a distance, were a group of people, one with a bright yellow jacket which we were soon to realise were mountain rescue volunteers on a training exercise, rescuing a ‘casualty’ in Dungeon Ghyll and waiting for a helicopter, which duly arrived a few minutes later, circled around for a while and then headed off into the distance.


The weather was amazing, like summer, climbing up the fell wondering why I was carrying all my winter gear. We stopped for a while soaking in the sun and the views, on the broad grassy shelf after the first steep climb, and then continued up the obvious path to the gap between Harrison Stickle and Loft Crag. Turning left and then up left again our first summit was reached with fantastic views across Langdale to the fells beyond. The sun bright and low in the sky and a misty haze in the valleys below emphasizing the contours of the hills extending beyond.
Next stop, Pike O’Stickle a short stroll westward above the Langdale valley with an interesting scramble to the summit (always met with ‘why am I doing this again! ’ from behind). However the reward today was out of this world, the views south as described previously and to the north the peak of Skiddaw poking out of the wintry haze in the valley.






A place to linger for some time before heading off the pointed summit on across the moorland to Thunacar Knot, an easy tramp aided by the frozen ground underfoot as opposed to the usual bog.
I have never visited Thunacar Knott before and was glad the weather was clear, not only because I am sure finding it in mist would have been quite an ordeal and also to be able to visualise the landscape across to Sergent Man and Blea Rigg.
A short walk to the west, no path, took us to Pavey Ark, swarming with people but nonetheless a magnificent perch to look down on to Stickle tarn below.
The next decision was whether to take in Harrison Stickle before descending. Heading across the bouldery path, Cristine would have been proud that common sense prevailed and we decided that, because of weary legs and the realisation that we were still in winter, despite the weather and dark would descend quite quickly, we decided to pick our way down the eroded path to Stickle tarn and then on down the main route to the valley.


Time 5 hrs 30mns

Memories A wonderful day dedicated to the memories of Christine
Grade Excellent

Completed 29 - To go 185