Pike O'Stickle - Sunday 6 July 2014
Route
New Dungeon Ghyll (NDG) - Pike How - Thorn Crag - Harrison Combe - Pike O'Stickle - Mark Gate - NDG
Parking
NDG (Charge) - Grid Ref NY296064
Mileage
4.2 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths although care needs to be taken close to the top of Dungeon Ghyll near Thorn Crag as the path slants across the lower slopes of Harrison Stickle. Though the ascent of Pike O'Stickle looks challenging, in good weather the scramble to the top is not difficult.
Weather
Gloriously sunny, great visibility and no wind
Time Taken
3hrs
Total Ascent
2368ft (722m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
New Dungeon Ghyll (NDG) - Pike How - Thorn Crag - Harrison Combe - Pike O'Stickle - Mark Gate - NDG
Parking
NDG (Charge) - Grid Ref NY296064
Mileage
4.2 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths although care needs to be taken close to the top of Dungeon Ghyll near Thorn Crag as the path slants across the lower slopes of Harrison Stickle. Though the ascent of Pike O'Stickle looks challenging, in good weather the scramble to the top is not difficult.
Weather
Gloriously sunny, great visibility and no wind
Time Taken
3hrs
Total Ascent
2368ft (722m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL6 - The English Lakes (South Western Area)
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GPX File
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Walk Description
We thought ourselves mad. Driving out to Langdale on a gloriously sunny Sunday, on the day of the Langdale Gala to walk up a very popular route to Pike O'Stickle - we were asking for trouble. We arrived in Langdale just after 1400 and managed to park quite easily in the Car Park opposite the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. Both Sticklebarn and the Hotel were busy as we walked through the grounds to the path behind the Hotel. Most of the people we saw today were coming off the hill and once we were beyond Pike How we saw nobody until we returned to the car. It just goes to show that there are occasions when you think it is going to be busy on the more popular fells and then you find it isn't.
As we made our way up the good path to Pike How it was important to remember to look back down over Langdale to see the exceptional views all around. The visibility today was superb and we were lucky to see Langdale in all its glory. The path makes a zig zag to the summit of Pike How and then levels out to provide a nice steady ascent up to the path junctions at Harrison Combe. Just before this point, the path runs parallel with a ravine and care is required when transiting across the slope of Harrison Stickle to the path junction.
From Harrison Combe the unmistakeable domed summit of Pike O'Stickle comes into view and this was a different scenario than the one we encountered on our last visit here (link) when we were unable to reach the top because of the very strong winds that day. Today was different and we made our way across Harrison Combe safe in the knowledge that today we would be able to get to the top and see the superb views from the summit. From the base of the dome there are numerous paths to the top and it is just a question of enjoying some basic scrambling to attain the summit cairn. From the summit the views over the head of Mickleden to Bowfell are amazing as are the views back to Loft Crag & Harrison Stickle. A panorama par excellence!
We descended via Mark Gate which is a good path back to the Hotel and once there left the revellers to it. A pint of something cold was taken in Wainwright's Bar in Chapel Stile. Today was 3 hours of sheer bliss up on a beautiful fell.
As we made our way up the good path to Pike How it was important to remember to look back down over Langdale to see the exceptional views all around. The visibility today was superb and we were lucky to see Langdale in all its glory. The path makes a zig zag to the summit of Pike How and then levels out to provide a nice steady ascent up to the path junctions at Harrison Combe. Just before this point, the path runs parallel with a ravine and care is required when transiting across the slope of Harrison Stickle to the path junction.
From Harrison Combe the unmistakeable domed summit of Pike O'Stickle comes into view and this was a different scenario than the one we encountered on our last visit here (link) when we were unable to reach the top because of the very strong winds that day. Today was different and we made our way across Harrison Combe safe in the knowledge that today we would be able to get to the top and see the superb views from the summit. From the base of the dome there are numerous paths to the top and it is just a question of enjoying some basic scrambling to attain the summit cairn. From the summit the views over the head of Mickleden to Bowfell are amazing as are the views back to Loft Crag & Harrison Stickle. A panorama par excellence!
We descended via Mark Gate which is a good path back to the Hotel and once there left the revellers to it. A pint of something cold was taken in Wainwright's Bar in Chapel Stile. Today was 3 hours of sheer bliss up on a beautiful fell.
The start of today's walk was from the Car Park over the road from the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel
New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. Pike How with Harrison Stickle behind
The path makes its way up the side of the wall towards Pike How
Excellent conditions today
Looking back down into Langdale with Side Pike left and Pike O'Blisco right
The beautiful Langdale Valley
Pavey Ark peeping out left of centre
Lingmoor Fell and Side Pike
Superb views today all around Langdale
Near Pike How. Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark behind
Heading down towards Thorn Crag and Harrison Stickle's lower slopes
Looking back to Pike How with Lingmoor Fell to the right
Fudge getting impatient below Harrison Stickle
One of the many Blea Tarns just visible behind Side Pike
The domed summit of Pike O'Stickle is just visible to the left from the lower slopes of Harrison Stickle
Care needs to be taken here as you pass fairly close to the ravine of Dungeon Ghyll
The domed summit of Pike O'Stickle
Looking down the South Scree gully to Pike O'Blisco
The summit of Pike O'Stickle
Harrison Stickle & Loft Crag across Harrison Combe
Loft Crag from Pike O'Stickle
Bowfell and the head of Mickleden
We think Fudge deserved his swim
The descent down to Mark Gate
New Dungeon Ghyll below Mark Gate
Looking back across to Pike How from the Mark Gate path