Name of walk	Pavey Ark to High Raise
Date of walk	2024-09-17

It was going to be a beautiful, clear, warm day so Sue and I decide to head for Great Langdale in order to walk up to Stickle Tarn and climb Pavey Ark via North Rake, then on to Sergeant Man, High Raise and Thunacar Knott, descending beside Dungeon Ghyll by the Mark Gate route. We set off before 7am and parked at New Dungeon Ghyll. £8.50! The walk is just under 8 miles and I thought we should manage it in 7hrs, and I’d be back in time to go to brass band in the evening……wrong! It took a little longer!

Walking up beside Stickle Ghyll. Tarn Crag on the right.

We cross the bridge. There is an excellent pitched path for most of the way up to Stickle Tarn. Towards the top there is a big boulder to scramble over then the ghyll to cross.

We head up towards the waterfall. Pavey Ark now seen on the left.

View back down the Langdale Valley.

We cross back over the ghyll here.

Now back on the other side we continue the rocky ascent up to the tarn.

Pavey Ark reflected in Stickle Tarn. Although still early, it is rather hot today and very still.

We cross the tarn outflow and look over to Harrison Stickle.

We skirt the tarn edge. A sheep comes to say hello.

Gorgeous reflections!

We follow the sheep in the direction of North Rake, our route up to Pavey Ark.

Sergeant Man ahead right.

We ford the stream and follow the path.

North Rake, but not the summit.

Looking down on Stickle Tarn.

Windermere on the right. Blea Rigg left. The continuous climbing is hard going in the heat, so we have a brief stop to admire the view.

Summit view down the Langdale valley. Lingmoor on the right.

Turning round for a view of Sergeant Man, our next fell.

I move to the edge for the view down to Stickle Tarn.

Heading for Sergeant Man, the ground is very wet and boggy in places. Near the top I get cramp in my thigh, a sign that it is a hot day, so I eat some crisps, rehydrate, then we continue on.

View from Sergeant Man summit. Pavey Ark on the right. There are loads of flying ants, so we push on to High Raise.

This route is also very wet underfoot. View across to Scafell Pike, Great End, Great Gable and Pillar.

High Raise summit cairn. Great Gable on the left, Glaramara in the foreground.

Sue takes my photo at the cairn. Bassenthwaite Lake and Skiddaw on the right. With the naked eye I could just see a glimpse of Derwent Water.

Summit selfie.

Looking over to the range of fells that include Clough Head, the Dodds, Helvellyn and Fairfield.

The Coniston range in the distance on the left, Crinkle Crags and Bowfell on the right. In the foreground is Loft Crag and Pike o'Stickle.

Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, Esk Pike, Scafell, Scafell Pike, Great End and Allen Crags.

We head for Thunacar Knott, but a sharp move gives me cramp in my thigh again. Julia, a fellow walker we met on Sergeant Man, gives me some shortbread biscuits that have a high salt content. They also happen to be my favourites! Walkers are always a very considerate and kind group of individuals. After a few minutes I'm good to go, but reduce my speed and attempt to walk more smoothly. Now on Thunacar Knott. Harrison Stickle ahead. Wetherlam and Coniston Old Man to the right.

Harrison Stickle ahead. Our route actually takes us within sight of the summit, but another touch of cramp, this time in the other thigh, means we are heading down to Dungeon Ghyll.

At the top of Dungeon Ghyll I refill my water bottle in the stream. The contortions made to collect water give me cramp again, but thankfully for the last time, as now we are heading down and different muscles are used for this.

Our route ahead.

Looking back up Dungeon Ghyll to Loft Crag and Pike o'Stickle.

View over Dungeon Ghyll to Blea Tarn.

It's a little exposed. Not a place for a mis-step!

The route down is pitched path.

The car is now in view, but the descent always seems to go on forever!

At the bottom of the Mark Gate route there is a bench with a view and we sat on it for half and hour, and got chatting to a chap from Kendal. I’d not get home in time to go to Band, so we were no longer concerned about the time. After we had visited the pub loos at New Dungeon Ghyll, exactly 9hrs had passed before we got back to the car. Since this walk I have now purchased some electrolyte gels for my rucksack, just in case cramp occurs again. It was still a great walk for a sunny day!

Jo.