Name of walk	Stickle Pike
Date of walk	2026-05-04

My son Tom was visiting this May Bank Holiday weekend and he fancied doing a walk. Bank Holiday Monday was the better weather, so we would make an early start and go somewhere quiet, never easy! I had wanted to walk to Stickle Pike from Ulpha Bridge for a while, as I had never walked it from this direction. I had had to cancel this walk once already this year when there was snow, as the road was closed for repairs. We parked in the spaces in front of the old school, near Ulpha Bridge, and were walking for 8am. The weather was warm and still, but very dull with some low cloud. It was due to clear, but we’d be back to the car way before then.

Looking back at the strip of tarmac that leads from the valley road close to the old school, on the right. The Pike is the fell opposite.

When we reached the cottage at Low Birks we took the path up to the fell.

View back as we head upwards and to the left.

Tom ahead. This path gives a superb view of the Duddon Valley below.

We are heading around Stickle Pike towards Kiln Bank Cross. The pointy summit of Caw ahead.

The path crosses the beck.

A Herdwick has its eyes on us.

We are almost around the side of the fell now, the road is just beyond the wall on the left. We decide against any descent and head across the fellside, which we are able to do as the bracken is not yet up.

Looking down on the road. All the parking places are taken up by camper vans which have obviously been parked all night, as it is not yet 9am. Unfortunately this happens all over the lakes these days, even along the shores of Wastwater where there are numerous signs prohibiting it.

Stickle Tarn, which we will visit later.

Summit ahead.

Summit cairn.

Crinkle Crags and Bowfell shrounded in cloud. Only the lower fells are visible. Caw far right.

Caw left, with Coniston Old Man behind it.

I photograph Tom on the south viewpoint.

I move to the south viewpoint with a view of Great Stickle and the Duddon Estuary.

Looking back at Tom who is on the summit.

Tom's photo of me on the south viewpoint.

The tarn is our next destination.

I head back to the summit for the path down to the tarn.

Stickle Tarn.

It is very still today, so there are some reflections.

Summit reflections.

Our way ahead to complete our Stickle Pike circuit.

We are heading for the dip.

Hesk Fell on the left and the Duddon Valley below. We head around to the left skirting boggy bits, but trying not to gain too much height, as we make to join up with our path from this morning and then head back to the car.

The walk was about 4 miles and took just under two and a half hours. We only met two people on our way back to the car, to whom we stopped and chatted. A quiet route for a Bank Holiday!

Jo.