16. Walking in and above Great Langdale Valley - Langdale Pikes - great scenery and fantastic walks in the Lake District National Park of England

[Author © Dr WP Brown PhD (plus AI these days) updated Jan 30th 2026 *]

(i) Walking along a section of the Cumbria Way

February 2012 and (ii) Climbing all the Langdale Pikes May 2016

(iii) Some views of Great Langdale and the Langdale Pikes from the road over to Little Langdale?

English Lake District, Cumbria (ex Cumberland/Westmorland)

 North West Index

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Winter - the road straight ahead goes from Elterwater (on the left) down to Great Langdale valley and in the distance the peaks of  Langdale Fell and the Langdale Pikes.

Walking the Langdale Pikes from Great Langdale

The Langdale Pikes—Pavey Ark, Harrison Stickle, Pike o’ Stickle, Loft Crag, and Thorn Crag—form one of the most recognisable skylines in the Lake District. Most walkers start from Stickle Ghyll / New Dungeon Ghyll, which gives the most efficient access to the whole group.

1. The Classic Circuit from New Dungeon Ghyll

Route Overview

• Start: Stickle Ghyll car park

• Finish: Same

• Distance: 6–8 miles depending on variations

• Height gain: ~900–1000 m

• Time: 4.5–6 hours

Stage 1 — Stickle Ghyll to Stickle Tarn

• A well-built stone path climbs beside the ghyll.

• Stickle Tarn appears suddenly beneath the great cliff of Pavey Ark.

• This is the natural hub for the day’s ascents.

Stage 2 — Pavey Ark (via North Rake or Jack’s Rake)

• North Rake: A steep but straightforward scramble-free ascent.

• Jack’s Rake: A famous Grade 1 scramble across the face of Pavey Ark; exposed but iconic.

Stage 3 — Harrison Stickle

• From the top of Pavey Ark, a short walk leads to the rocky dome of Harrison Stickle, the highest of the Pikes.

• Superb views down Great Langdale.

Stage 4 — Pike o’ Stickle

• Drop to the col at Stickle Tarn–Harrison Stickle–Pike o’ Stickle junction.

• A steep, rocky pull leads to the summit cone.

• This is the archaeological heart of the Langdale Pikes (more below).

Stage 5 — Loft Crag and Thorn Crag

• Loft Crag’s distinctive prow is a short detour.

• Thorn Crag is often included for completeness.

Stage 6 — Descent via Mark Gate

• A well-used path drops back into the valley.

• The descent gives a fine retrospective view of the whole skyline.

Alternative Routes

A. The Mickleden Approach

• Start from the Old Dungeon Ghyll.

• Walk into Mickleden, then climb the steep flank of Pike o’ Stickle directly.

• Best for those prioritising the Neolithic axe quarries.

B. The Blea Tarn / Side Pike Variation

• Start near Blea Tarn.

• Ascend via Side Pike and the Bield Crag area.

• A quieter, more atmospheric approach with excellent views into both Langdales.

History and Archaeology of the Langdale Pikes

1. Prehistoric Significance — The Langdale Axe Industry (Neolithic, c. 3800–2500 BC)

This is where the Langdale Pikes become truly extraordinary.

The Great Langdale Axe Quarries

• The Pikes—especially Pike o’ Stickle and Harrison Stickle—were the centre of a major Neolithic stone axe industry.

• The rock here is greenstone (tuff) from the Borrowdale Volcanic Group: extremely tough, fine-grained, and ideal for polished axes.

• Hundreds of quarry sites, working floors, and waste heaps survive on the high slopes.

Archaeological Features

• Working floors: Flat terraces where roughouts were shaped.

• Debitage: Vast spreads of flakes and waste stone.

• Roughouts: Unfinished axe blanks still lie on the fellside.

• Transport routes: Axes were carried down to Langdale, then traded across Britain.

Distribution

• Langdale axes have been found:

  • Across England, Wales, and Ireland

  • In ceremonial deposits

  • In long barrows and causewayed enclosures

• Many were polished elsewhere, suggesting a multi-stage production and exchange system.

Interpretation

• The quarries were not simply industrial sites; they likely had ritual significance.

• The dramatic, cloud-wreathed crags may have been seen as liminal or sacred places.

• The labour required to reach and work these heights suggests communal effort and social organisation.

2. Medieval and Post-Medieval Use

• The high fells were used for summer grazing (shielings).

• Place-names such as Stickle, Pike, and Ghyll reflect strong Norse influence.

• The valley floor developed into a farming and packhorse-trading landscape.

3. 18th–19th Century Romanticism

• Artists and writers (e.g., Wordsworth) celebrated the Pikes as symbols of the sublime.

• Early tourists climbed them as part of the developing Lake District walking culture.

• The Old Dungeon Ghyll became a centre for early mountaineering.

4. 20th Century to Present

• The Pikes became a classic fellwalking destination.

• Archaeological surveys in the 20th century mapped the axe quarries in detail.

• Today the area is protected as part of the Lake District World Heritage Site.

Why the Langdale Pikes Matter

• They combine spectacular geomorphology, prehistoric industry, and deep cultural resonance.

• Few British mountains have such a clear link between landscape and early human activity.

• Walking them is, in a sense, walking through layers of human history—from Neolithic craft to Norse settlement to Romantic tourism.

Autumn - the road into Great Langdale Valley with the Langdale Pikes rising in the distance

Zooming into the snow covered Langdale Pikes

The highest points visible are Loft Crag and the flatter Harrison Stickle

Langdale Beck on the track from Elterwater to Great Langdale

The Langdale Pikes from the track from Elterwater to Great Langdale

The Langdale Pikes from the slate quarry above Elterwater

Loft Crag, Harrison stickle and the dark mass of Pavey Ark

Looking west down Great Langdale Valley

The road into Great Langdale past Chapel Stile

Great Langdale and the Langdale Pikes

Stickle Ghyll above the Dungeon Ghyll Hotel

The car park at New Dungeon Ghyll

The hills above Dungeon Ghyll hotel

The hills above Stickle Barn

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Sticklebarn and beyond up to the Langdale Pikes.

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Heading west along the Cumbria Way

First glimpse of Raven Crag.

The peak of Pike of Stickle on the left.

The head of Great Langdale Valley

Mickleden National Trust land

A huge boulder is used to prop up a dry stone wall leading up the fell side.

Huge stones used to construct the dry stone wall

Herdwick sheep.

Back into New Dungeon Ghyll for some refreshment

(ii) Climbing all the Langdale Pikes May 2016

We followed the well trodden route northwest from above the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel

The stream of Dungeon Ghyll down on the left as you look down to the New Dungeon Ghyll

The Dungeon Ghyll waterfall.

Looking south across Great Langdale

Blea Tarn on the left

Many peaks visible as you climb up.

The cairn on the summit above Loft Crag with Pike of Stickle in the distance.

The head of Great Langdale and the round peak of Pike of Stickle.

From Loft Crag you descend a little and then climb up to the summit of 'Pike O stickle'

The view west from Pike of Stickle - Harrison stickle and Loft Crag

A V view of Great Langdale as you walk east towards Harrison Stickle.

View down the side of Loft Crag

Blea Tarn.

Looking east down Great Langdale from the summit of Harrison Stickle.

Pavey Ark and stickle Tarn.

The rough rocks on top of Harrison Stickle.

Looking back to Harrison Stickle as we head towards Pavey Ark.

The rocks between Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark.

The broad 'top' of Pavey Ark.

The last snow on the Langdale Pikes?

The view down to Dungeon Ghyll over Stickle Tarn.

The rocks on top of Pavey Ark.

After Pavey Ark we descend southeast towards Stickle Tarn.

The stream of Stickle Ghyll comes into view.

The top Stickle Ghyll, looking up to High Raise.

Stickle Tarn and Harrison Stickle

Harrison stickle, Stickle Tarn and Pavey Ark.

The massif of Pavey Ark

Stickle Tarn and Pavey Ark

Looking south down Stickle Ghyll. There are paths down both sides of the stream to return to the New Dungeon Ghyll.

The New Dungeon Ghyll in Great Langdale comes into sight.

The tumbling waters of Stickle Ghyll

The waterfalls of Stickle Ghyll

Back to the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel - a most excellent walk of ~4 miles in ~ 4 hours

The view over the New dungeon Ghyll Hotel to Blea Rigg and many crags.

Refreshments in the National Park Sticklebarn

	The New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel for good pub grub and snacks and drinks etc.

 

The Sticklebarn Tavern for snacks, bar meals and drinks

(iii) Some views of Great Langdale and the Langdale Pikes from the road over from Great Langdale to Little Langdale

 

A panoramic view of Langdale Fell and the Langdale Pikes

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