Pavey Ark

Amongst the dramatic rock fortresses of the Langdale Pikes is a sumptuous, high mountain tarn backed by a darkly menacing cliff wall. At the zenith of this cliff is a wonderful summit, one of the most spectacular of all in the Lake District. Simply put, hikes to Pavey Ark are unforgettable. 

The Langdales are renowned for their magnificent south and east facing crags and Pavey Ark’s cliffs are arguably the finest of them all. Nestled below is Stickle Tarn: a large, superbly situated, atmospheric pool and popular objective in its own right. Cutting diagonally upwards across the fearsome crags is the legendary Jack’s Rake, an airy grade one scramble that takes hikers into territory usually associated with rock climbing. Not the route for the kids or the dog.

However, there are plenty of easier walking routes to Pavey Ark’s gorgeous summit. In stark contrast to its southeast facing cliffs, the fell’s northwestern slopes are remarkably gentle, allowing easy access to a host of other Wainwright summits.

From the top, the vista of glistening Windermere and its environs is particularly good, enhanced by the way the ground drops away steeply above Stickle Tarn. Harrison Stickle’s craggy top is close by, whilst the Scafells can be seen popping up above the Bowfell group.

Great Langdale is a popular base for all manner of adventures in the Southern and Central fells and has a wealth of accommodation options. Any other approach to Pavey Ark would be a relatively large undertaking and would approach the fell from its less interesting northwestern side. It has the potential to be difficult in winter conditions, though its height means it rarely holds substantial amounts of snow.