Lake District: High Raise and the Langdale Pikes

25 March 2005

Climbing alongside Stickle Ghyll towards Stickle Tarn, with Pavey Ark poking its head out

A quiet day on the fells! Well, it was Good Friday

Pavey Ark towering moodily above Stickle Tarn

Leaving the crowds behind, on the Blea Rigg ridge, Sergeant Man comes into view in the mist on the right, with the col between High Raise and Thunacar Knott on the left

Stickle Tarn from the Blea Rigg ridge

From the same spot, Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle

Crowds on Pavey Ark

Codale Head from Sergeant Man

Sergean Man from the slopes of Codale Head (730m / 2395ft). While Sergeant Man is well known and features in Wainwright's guide, Codale Head is much less frequently visited, but by virtue of its greater relative height above surrounding land, is a Nuttall, one of seven on today's walk.

The rounded grass lump of High Raise from Codale Head, with one of the fence posts that formerly marked the boundary between Cumberland and Westmorland

The trig point on High Raise (762m / 2500ft), looking north

From the wall shelter on High Raise, looking south to Harrison Stickle on the left and Pike O'Stickle on the right
From the shelter on High Raise

Looking west to the summit of Glaramara, with Dale Head visible in the distance to the right

On the northern slopes of Thunacar Knott, looking back to Sergeant Man

From Thunacar Knott (723m / 2372ft) looking north to High Raise (left) and Sergeant Man (right)

From Thunacar Knott, Pavey Ark

Harrison Stickle from Thunacar Knott

Pike O'Stickle from Thunacar Knott

Stickle Tarn, Great Langdale, and Elterwater and Windermere just visible, from Pavey Ark

High Raise from Pavey Ark

Pavey Ark and Stickle Tarn from Harrison Stickle

Dense fog on the tops of Pike O'Stickle and Loft Crag rendered photography pointless, but on the descent the clouds lifted once more. A retrospective view to Pavey Ark (centre), with the lesser but nearer heights of Thorn Crag and Tarn Crag framing it.

From the same point, Great Langdale. By this time, my legs were complaining bitterly, and the sight of the car in the valley between the trees was a case of "so near and yet so far". A very enjoyable walk, nonetheless.