Stickle Pike sunset

Walked on 05/01/2022

It was a fantastically clear day in the Lake District today and the evening was looking as though there would be a great sunset. Come on Dougal & Fletcher, let’s get up to Stickle Pike to witness it!

The shadows are already lengthening at the start of the climb, there is no time to hang around!

The sun is disappearing behind Black Combe as we make it to the top.

Looking over Great Stickle to the udon Estuary with Barrow and Furness beyond.

Wow, it is a beautiful sunset tonight and well worth the effort to get up here.

The Golden Boys.

Looking to the head of Dunnerdale, L-R: Scafell, Scafell Pike, Harter Fell (mid ground), Esk Pike, Bowfell, Little Stand, Crinkle Crags, Grey Friar, Coniston fells and Caw.

The sun has quickly all but gone now.

Time to go - for the sun and us!

Dunnerdale Fells

Walked on 16/02/2017

Start Point: Kiln Bank Cross (SD 215 933)

Kiln Bank Cross – Stickle Tarn – Great Stickle (OF) – Tarn Hill (OF) – Stickle Pike (OF) – Kiln Bank Cross

Distance: 2.5 miles Total Ascent: 235 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 30 minutes Start Time: 09:00

Weather: Mild but very windy, 8°C

There isn’t much real winter weather around but I suppose that does have its own merits. Today was relatively mild but the wind was surprisingly strong once above valley level.

It was a bit of a murky morning, Caw is over there lost in clouds...

The wind really whipped up at Stickle Tarn.

Stickle Pike - but well save that for later.

An alternative view of Stickle Pike, here looking at its rugged side.

On the way to Great Stickle.

Stickle Pike has a fantastic shape.

The Duddon Estuary from Great Stickle.

Looking the other way.

How breezy is it today boys?

Great Stickle from the climb to Tarn Hill.

Our old friend Stickle Pike across one of the tarns.

Great Stickle from Tarn Hill summit cairn.

Up close and personal before we climb it.

The route just walked.

Three peaks - Great Stickle, Stickle Pike #1 and Stickle Pike #2.

Stickle Pike

Walked on 26/11/2011

Start point: Kiln Bank Cross (SD 215 933)

Kiln Bank Cross – Stickle Tarn – Stickle Pike (OF) – Kiln Bank Cross

Distance: 1 miles Total Ascent: 105 metres Time Taken: 25 minutes Start Time: 12:20

Weather: Grey with a strong wind and showers. 12C

The weather this morning was less than fabulous with strong winds and showers. Even at lunchtime when I went for a walk up to Stickle Pike it was almost dark and the wind up on the top was pretty strong as expected and the rain came down in a big way just as I made it back down to the car.

At the foot of the climb things were more than a little breezy today.

Looking across to Caw whilst I was conveniently sheltered behind these large rocks.

Heading for the tarn, straight ahead, with the summit up to the right.

Looking across to the old levels on Raven's Crag, Caw beyond in cloud.

Windswept Stickle Tarn.

Stickle Tarn and Pike.

Looking back down the path.

Stickle Pike summit.

Dougal and Casper brave the wind.

On the southern summit the wind was really strong and it made the going difficult, in fact it was hard work just to keep standing up. I hunkered down in a small hollow to get this shot of Great Stickle and the Duddon Estuary...

...and turn around putting my head above the parapet to get this shot across to the main summit.

Yes, it 's pretty wild up here Dougal!

Descending the summit on the northern side.

The Duddon Valley and a quick jog from here to make the car before the rain came.

Stickle Pike

Walked on 21/01/2011

Start point: Kiln Bank Cross (SD 215 933)

Kiln Bank Cross – Stickle Tarn – Stickle Pike (OF) – Kiln Bank Cross

Distance: 1 miles Total Ascent: 105 metres Time Taken: 45 minutes Start Time: 13:35

Weather: Cool and clear. 1°C

It was another beautiful day today and there was time for a short walk up to old favourite Stickle Pike. The views were once again glorious from up there with a haze layer lying over the Duddon Estuary to the south. Although the temperature was low it was really quite warm in the sunshine, especially when climbing the steep south face of the fell.

Caw from the climb.

Three long shadows looking down to the Duddon Valley.

The icy path to Stickle Pike - we are not going that way today though.

Frozen Stickle Tarn.

Caw across Stickle Tarn.

The Scafells and Harter Fell.

I came around Stickle Pike and climbed the rugged south face.

Wondering what we are doing?

Misty Black Combe.

Casper masquerades as one of the upright rocks.

Dougal is more interested in the sheep.

Made it to the top!

Shiny nose.

A superb view across the summit cairn - Harter Fell mid-distance with the Scafells to the left, Esk Pike and Bowfell to the right.

A layer of haze over the Duddon Estuary beyond Great Stickle.

Black Combe.

The view across Dunnerdale.

Great Stickle.

Looking for a way down.

Summit silhouette.

Scafell and Scafell Pike.

Pillar beyond Green Crag.

It was lovely and warm up here and I was in shirt sleeves.

He's spotted something.

Stickle Pike from the bottom - a real jewel.

Stickle Pike

Walked on 01/01/2010

Start point: Kiln Bank Cross (SD 215 933)

Kiln Bank Cross – Stickle Tarn – Stickle Pike (OF) – Kiln Bank Cross

Distance: 1 mile Total Ascent: 105 metres Time Taken: 1 hour

Weather: Cold and clear. 2°C

We had a short walk today up to Stickle Pike to help blow away some of the Christmas cobwebs. It was a lovely morning, very still with no one around and we had great fun walking in the crisp snow and ‘daring’ to walk across the frozen Stickle Tarn.

A brief moment of blue sky from Kiln Bank Cross looking over the road to Stickle Pike.

Looking back along the road we came up which was treacherous sheet ice. To the south the cloud was building up and the sun was trying to break through it.

Connie the mountaineer.

Climbing higher with a strange, silhouetted figure in the background!

Heading for Stickle Tarn.

Winter sky across frozen Stickle Tarn.

Winter at the edge of the tarn. Hmm, that ice looks quite thick...

Me and Casper are on the ice but Dougally Doo is not quite so sure...

...a quick look before a much quicker exit!

Me and Connie practiced our ice skating on here.

Climbing to Stickle Pike whilst Dougal eats the snow.

The Duddon Valley remains frozen below whilst Wasdale looks as though it is getting some sunshine.

Looking south to the Duddon Estuary across the south summit.

Scafell and Slight Side.

Winter sun over the Duddon Estuary, Barrow-in-Furness and Walney Island. On the horizon is the Barrow Offshore Wind farm (BOW).

Casper, Dougal and Connie on the summit, Great Stickle behind. Looks like a snow shower passing over the estuary too.

Looking to Caw from the descent and now the sun has come through once more.

Stickle Pike.

Back to Stickle Tarn.

Reflected sun on the tarn now, Connie gives scale to the right.

Caw and snowy Dunnerdale.

Clearing to the south-east.

A fish-eye view from the ice on Stickle Tarn.

Caw from the middle of Stickle Tarn!

Stickle Pike from the middle of Stickle Tarn.

Four amigos with long shadows, even at midday - L-R me, Dougal, Connie and Casper.

Hesk Fell across the Duddon Valley. Now for the hardest bit - driving back down the road...gulp!

Stickle Pike

Walked on 13/07/2009

Start point: Kiln Bank Cross (SD 215 933)

Kiln Bank Cross – Stickle Tarn – Stickle Pike (OF) – Kiln Bank Cross

Distance: 1 mile Total Ascent: 105 metres Time Taken: 40 minutes

Weather: Sunny spell, breezy on top. 20C.

The schools have now finished and Connie only has eight weeks left to occupy herself! We decided to walk up Stickle Pike on this first day of the holidays and it was really sunny and warm when we set off in the car. All that had changed though by the time we made it to Kiln Bank Cross and all thoughts of a swim or a paddle went out of the window with the strong breeze that was blowing across the fells. It’s always a good one, though, is Stickle Pike with fab views all around.

Caw catches the sun but has an ominously black sky over it.

Clouds gathering over the Coniston fells.

Sunshine over the Duddon Valley - for now.

There are some big clouds forming to the south too, the way we are going.

The sentinel of Stickle Pike.

Caw blimey, it's all looking very green!

First one in.

One up, one down on the steep bit.

School's out for summer - Connie and Casper have a giggle at the summit.

Great Stickle and the Duddon Estuary.

A magnificent view to England's finest fells from the south cairn. By the time we got down they were completely covered in cloud and it was raining, so pretty good timing really.

Stickle Pike

Walked on 23/01/2009

Start point: Kiln Bank Cross (SD 215 933)

Kiln Bank Cross – Stickle Tarn – Stickle Pike (OF) – Kiln Bank Cross

Distance: 1 mile Total Ascent: 105 metres Time Taken: 30 minutes

Weather: Cold wind, snow. 4°C

The rain was heavy throughout last night which of course fell as snow above 300m. I walked Stickle Pike but the view to the high fells was mostly obliterated by the angry looking snow clouds today. Just because Stickle Pike is small in stature, it doesn’t make the climb or descent any easier when there is wet, slippery snow around – as I found out to my cost!

Caw across Kiln Bank Cross.

The view from further up the climb.

The path to Stickle Pike.

Footprints in the snow and a glimmer of sunshine.

Blue sky over Stickle Pike.

Glittering Stickle Tarn.

Looking back to the Duddon Valley, those clouds look very snow laden.

Moody Stickle Tarn.

Panoramic Stickle Tarn.

Climbing to Stickle Pike summit looking towards cloud covered Harter Fell across Stickle Tarn. I managed to rip my gloves when I slipped on this section of the climb...just great!

Stickle Pike summit.

Whitfell, The Pike and Hesk Fell across the Duddon Valley.

The Duddon Valley from the summit.

Black Combe.

Casper - more snow for him to roll around in today!

I spotted this out of place carnation in the summit cairn on Stickle Pike.

The Duddon Estuary over Great Stickle. Look at those clouds over Black Combe to the right - that is a big snow shower and it's coming straight for us.

Having a look into Dunnerdale, but that's not the way for us today Casper. We made a quick descent to the north, but perhaps quicker than strictly necessary as the snow on that steep section was wet and slippery. As I slipped and slid down on my backside, I did wonder if I would ever stop but thankfully I managed to grab a passing boulder!

Winter Walk

Walked on 29/11/2008

Red Tarn from Three Shire Stone then Kiln Bank Cross – Stickle Tarn – Stickle Pike (OF) – Kiln Bank Cross

Weather: Sunny above the cloud, cold with snow. 0C.

We were under cloud at home this morning but I knew those conditions were likely to lead to clear skies once above it and we had some great views today with blue skies and snow and a big temperature inversion over the South Lakes.

Little Stand from a frozen Duddon Valley. Originally we set of for Hard Knott today but half way up the pass we were blocked by a van that couldn't get up the icy road. So, a change of plan...

The view from the top of Wrynose Pass. We had to pass lots of stuck cars to get up here! Note there is no one else around yet either.

Cold Pike on the left, Pike o' Blisco on the right and the path we were going to follow up the middle.

Harter Fell and Wrynose Bottom.

Cold Pike. What is that strange rock formation in the lower middle of the photo?

It was cold, cold, cold when we set off.

Looking back to Wetherlam.

Snow Beardie.

Climbing Redtarn Moss.

First site of Crinkle Crags.

Red Tarn, Crinkle Crags and Bowfell.

A group of walkers making their way up to Cold Pike.

What a view today.

Frozen grass on the banks of Red Tarn.

Connie and Casper seemed to enjoy it today.

I'm not surprised with views like this.

Great Knott.

Looking across Red Tarn to the Coniston fells.

Looking back to the Coniston fells from the top of Browney Gill. It looks like someone has been skiing there.

Frozen Red Tarn

It was warm in the sunshine and time to cast a few layers, gloves, hats - you name it. I wonder who ended up carrying that little lot? Much as I would have loved to have climbed higher, I knew we weren't equipped for it today so we descended back by the same route.

Cold Pike across Red Tarn.

Casper goes goggle eyed at the snowball on his nose. Where did that come from I wonder?

Here's the culprit. Don't you dare!

Wetherlam, Swirl How and Great Carrs from the walk back.

Looking back to Cold Pike in the midday sun.

Swirl How and Great Carrs across Wrynose Pass. When we were at home earlier, we were under a thick blanket of freezing fog so I wondered whether it would have lifted by the time we got back. As we climbed to Kiln Bank Cross in the car, I knew it hadn't as there was a magnificent temperature inversion spreading southwards. Of course, there was only one thing to do and that was to climb Stickle Pike to get a better view...

Caw from the climb.

Raven's Crag and The Knott on the edge of the inversion.

Caw and the Coniston fells, Stickle Tarn below.

A difficult shot to get in the direct sunlight but a good silhouette of Great Stickle and a tarn on Tarn Hill glinting in the sun. To the right is Black Combe.

The only thing standing proud of the dense layer of cloud is Kirkby Moor. That got me thinking later on when I was out and about - perhaps I could get above the cloud in the car at sunset...

Just got above it on Kirkby Moor as the sun was setting.

It's getting dark but you can still see a snow covered Black Combe across the cloud layer.

Windmill silhouette. Descending from here towards Lowick across Osmotherley Moor, the Coniston fells were standing proud of the cloud covered Crake Valley - another jaw dropping view. Too dark for photos by then though!

Caw

Walked on 16/01/2007

Start point: Seathwaite, Dunnerdale (SD 228 960)

Seathwaite – Park Head Road – Stickle Tarn – Stickle Pike (OF) – Caw (OF) – Pikes (OF) – Green Pikes (OF) – Seathwaite

Distance: 7 miles Total Ascent: 700 metres Time Taken: 5 hours

Weather: Cool and clear. 4°C

Today I met up with Roger and Ann Hiley and their two dogs for a walk to Stickle Pike and Caw from Seathwaite in the Duddon Valley. The weather was almost unbelievably different to the wet and windy weather we have experienced over the last week or so as it was cool and clear. The views were superb from everywhere today; if only it would stay like this for a while!

Wallowbarrow Crag and Harter Fell above a cold looking Seathwaite.

Dow Crag from Park Head Road.

Passing Caw en route to Stickle Pike.

Stickle Pike ahead.

Caw from the climb up to Stickle Pike

...and the view from further up.

A clear view to Harter Fell with the Scafell range, Esk Pike and Bow Fell beyond from the summit of Stickle Pike

The Pike, centre, with Whitfell and Hesk Fell beyond across the Duddon Valley.

Casper enjoying the sunshine with a stray tail to the right!

Group summit photo - Angus, Casper, Bethan and Harry. It's bad enough getting two dogs to keep still, never mind four!

The view descending to a mirror finished Stickle Tarn

Caw across Stickle Tarn

Returning to Caw - we ascended from the south-east, to the right of this photo.

A beautiful azure sky heading for the summit of Caw.

Looking to the head of the Duddon Valley from Caw.

The Coniston fells.

Scafell Pike, Broad Crag and Ill Crag with Pen in the centre.

Harter Fell, Scafell beyond

Esk Pike.

Grey Friar.

Devoke Water.

Wallowbarrow Crag.

Dow Crag, Buck Pike, Coniston Old Man, Brown Pike, Walna Scar and White Pike.

In the sunshine on Caw - there was a cool breeze on the top today though

White Pike and White Maiden beyond Pikes, the next objective

The lowering sun gives some texture to the Scafells

...and the Coniston fells.

Panoramic Duddon Valley.

Esk Pike and Bow Fell.

Haycock, Scoat Fell and Wasdale Red Pike. The left central ridge is Illgill Head with Yewbarrow to the right and Harter Fell in the foreground.

A final view of Scafell and Scafell Pike on the descent from Green Pikes.

Stickle Pike

Walked on 07/09/2005

Start point: Kiln Bank Cross (SD 215 933)

Kiln Bank Cross – Stickle Tarn – Stickle Pike (OF) – Kiln Bank Cross

Distance: 1 mile Total Ascent: 153 metres Time Taken: 30 minutes

Weather: A drizzly, grey morning. 16°C.

It was grey with drizzle this morning – there wouldn’t be any views, anywhere – so we went for a short walk up to our often visited favourite, Stickle Pike above Broughton Mills and the Duddon Valley. There was no company this morning either as the children are back at school, so it was back to the old team once again!

Looking along the Dunnerdale Fells to The Knott, low lying cloud hanging on the tops.

Stickle Tarn (where's Angus? - answers on a postcard please..!).

Even lowly Stickle Pike had its head in the clouds today.

Angus on the summit of Stickle Pike.

Great Stickle.

A swim in Stickle Tarn.

Stickle Pike

Walked on 23/03/2005

Start point: Kiln Bank Cross (SD 215 933)

Kiln Bank Cross – Stickle Tarn – Stickle Pike (OF) – Kiln Bank Cross

Distance: 1 mile Total Ascent: 153 metres Time Taken: 50 minutes

Weather: Brighter than this morning, 14oC.

As it was a bit brighter this afternoon, we had another short walk up to Stickle Pike above Broughton Mills. We were joined by Connie after she was sprung from school for Easter at lunchtime – much better than sitting in a classroom I think!

Stickle Pike is described in Wainwright’s Stickle Pike chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 126.

Stickle Pike route map.

Great Stickle, left, and Stickle Pike, right, from Broughton Mills.

Caw from the ascent of Stickle Pike. This is the fell I have chosen for the Wainwright Society Great Lakeland Challenge in May. Incidentally, Eric Robson, chairman of the Wainwright Society, writer and broadcaster has chosen Stickle Pike.