Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes up Pike of Stickle: route map, distance and time
708 m · Cumbria
Pike of Stickle is the steep dome at the western end of the Langdale Pikes, known for the Neolithic stone axe factory on its scree slopes.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park.
Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes starts at about 97 m and gains 610 m over 3.5 km to 696 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 56 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 309 m at an average of 31%, with a 500 m stretch from 1.2 km at about 35%. It keeps climbing at 14% to the top. About 44% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes at a glance
| Distance | 3.5 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 650 m |
| Climb on the track | 610 m up, 12 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 97 m to 696 m (summit 708 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 35%, from 1.2 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 44% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 45m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 30m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park |
| Start grid reference | NY 286 061 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 273 073 |
| Parking | Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park |
Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
- Old Dungeon Ghyll Climbers Bar0.1 km
- Sticklebarn0.9 km
- Walker's Bar1.0 km
- Public toilets0.9 km
- Great Langdale Campsite0.3 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes GPX
Ascent only: plan your way down. A planning track, not checked on the ground; it doesn't show safe scrambling moves. Track data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), heights from a terrain model.
Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes kilometre by kilometre
Height, climb and average gradient for each kilometre of the track, with a grid reference at the end of each one to check your position on the map.
| At | Height | Climb | Gradient | Grid ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 153 m | +56 m | 6% | NY 291 065 |
| 2 km | 463 m | +309 m | 31% steep | NY 285 070 |
| 3 km | 631 m | +169 m | 17% | NY 277 073 |
| 3.5 km | 696 m | +64 m | 14% | NY 273 073 |
How long Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 25m | 2h 0m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 30m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 5m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:05. Start by 14:35 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 30m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:03. Start by 14:33 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 30m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Pike of Stickle summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Pike of Stickle right now. The main Pike of Stickle page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Pike of Stickle forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Pike of Stickle
Pike of Stickle is the steep dome at the western end of the Langdale Pikes, known for the Neolithic stone axe factory on its scree slopes. More about Pike of Stickle, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Loft Crag (682 m), 0.4 km south-east
- Harrison Stickle (735 m), 0.8 km east
- Thunacar Knott (723 m), 0.9 km north-east
- Pavey Ark (702 m), 1.2 km north-east
- Sergeant Man (736 m), 2 km north-east
- High Raise (763 m), 2.3 km north
Challenges that include Pike of Stickle
More walks from Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Great Langdale via Rossett Gill up Allen Crags
- Old Dungeon Ghyll via The Band up Bowfell
- Climbers' Traverse up Bowfell
- Great Langdale via Red Tarn up Cold Pike
- Old Dungeon Ghyll via Oxendale and Red Tarn up Crinkle Crags - Long Top
- Langdale via The Band and Three Tarns up Crinkle Crags - Long Top
- Great Langdale via Rossett Gill and Esk Hause up Esk Pike
- Langdale via Rossett Ghyll and Angle Tarn up Glaramara
- Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes up Harrison Stickle
- Mickleden via Stake Pass up High Raise
- Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes up Loft Crag
- Great Langdale via Red Tarn up Pike of Blisco
Other routes up Pike of Stickle
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths | 3.5 km one way | 700 m | 1h 50m | Hard |
| New Dungeon Ghyll via Loft Crag | 3.2 km one way | 634 m | 1h 40m | Scramble |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 286 061, the summit at NY 273 073), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes: questions and answers
How far is Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes?
Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes is 3.5 km one way to the summit of Pike of Stickle, with 650 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 7.0 km.
How long does Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes take?
About 1h 45m to the summit of Pike of Stickle and 2h 30m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 3h 5m for the round trip.
How steep is Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes?
The steepest 500 m averages about 35%, starting 1.2 km from the start, and 44% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes climbs 610 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes?
Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes starts from Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park. The grid reference is NY 286 061. Old Dungeon Ghyll National Trust car park
Is Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes suitable for beginners?
Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first.
What time should I start Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes today?
By 14:35 at the latest. Sunset on Pike of Stickle today is 18:05, Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes takes about 2h 30m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes?
Yes. Download it from this page. It is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.