Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths 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 New Dungeon Ghyll car park.
Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths starts at about 89 m and gains 674 m over 3.5 km to 696 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 230 m (23%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 1 km, which climbs 230 m at an average of 23%, with a 500 m stretch from 2 km at about 39%. It keeps climbing at 13% to the top. About 49% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths at a glance
| Distance | 3.5 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 700 m |
| Climb on the track | 674 m up, 69 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 89 m to 700 m (summit 708 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 39%, from 2 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 49% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 50m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 35m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | New Dungeon Ghyll car park |
| Start grid reference | NY 295 064 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 273 073 |
| Parking | New Dungeon Ghyll car park |
Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths 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
- Walker's Bar0.1 km
- Sticklebarn0.1 km
- Old Dungeon Ghyll Climbers Bar1.0 km
- Public toilets0.1 km
- Great Langdale Campsite1.0 km
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths 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.
Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths 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 | 319 m | +230 m | 23% steep | NY 288 070 |
| 2 km | 479 m | +161 m | 16% | NY 285 074 |
| 3 km | 628 m | +148 m | 15% | NY 278 073 |
| 3.5 km | 696 m | +68 m | 13% | NY 273 073 |
How long Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 30m | 2h 5m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 50m | 2h 35m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 15m | 3h 10m |
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 14:30 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 35m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:03. Start by 14:28 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 35m 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 New Dungeon Ghyll 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 Stickle Tarn up Blea Rigg
- New Dungeon Ghyll via Stickle Tarn up Harrison Stickle
- New Dungeon Ghyll via Pike How up Harrison Stickle
- Great Langdale via Stickle Tarn and Sergeant Man up High Raise
- New Dungeon Ghyll via Stickle Tarn up Loft Crag
- New Dungeon Ghyll via Stickle Tarn and North Rake up Pavey Ark
- Great Langdale via Stickle Tarn up Sergeant Man
- New Dungeon Ghyll via Stickle Tarn up Thunacar Knott
Other routes up Pike of Stickle
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Dungeon Ghyll and the Langdale Pikes | 3.5 km one way | 650 m | 1h 45m | 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 295 064, 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.
Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths: questions and answers
How far is Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths?
Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths is 3.5 km one way to the summit of Pike of Stickle, with 700 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 7.0 km.
How long does Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths take?
About 1h 50m to the summit of Pike of Stickle and 2h 35m 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 10m for the round trip.
How steep is Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths?
The steepest 500 m averages about 39%, starting 2 km from the start, and 49% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths climbs 674 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths?
Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths starts from New Dungeon Ghyll car park. The grid reference is NY 295 064. New Dungeon Ghyll car park
Is Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths 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 Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths today?
By 14:30 at the latest. Sunset on Pike of Stickle today is 18:05, Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths takes about 2h 35m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Stickle Gill and Stickle Tarn walking paths?
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.