Langdale Pikes Circuit

Overview

About Langdale Pikes Circuit

Why go

Five distinct summits in one compact high-level circuit
Stickle Tarn, waterfalls, and dramatic volcanic crags
Big views down Great Langdale and across the central fells

Heads up

Steep, rocky ground with little easy walking
Rough, exposed terrain and serious navigation in poor visibility

The route packs the best of Great Langdale into a compact circuit: waterfalls and rock pools on the opening climb, Stickle Tarn beneath Pavey Ark, and wide views down the valley and across the central fells. The crags are volcanic remnants, and the high ground is a good place to notice ravens, fell birds, heather, and Herdwick sheep. For a much shorter outing, the Stickle Tarn walk gives the waterfall and tarn without the summit circuit; for a longer day, broader routes continue over High Raise and the surrounding fells.

Parkwolf’s verdictThe payoff

Map & elevation

The route

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Full map

Elevation91–715 m

TrailheadLangdale Pikes Circuit54.44815, -3.08760

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Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Use Stickle Ghyll car park (OS grid reference NY294065) beside the B5343 at New Dungeon Ghyll. The lot has about 34 spaces and no coach parking. The footpath begins at the top end by the welcome hut; do not confuse this access with Old Dungeon Ghyll hotel parking.

Best time to go

Dogs may use the public route, but keep them close and on a lead around grazing livestock. The route is not suitable for limited mobility, and there is no dependable shelter or water supply on the high ground. A clear, settled day from late spring through early autumn gives the best chance of views and easier footing; start early for quieter paths and more margin if the descent takes longer. Morning light works well on the crags above Stickle Tarn, while later light can open the view down Great Langdale.

Safety

Hard high-fell terrain with steep stone pitching, rough rock, short scrambles, boggy ground, exposed upper sections, and difficult navigation in cloud. Avoid Jack’s Rake unless you have appropriate scrambling experience and conditions: it is a Grade 1 scramble, not the normal route described here. Wet or wintry rock is particularly slippery, and there is no dependable shelter or water on the high ground.

8 active Lake District alerts

ClosureChapel Stile footpath closed for retaining-wall riskPart of Footpath 543030 between Chapel Stile and Baysbrown campsite is closed because a retaining wall beside the path could collapse and material it supports could fall across the footpath.Official details
ClosureStanley Ghyll Lower Falls footpath closed for rockfallThe section of Footpath 408037 leading towards Stanley Ghyll Lower Falls is closed because severe rockfall damage has made the path unstable and further rockfall remains a danger.Official details

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Lake District Tour Guide

Your drive to Langdale Pikes Circuit, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake District National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

Recorded for this trailhead

Langdale Pikes and Stickle Tarn

0:00 / 1:15

“You're approaching Stickle Ghyll at New Dungeon Ghyll, the starting point for walks up to Stickle Tarn and the Langdale Pikes.”

Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.

Hiking Langdale Pikes Circuit

The routeThis is a 5.1-mile circular route from Stickle Ghyll car park at New Dungeon Ghyll.

This is a 5.1-mile circular route from Stickle Ghyll car park at New Dungeon Ghyll. The distance is the complete loop, not a one-way figure. It climbs the stone-pitched path beside Stickle Ghyll to Stickle Tarn, then takes the easier gully route to Pavey Ark. From there it crosses rough high ground over Thunacar Knott, Pike o’ Stickle, Loft Crag, and Harrison Stickle before dropping back to Stickle Tarn and descending to the car park.

How it feelsThis is a hard fell walk with about 870 metres of ascent and very little easy walking.

This is a hard fell walk with about 870 metres of ascent and very little easy walking. Expect steep stone steps, rough rock, short hands-on clambers, boggy ground around the upper plateau, and a long knee-jarring descent. Allow about 4 to 6 hours with ordinary stops. The upper route is not reliably obvious in mist, and wet rock makes the ghyll-side paths slower and more slippery.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Lake District

All Lake District wildlife maps

81 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

13 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

76 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 8 AMSighting map

51 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

233 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

176 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.