On a gorgeous autumn day in November 2018 I set out after breakfast from the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and headed north on the Pike Howe route to the Langdale Pikes. By the time I’d reached Grasmere later that day, I’d covered a super six Wainwright summits - including three new ones for me in Thunacar Knott, High Raise, and Sergeant Man.
You can download an OSMaps copy of my route, although I should point out that this was plotted afterwards using the app and is not a GPS tracker. Eagled-eyed hikers will also notice how I skirted two further Wainwright summits in Pavey Ark and Blea Rigg. I had decided beforehand not to double-back to visit Pavey Ark. It’s a wonderful fell but the main joy of it is climbing it from Stickle Tarn rather than the flat summit itself. I had planned to finish on Blea Rigg, but my first experience of that fell was twenty minutes scratching my head wondering where exactly the summit was, so with a bus to catch at Grasmere I decided to brush straight past.
The photographs I took that day are probably my favourites of all my days on the fells so far. There is something very special about the browns and the oranges on the fells mixed with the November sunshine. So I thought I would make this post a little bit different - rather than some words with a few pictures, I thought I would let the photographs tell the story. So here we are - Dungeon Ghyll to Grasmere in fifteen photographs (and a few accompanying words)…
The morning sun tries to creep through into Great Langdale. This photo was taken from Pike Howe, which Wainwright was so taken by that he managed to call it a “splendid viewpoint”, a “delightful outcrop”, and a “lovely little top” all on the same page of his guide.
The ravine of Dungeon Ghyll, with the slopes of Loft Crag looming in the distance.
The rounded cone of Pike o’ Stickle, taken from near the Loft Crag summit. It’s a long way down to the valley of Mickleden from here, and there’s a tremendous view of Lakeland’s highest fells behind, with Bowfell’s pyramid the easiest to spot.
Up close and personal with Pike o’ Stickle’s eastern face. You can see the start of the path on the right of shot. After that there are several routes to the top but they all involve a scramble and a clamber. It’s worth the effort.
The summit cairn of Pike o’ Stickle, with the crags of (erm) Loft Crag on the right and Harrison Stickle on the left. Windermere is visible in the distance.
Great Langdale from the summit of Harrison Stickle. This is the best view of Lingmoor Fell across the valley, and Langdale’s Blea Tarn is now visible on the right of the photograph.
Stickle Tarn and the south face of Pavey Ark, from Harrison Stickle. You can just about make out the hair-raising Jack’s Rake scramble through the crags.
Looking back to Pike o’ Stickle from the descent from Harrison Stickle. The huge mass of Bowfell is even more prominent now in the backdrop.
Got to be honest, Thunacar Knott just isn’t that interesting as a summit, although the wider vista is no less superb. I did come across this pleasant tarn though.
This is the trig point at High Raise, looking north towards Keswick with Skiddaw in the far distance. I think this might be my favourite of all the photographs I’ve taken. I’m really proud of it.
The trig column at High Raise is very pretty so here is another angle.
This is the plateau between High Raise (behind the shot) and the summit of Sergeant Man (straight ahead). There is definitely something spectacular about the autumn colour.
Looking down on Stickle Tarn from Sergeant Man. The backdrop has now changed, with Wetherlam and the Coniston Fells now visible through the haze.
Codale Tarn (left) and Easedale Tarn (right). In the background there’s a fantastic view of the Fairfield range (on the right) and the Helvellyn ridge (on the left, topped by some early-season snow).
A final flourish. Pavey Ark on the right and Harrison Stickle on the left, basking in the autumn rays.