Mountain Scrambling in Great Langdale

An ideal Lake District mountain scrambling outing for the short days at this time of year.

Harrison Stickle via Pike Howe and the South East Ridge

Meet at: New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel car park, Great Langdale, postcode: LA22 9JX, OS map reference NY295064. As an environmentally conscious group, we actively encourage car sharing. Further details of car sharing arrangements from Sheffield, Manchester and elsewhere will appear in the comments section nearer the time.

This outing takes the most direct route from the Great Langdale valley floor to the summit of the highest of the Langdale Pikes, Harrison Stickle via two amenable scramble routes.

Ascending Pike Howe involves a steady hike up a path with optional scrambling sections at various points along the way. All difficulties including the initial buttress and summit headwall can either be tackled head on or completely avoided. The South East Ridge on Harrison Stickle is a delightfully easy and high quality scramble on excellent rock and leads to the summit via an interesting gully top out.

The full day will include a short walk in then a scrambling/hiking ascent to the summit of Pike Howe from where we will embark on a steep pull up grassy slopes before a scrambling ascent of the South East Ridge to take us to the summit of Harrison Stickle* before a descent via the dramatic and atmospheric Dungeon Ghyll path.

*If time/daylight permits we will take in a one or two more summits such as Pike Of Stickle and/or Loft Crag.

Difficulty: Grade 1 scrambling by the easiest line or Grade 2 if all the difficulties on Pike Howe are taken direct. For more information on scrambling grades see:

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/understanding-scrambling-grades

Experience Required: Some previous scrambling experience is recommended.

Duration: Approx. 6 km with height gain of approx. 600 metres. Estimated time 5 hours.

Ordnance Survey Map: OS 90 Penrith & Keswick 1:50,000 scale.

Guidebooks: Scrambles in The Lake District Volume 1: Southern Lakes published by Cicerone Press.

As always, if everybody wants to contribute £2.00 towards our Meet Up site fees and other operating costs that will be great, thanks.