The Lake District - Pavey Ark and Stickle Tarn

The first of two March MDB walks has lead me back to The Lake District and in particular the stunning Stickle Tarn in Great Langdale. Currently there is great interest in this tarn as The Lake District National Park has made the decision to sell it, I presume to generate some income. The news of the sale has caused a lot of debate, even in Parliament, and created a lot of traffic on social media sites. On one of these sites, the I Love the Lake District Facebook group, a member made a suggestion that we could all club in to buy it and run it as kind of co-operative. This idea was initially very popular and a huge number of people were interested and registered their support, me included. Owning a tiny part of the Lake District I thought was a very attractive idea and to help to keep it in the public realm was very important, Dad would have approved of that! The idea of a mass buy out soon faded as people started to look into the complicated Land Legislation and Health and Safety issues involved and a new fight began, that of saving it from being sold in the first instance. A new Facebook group page was then born, 'Save Stickle Tarn – and our beautiful Lake District'. The purchase of Stickle Tarn, by tender, is not without barriers as there are guidelines as to what can and can’t be done with the site once bought, and by all accounts the tarn's dam wall is in need of costly repairs so this would also need to be taken into consideration by any purchaser. Having read a number of articles and spoken to a number of people I am convinced that the main concern isn’t what would happen to the site initially after the new owner takes over but the worry for many is based in its future; the long term continuity of maintenance and access of the site and the principle of selling parcels of land that the public are free to use and are encouraged to access. The 'land for sale' issue is not just a Stickle Tarn based one but is cropping up over a number of sites owned by National Parks around the country. I hasten to add that this MDB blog has no political leaning, but as a massive outdoors enthusiast I feel the need to highlight the right of everyone to access the countryside and to feel the magical freedom to roam that came about thanks to the Mass Trespass of Kinder Scout in the 1930's, and latterly the CRoW Act in 2000. 

Map: Bing and Ordnance Survey

The fabulous founder of the 'Save Stickle Tarn' Facebook group, Pauline thought a protest walk to the tarn might be the best way to start to publicise the feelings of the group. So in the firm belief that my Dad would have been keen to save this beautiful and valuable asset from private ownership, I thought it would make a great MDB's walk, so I grabbed my OL 6 map and off I went. I also thought, while I'm there I am close to two Wainwrights and I might be in luck and bag one of them so I packed a borrowed AW book three too. 

I'm not used to walking in a group, I normally walk alone, so I was a little apprehensive to the whole experience but soon discovered a number of lovely and interesting people to converse with along the way. We met at The National Trust's only pub, The Sticklebarn and the walk led off from there. 

The route up to Stickle Tarn runs the whole way along a very rocky path parallel to Stickle Ghyll.

Stickle Ghyll was running at full spate as it was full of snowmelt water that was teeming off the higher fells. 

The sound of the water was almost deafening. 

The power of the water was unmistakably strong.

As I looked behind Lingmoor Fell and Side Pike were the dominant features.

Then as I tracked around the ghyll ravine the backdrop was filled with views of Side Pike, Miller Crag and Pike Howe to my right, Tarn Crag to the left, and Wetherlam in the far distance.

Nearing the top, I could see the 'Save Stickle Tarn' group had gathered at the Dam Wall. 

The dominating feature of Pavey Ark overlooked the tarn. A great place to rest MDB, brew up, discuss the matter at hand with a fellow group member and consider the awesome technical scramble that is Jack's Rake, the diagonal route directly up the front face to the summit of Pavey Ark. 

The second of the two Stickle Tarn Wainwright's, Harrison Stickle. 

After a little while showing my support to the 'Save Stickle Tarn' group I peeled off to start the second part of the day, a lone ascent of Pavey Ark, not by Jack's Rake but the North Rake side route which required me to cross the fast flowing Stickle Ghyll again. 

I had to ford a number of becks, streams and boggy areas that surround the tarn. The tarn path was good to start then petered out.

Bright Beck was a new and fascinating watery barrier. I chose to walk a little further up stream to find a good place to cross. 

Once I was over Bright Beck the steep rocky, scramble up Pavey Ark started in earnest.

Useful cairns mark the way.

I look behind, Blea Rigg.

The route was beset with 'blobs' of residual snow so I had to work my way around them the best I could.

The largest 'blob' was at the top. An interesting end to my ascent, a thigh high snow drift! 

The cairn above the 'blob'.

The Summit Tarn.

The summit of Pavey Ark, at 700m (2,296ft), made a great viewpoint to take in the Lingmoor, a distant Windermere and Stickle Tarn just below. My 10th Wainwright! 

One of the fragments of drystone walling, constructed to prevent a native woolly Herdwick finding a quick route down or becoming cragfast. 

Neighbouring Harrison Stickle.... As time was against me I thought that would be a Wainwright for another time. 

I opted to descend between Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle. The view of the tarn was brilliant.

Pavey Ark and Stickle Tarn. 

I rejoined the Tarn bank pathway, and on to the Dam.....

By then the 'Save the Stickle Tarn' group had left and I had the place to myself for a short spell before I descended back down the same Stickle Ghyll path. 

Towards the end of the ghyll pathway you pass over a newly constructed bridge, part of the hydro-power project.... Which got me thinking, dangerous I know, if the Parks Authority is in need of finance, instead of selling valuable assets perhaps they should be engineering ways to produce low impact, sustainable, renewable power and selling it back to the grid, local homeowners and businesses..... Just a thought!

When I made it back to The Sticklebarn, I rejoined the refreshed group and had chance to speak to the lovely Pauline before I left. I feel the world is a better place for people like Pauline, people who give a fig enough to do something to help protect very special places like Stickle Tarn. Well done Pauline! I know it would have pleased Dad knowing I had spent the day with a Pauline, as that is Mum's name. 

Till next time.... Tight laces. MDB x

Phil, as always, thank you so much.... MDB, GO! :0)

The Lake District - Angletarn Pikes

This month's MDBs outing was proof that there is always time for a walk and there are some Wainwrights that can be bagged fairly speedily. I don't condone it as it kind of spoils the whole point of it all; time to reflect, drink in the scenery, unwind and take a moment to enjoy the beauty of the landscape. However, I am also of the belief that 'where there is a will there is a way' and despite my lack of time I was willing, and I was rewarded by finding the way to the most magical tarn I have ever seen, Angle Tarn and its neighbouring pikes.

Map: Bing and Ordnance Survey

My walk started from the lovely village of Patterdale. I parked in the convenient Patterdale Hotel car park and paid £4.50 for the day. There was no time for a brew, so I booted up grabbed my OL5 map and AW book two and set away smartly promising myself a cuppa once I was well on my way. Heading right out of the car park and along the road I ventured a short way and on then on the opposite side of the road I found a finger post between buildings directing me towards the start of the walk.

This track takes you towards Side Farm but before that you cross the lovely Goldrill Beck, one of Ullswater's key inflows. 

Once you reach the farm you will see the first of two Lakeland slate signboards.... Take a right here.

The second slate signboard is a little way on, by the gate that takes you on the start of your ascent. 

Patterdale Common looms large to the left, a number of gills flow down and beneath the path. The most notable one, Rooking Gill, is marked with a lovey metal Victorian bench. Just a word of warning if you pass this bench you are on the wrong path. I decided if I have time on my return I shall take a little detour and have a moments rest there. 

AW illustrated a Larch (Larix decidua) plantation on his ascent from Patterdale map, this plantation is still in evidence, if you pass by these then you are on the right path. There are only a handful of deciduous conifer types in the UK and Larches make up a large percentage. These trees will re grow their whorls of spiny bright green leaves in spring, they will darken as the year progresses into summer, turn golden bronze in autumn and as winter arrives they will fall to the ground and only the cones will remain. This cycle happens year in, year out without any intervention.... A fact that amazes me about all deciduous trees. 

The climb starts in earnest after the trees.

Ullswater and Glenridding can be seen behind you.

Brothers Water is made clear as you climb higher. 

The climb levels out as you reach Boredale Hause, this is a great hub for a number of other walks towards Place Fell, Boredale, Martindale or Hartsop.... A great destination for another day I thought. 

A view back to Place Fell.

Off towards Angletarn Pikes and Angle Tarn. 

The cairn at the base of Stony Rigg.

Even clearer.... Brothers Water with it's very angular form is a small fishing water, not the best for Anglers as the Brown Trout are few and tend to be small. 

The twin topped Angletarn Pikes.... My ninth Wainwright. 

As I rounded Angletarn Pikes I was unable to prevent the excitement I felt when the overwhelming frozen beauty of Angle Tarn came into sight.... The real star of the show.

A perfect tarn side rest and brew stop for me and MDB.

Heck Crag in the background.

Angle Tarn is a wonderful spot to enjoy a range of fells; to left is part of Cat Crag, then, clothed in an icy dusting of snow is High Hartsop Dodd, Deepdale, St Sunday Crag...

As with my last Helvellyn walk this is a there and back route, again not my usual style as I prefer a circular route but it was the only logical answer with the time I have. The square topped Sheffield Pike makes a key feature on the Lakeland fell panorama.

I was pleased to have had enough time on the return leg to enjoy the views over Glenridding and Ullswater by spending time resting MDB on the Rooking Gill Bench. Dad would have told me off for 'feet on the furniture', sorry Dad, but hey I wasn’t there long.

The final part of the walk was spent in Patterdale where I walked up to the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Post so that I was able to donate a small sum in their gatepost collection box.  This most important organisation, as with all Mountain Rescue Teams, provides a vital service for all lovers of upland areas helping to keep us all well cared for if we are unlucky, or in some cases stupid. I encourage all to follow suit as you never know when you might need to call on their help.

The day concluded back at the car, I couldn’t believe what I had managed to achieve in such a short time span; another Wainwright and a trip to a spectacular tarn. The whole walk took around 3 hours but the special quality of Angle Tarn deserves so much more time, time I intend on giving it on my next visit.

Till next time.... Tight laces. MDB x

As always, Thank you Phil.