Pavey Ark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pavey Ark |
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 Pavey Ark
Location in Lake District
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 700 m (2,300 ft) |
| Prominence | c.15 m |
| Parent peak | Thunacar Knott |
| Listing | Wainwright, Nuttall |
| Geography | |
| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Parent range | Lake District, Central Fells |
| OS grid | NY285079 |
| Topo map | OS Explorer OL6 |
Pavey Ark is a mountain, or "fell," found in the beautiful Lake District in England. It's located in the county of Cumbria. Pavey Ark is one of the famous Langdale Pikes, which are a group of mountains north of Great Langdale. It sits right next to Harrison Stickle.
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What Pavey Ark Looks Like
When you look at Pavey Ark from Stickle Tarn, it seems like a big, rocky wall. But this is only one side of it! The other side, facing northwest, is a gentle, rolling area of moorland, which is like open, grassy land. This moorland slowly rises up towards another peak called Thunacar Knott.
The top of Pavey Ark is quite flat. It has small mountain lakes called "tarns," rocky areas, and patches of bilberry plants. Pavey Ark has the biggest cliff in the Langdale area. This cliff faces east, looking over Stickle Tarn. It's about 400 feet (120 meters) tall and a quarter of a mile (400 meters) wide.
Stickle Tarn is a special lake that sits in a bowl-shaped hollow called a "corrie." This tarn has a small stone wall built to hold more water. This water is used by hotels and homes nearby. The tarn is quite deep, about 50 feet (15 meters).
What Pavey Ark is Made Of
Pavey Ark is mostly made of strong rock called "sandstone" and a mix of broken rock pieces called "breccia." These rocks were formed from volcanic activity a very long time ago.
How to Climb Pavey Ark
Most people start their climb to Pavey Ark from the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. This hotel is about 1¼ miles (2 kilometers) south of the mountain.
The main path follows a stream called Mill Gill up to Stickle Tarn. You can also reach Stickle Tarn by a harder path that goes through the Dungeon Ghyll ravines.
Once you are at Stickle Tarn, you have a few ways to get to the top of Pavey Ark.
Jake's Rake: A Fun Scramble
One of the most popular ways to climb Pavey Ark is by a route called Jake's Rake. This route is a diagonal path that goes up the rocky southeastern side of the mountain. It's known as a "scramble," which means you'll need to use your hands as well as your feet to climb over rocks.
Jake's Rake is a Grade 1 scramble. This means it's challenging but many walkers can do it. However, you need to be comfortable with heights. It also becomes much harder and more dangerous in bad weather. The path follows a natural groove in the rock face. You can often see Ash trees along the way, which help mark the route.
The famous fellwalker Alfred Wainwright described Jake's Rake as "difficult and awkward" for walkers. However, he also noted that it doesn't feel too scary because there's a "parapet of rock" that helps protect you on the steeper parts. From the top of Jake's Rake, it's a short walk to the summit of Pavey Ark. This route is also used by rock climbers to reach other climbing paths on the cliff.
It's very important to be careful on Jake's Rake. This route is challenging and requires great care, especially in bad weather. Always make sure you are prepared and have the right gear.
Other Ways to the Top
If you prefer an easier climb, there are other paths on either side of the main cliff.
- Easy Gully: This is a steep path of loose rocks, called "scree," between the cliffs at the eastern end. It starts in the same place as Jake's Rake. Near the top, you might find large rocks that require some tough scrambling to get past.
- North Rake: This path starts from the trail to High Raise at the far eastern end of the cliff. It rises west over the top of the East Buttress. This is a much less exposed and easier walking route to the summit.
- Path to Harrison Stickle: You can also reach Pavey Ark's summit by following the path that leads to Harrison Stickle.
The Summit of Pavey Ark
There isn't a pile of stones, called a "cairn," on the very top of Pavey Ark. The summit is a bare rock area, set back a little from the edge of the cliff.
From the top, you get great views of the Eastern and Southern Fells of the Lake District. The long slopes of High Raise might block some of the view to the northwest.
Rock Climbing Challenges
The Pavey Ark cliff is a popular spot for rock climbers. It has many challenging routes, including:
- Little Gully
- Great Gully
- Crescent Gully
- Gwynne's Chimney
- Rake End Chimney
- Crescent Slabs
- Arcturus
- Cruel Sister
- Mother Courage
- Sixpence
- Impact Day
