Stickle Ghyll and Tarn

Stickle Ghyll one of the most spectacular becks in the Lake District. It drains Stickle Tarn, 1500 feet high in the shadow of the Langdale Pikes, and cascades down the fellside in a series of waterfalls. Even in high summer Stickle Ghyll can be an amazing spectacle, particularly if a sudden and heavy summer shower swells the beck.

4 Miles

Start Point is the car park opposite the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. If staying at the hotel simply walk out of the front door of the hotel and turn right to locate the footpath beside Stickle Cottage.

From the car park walk up the lane leading to the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and locate a wooden gate leading into the field to the right of Stickle Cottage. Bear left across the field to a gap in the stone wall, and once through bear right to continue between two wire fences for a few yards. (Avoid the path that bridges the river, your path is to the left of this.) Bear right again. A rough, stone covered path runs uphill alongside the beck. The path is heavily maintained for much of the route to Stickle Tarn.

Pass by a series of waterfalls on your right, then 250 yards further on cross the beck via a wooden footbridge. After another steep section cross a wooden fence via a stile. Continue uphill, crossing a small beck feeding Stickle Ghyll, then through a stone walled sheep enclosure. At this point the path is still heavily maintained, consisting of large rocks set into the ground to make a rough stepway. Great care is required as the path gets slippery when wet. If you are after peace and tranquility then you are on the wrong walk. The noise of the beck cascading down the fellside is ever present, but it is not unpleasant, or usually too loud to carry on a conversation.

After a steep climb the main waterfall, (or falls, as the cascade has more than one element) is reached. Just after the main falls the path crosses the beck to a well worn path that runs on the other side and is clearly visible. (If you can't see the path you are in the wrong place,) There is no bridge and the crossing is hazardous if the water is high. The crossing is achieved by scrambling over the rocks to the other side. (Bear in mind that falling in the water here is not an option.) The reason for crossing the beck is that the route on the eastern side crosses over a large slab of rock, which for the more adventurous makes a very good scramble. Once over the rock the maintained path can be picked up again, and the short distance to the tarn is relatively easy.

If you can cross the beck here do so, then follow the relatively clear path beside the beck to the top. If you want to reach the eastern shore of the tarn you will have to ford the stream again, but doing so here is much less hazardous.

Return by the same route. You do have the option of not crossing to the eastern bank, as the path down the western side, although less clear, is still well used. It will bring you out at a ladder stile a little way up the fell from the wooden bridge over the beck. Then simply retrace your steps down.

A word of caution about the descent. Many of the accidents on the Lake District fells occur on the descent down the mountain, as opposed to on the way up. You are more tired on the return down, and as you are facing the views it is easy to become distracted. Absolute concentration is required for the descent of Stickle Ghyll. Take your time and make sure of your footing. It is better to take an extra 30 minutes than hurry and end up with a broken ankle or worse.

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