Pavey Ark: 701.6m Height, Walks and Langdale Views

Pavey Ark has two markedly different faces: the great crag rising above Stickle Tarn and the much gentler fell ground behind it. At 701.6m, it belongs to the Langdale Pikes, yet its character is distinct from their pointed skyline. Walkers come for the close encounter with that rock face, the tarn beneath it and a summit that connects naturally with the wider Central Fells.

The crag above Stickle Tarn

Pavey Ark is defined less by a sharp summit than by the broad sweep of rock above Stickle Tarn. Seen from the tarn, its south-eastern face is an imposing wall, broken by gullies, ledges and climbing lines. The contrast with the ground behind is striking: beyond the edge, the fell becomes rough, open upland rather than a matching precipice.

This difference explains why Pavey Ark can feel quite unlike the neighbouring Harrison Stickle. Its strongest profile belongs to the crag, not the summit itself. The outlook takes in Stickle Tarn below and the surrounding Langdale fells, with Bowfell and the Crinkle Crags among the wider mountain scenery. The immediate relationship between water, rock and open fell is its most distinctive feature.

Pavey Ark in the Central Fells

Alfred Wainwright included Pavey Ark in Book Three of his Pictorial Guide, The Central Fells. Its measured height is 701.6m, or 2,302ft, making it the 88th highest of the 214 Wainwrights. The summit grid reference is NY284079. These figures place it below Harrison Stickle in height, though the scale of its crag gives it a prominence that numbers alone do not convey.

Pavey Ark forms part of the Langdale Pikes group above Great Langdale. Nearby Wainwrights include Harrison Stickle, Thunacar Knott, Sergeant Man and Loft Crag. The higher ground linking these fells makes Pavey Ark a frequent part of longer rounds rather than an isolated objective. Walking approaches that avoid the main cliff also reveal its quieter side: a fell whose dramatic appearance does not describe every way onto its summit.

Jack's Rake and the climbing face

Jack's Rake is Pavey Ark's best-known feature: a diagonal scrambling line across the crag above Stickle Tarn. It is commonly graded as a Grade 1 scramble, but that classification should not be mistaken for an ordinary walking path. There is exposure, and wet or icy rock can make the undertaking considerably more serious. It calls for appropriate experience and sound judgement.

The face also has a long-established place in Lakeland rock climbing, with routes distinct from the scramble. For walkers, the important distinction is between visiting Pavey Ark and tackling Jack's Rake: they are not the same undertaking. The summit can be reached without climbing the rake, leaving room to appreciate this famous crag without committing to its exposed terrain.

Where Pavey Ark stands

Summit at grid reference NY284079 · open full map

The real Pavey Ark

Walking Pavey Ark

We make artwork, not route guides — these are the guides we'd point a friend to:

• Guide links to be curated.

Weather on Pavey Ark

Conditions estimated at summit height (702 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.

Pavey Ark on your wall

A painting of Pavey Ark brings a recognisable piece of Langdale indoors: the long crag, the water of Stickle Tarn and the softer ground above. It is a subject with particular meaning for anyone who has paused beside the tarn and looked up.

Own “Vibrant Pavey Ark and Tarn” — our painting of Pavey Ark → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork

Neighbouring Wainwrights in The Central Fells

• Harrison Stickle 735 m
• Thunacar Knott 723 m
• Sergeant Man 736 m
• Loft Crag 682 m

Part of our guide to all 214 Wainwrights — see the full index.