Pavey Ark

Pavey Ark is the most imposing of the Langdale Pikes, defined by its massive rhyolite cliff dropping into Stickle Tarn. While the summit is a stony plateau, the real draw is the ascent via Jack's Rake or the North Rake for incredible valley views.

• •The fell is composed of Seathwaite Fell Tuff, a volcanic rock formed during the Ordovician period, which creates its characteristic tiered crags and the steep face overlooking Stickle Tarn.
• •The name 'Pavey' likely stems from an Old Norse personal name, while 'Ark' comes from the Old Norse 'arkr', meaning a chest or enclosure, describing the fell's distinct box-like profile.
• •Jack’s Rake, the famous diagonal groove cutting across the main face, was first documented as a scramble in the late 19th century and remains one of the Lake District's most iconic Grade 1 routes.
• •Directly below the cliff lies Stickle Tarn, a classic corrie lake that was enlarged by a stone dam built in 1838 to provide a steady water supply for the gunpowder works down in Elterwater.
• •Attempting Jack’s Rake is a masterclass in focused breathing, though your concentration might be broken by the sight of a local Herdwick sheep casually grazing on a ledge that would give most humans vertigo.