Lake District
Pavey Ark
701M
2301FT
About 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.
Key Statistics
Rank
159th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Central Fells
Prominence
?
16m
Nearest Town
Elterwater
Geology
The ground is made of broken volcanic rocks and ash that have been mixed into sandstone and breccia, forming a layered bed of hardened volcanic material.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
54.4615°N
Longitude
3.1052°W
Did You Know?
- •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.