Plan and record your progress through the Wainwright Fells of the Lake District
Pavey Ark is part of the group of Wainwright Fells that includes the Langdale Pikes, and is sometimes included with Loft Crag, Harrison Stickle and Pike of Stickle in the definition of the Pikes. A Wainwright walk to the top of Pavey Ark is often carried out via a boulder strewn steep path called Jake's Rake, which gets to the summit from Stickle Tarn by way of an awkward, but exhilarating climb that requires use of the arms as well as the legs to getpast. Technically the eastern face of Pavey Ark is actually a cliff, so youknow a Wainwright walk to the summit via Jake's Rake is something of achallenge! However, if scrambling is not your thing, after reaching StickleTarn from the New Dungeon Ghyll in Langdale, easier routes to the top can befound to either side of the craggy cliff face.
If you are intent of completing as many peaks as possible from a map of the Wainwrights, Pavey Ark is a good choice for a Wainwright walk that includes the other Langdale Pikes, with Pavey Ark being the last or first in a round including Pike O'Stickle, Harrison Stickle and Loft Crag, depending on the direction the walk in carried out from the New Dungeon Ghyll. In addition, some Wainwright walkers will also include nearby Thunacar Knott, while the most ambitious can complete a day's Wainwright walking by including Sergeant Man and High Raise (Langdale). This final route has the benefit of completing seven peaks from your Wainwright Maps.
From the top of Pavey Ark, those completing a Wainwright walk will have good views of the southern and eastern fells, together with Stickle Tarn at the bottom of Jake's Rake. The large mass of High Raise is well seen too, though it does block the view to the north so the finest views are to be had facing the opposite direction.
Further information on the Langdale Pikes and Pavey Ark is contained in Book Three: The Central Fells, by A. Wainwright, a volume of the Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells.
The summit of Pavey Ark, the end of a rewarding Wainwright walk, as viewed from a frozen Stickle Tarn - Picture by Stewart Smith Photography