Dunnerdale Fells

The walk, stage by stage

1. 1

   Start → Great Stickle (1.8 km, 262 m)

   Climb of about 262 m over 1.8 km (around 15% average).

   Ascend steadily from the valley floor, weaving through the lower intake pastures before breaking out onto the open fellside. The path aims north-west, zig-zagging up the increasingly steep, grassy slopes, culminating in a short, rocky pull to reach the prominent, craggy summit tor of Great Stickle.

   Waypoints

   Valley floor boundary walls, Great Stickle ascent slopes, Great Stickle summit (305m).

   Decision point

   Aim directly for the distinct rocky outcrop of Great Stickle, which dominates the skyline and is visible for the entirety of the ascent. Use the drystone intake walls near the start as a funnel to guide you onto the correct spur for the open fell.

   Easy to get wrong

   The lower slopes are notoriously choked with thick, shoulder-high bracken in the summer months, which completely obscures the path and harbors sheep ticks. The final approach to the summit involves a very minor, hands-on rocky scramble; the volcanic rock here is wonderfully grippy when dry but can be slick after heavy Lake District rain.

   If you need to get off

   Simply turn 180 degrees and retrace your steps back down the ascent path. The terrain is open and visible, providing an immediate retreat directly back to the valley floor.

2. 2

   Great Stickle → Stickle Pike (2.6 km, 126 m)

   Descent of about 49 m, then a climb of about 126 m, over 2.6 km.

   Descend slightly from Great Stickle's rocky crown, heading generally north-west across the undulating, lumpy moorland that characterizes the central Dunnerdale Fells. The ground here dips and rises over a confusing series of minor knolls, rocky outcrops, and grassy saddles, leading toward the central high ground of the plateau. Continue the traverse across the sprawling moorland, first heading south-east. Then turn north, weaving past the secluded, reedy waters of Stickle Tarn. From the tarn, pick up the heavily worn, obvious path that strikes aggressively up the steep, southern grassy flank of Stickle Pike to reach its magnificent, rocky summit pinnacle.

   Waypoints

   Great Stickle descent slopes, Tarn Hill (proximity), central Dunnerdale Fells plateau, Stickle Tarn, Stickle Pike southern flank, Stickle Pike summit (375m).

   Decision point

   Stick to the higher, rocky bumps to avoid the worst of the marshy ground. Use the ever-present, conical profile of Stickle Pike on the northern horizon as your primary, long-distance forward aiming point. Stickle Tarn serves as a perfect, distinctive catching feature—once you are on its shoreline, the path up the Pike is obvious. The summit cairn on Stickle Pike is prominent and acts as a clear beacon from almost anywhere on the southern approach.

   Easy to get wrong

   This section is exceptionally boggy after prolonged rain, featuring hidden pockets of deep peat and sphagnum moss lying in the depressions between the rocky outcrops. There is no single, defined path; you are forced to link up a series of faint, braided sheep trods, which can easily lead you off your intended bearing if you are not paying attention. The Dunnerdale terrain remains confusingly lumpy, requiring constant micro-navigation to avoid craglets and marshy hollows on the approach to the tarn. The final pull up Stickle Pike is short but fiercely steep, and the heavily eroded grassy path turns into a slick mud-slide during wet weather, demanding a strenuous final burst of energy.

   If you need to get off

   Retreat south back over Great Stickle, the way you came. No direct way down into the Lickle Valley has been checked for this guide. A track runs from Stickle Tarn towards the Kiln Bank Cross road pass; it has not been checked for this guide as an escape.

3. 3

   Stickle Pike → Raven's Crag (Stickle Pike) (1.7 km, 128 m)

   Descent of about 140 m, then a climb of about 128 m, over 1.7 km.

   Drop down from Stickle Pike's summit via the rocky northern ramps, cross the minor depression, and pick your way over rugged, heathery ground heading north-east toward the rocky bluff of Raven's Crag. The route twists through rocky outcrops and small hollows, requiring you to constantly find the line of least resistance. This leg has not been reviewed on the ground for this guide.

   Waypoints

   Stickle Pike northern descent, Kiln Bank pass vicinity, Raven's Crag summit.

   Decision point

   Raven's Crag has sheer drops: use them only as a rough guide and keep well back from the unstable edge. Micro-navigation using a map and compass is essential here if the clag drops, as the lumpy, heathery terrain looks identical in all directions.

   Easy to get wrong

   The initial descent off Stickle Pike requires careful foot placement on blocky, uneven rocky steps. The subsequent traverse to Raven's Crag is classic south-western Lakes terrain: choked with heather, and dotted with hidden holes and ankle-twisting rocks completely obscured by the dense vegetation, although OSM maps paths and a public bridleway along the line.

   If you need to get off

   No way down to the Kiln Bank Cross road from here has been checked for this guide; judge going on or going back from where you are.

4. 4

   Raven's Crag (Stickle Pike) → The Knott (1.0 km, 18 m)

   Descent of about 73 m over 1.0 km.

   Leave Raven's Crag by threading your way along the descending ridge line, heading south. The terrain softens slightly into grassy swards interspersed with patches of rock, leading you onto the modest, grassy prominence of The Knott.

   Waypoints

   Raven's Crag southern slopes, The Knott summit (approx 280m).

   Decision point

   Rely strictly on a compass bearing to hop between the rocky knolls if visibility is poor. The valley intake wall boundaries far below to the east serve as a solid catching feature if you overshoot The Knott and begin descending too early.

   Easy to get wrong

   Navigation remains the primary hazard on this stage, as The Knott is a highly subtle feature amidst a sprawling sea of similar grassy bumps. In low visibility, it is incredibly easy to drift too far north into the steep, dangerous craggy ground that overlooks the Duddon Valley.

   If you need to get off

   No direct way down into the Lickle Valley has been checked for this guide; the route's own descent from The Knott is the next stage.

5. The Knott → Finish (1.6 km, 8 m)

   Descent of about 233 m over 1.6 km.

   Plunge south down the steep, grassy flanks from The Knott, picking up the rough, zig-zagging sheep trods that lead down toward the valley floor. Once you intersect with the lower farm lanes and walled bridleways, pass through the fell gate and follow the easy, level ground back to your starting point. The descent from The Knott has not been reviewed on the ground for this guide.

   Waypoints

   The Knott descent slopes, Lickle Valley intake walls, fell gate, finishing point.

   Decision point

   The drystone walls forming the boundary between the open fell and the valley pastures are your primary target. Once through the fell gate, the well-defined farm tracks provide a distinctive, continuous handrail all the way to the finish line.

   Easy to get wrong

   The initial descent is relentlessly steep and grassy; in wet conditions, it transforms into a treacherous slip-and-slide that puts significant strain on the knees and makes walking poles highly recommended. High summer bracken can once again completely obscure the best lines down to the valley gates, forcing you to bushwhack.

   If you need to get off

   This is the route's own way down; follow its line rather than improvising one across the slope.