High Raise, Sergeant Man, and Blea Rigg from Langdale

Head up through the car park to the information board and keep going. Beyond it follow the path round the back of the hotel through the gates, and then left towards Stickle Ghyll. Head up past the National Trust sign, and then in a few metres under the tree turn left up a wide rough path alongside the wall to go through the kissing gate ahead on the skyline.

Turn immediately right alongside the wall, continue past the bench to cross the step stile, with dog gate. Bear left to drop down and cross Dungeon Ghyll at the ford to join the bottom of a stone pitched path climbing alongside the ghyll which is now to your right. Through bracken the path meanders reasonably gently with just the occasional easy rocky step.

Rounding a corner an uninviting tongue of scree appears ahead which the path neatly voids by bearing right up straightforward rocky steps. The views from the knoll at the top are superb.

Keeping on the main path bear left across a damp plateau below Thorn Crag. The way ahead looks barred by crags, however as the path rises it bears right becomes stone pitched and ascends easily alongside the crag.

At the top swing right around to the right to visit the summit cairn of Thorn Crag. Then turn sharp left, and right to cross the head of Dungeon Ghyll. Bear left to the junction of paths below Harrison Stickle. Turn right onto the rough path climbing the fellside.

It soon becomes stone pitched though breaks in places. An occasional cairn confirms the way ahead. A few rocky steps will need to be scaled, some quite energetic, but more of a delightful clamber than a scramble. Bear left to the summit cairn of Harrison Stickle, which is the most northerly of the prominent cairns.

To continue north bear left off the summit of Harrison Stickle and drop down to the rocky ramp bearing right - this is pretty much north. Initially cross boggy ground, then gain a path heading for the rough and rocky ground of Thunacar Knott ahead.

The summit is just to the left of the cairn on the high ground before the small tarn.

Continue heading northwards, pick up the path to High Raise visibly climbing the grass slopes slightly east of north. It gets a little faint at the start of the climb as folk spread out to avoid boggy patches. Regain the path above and continue roughly ahead to the trig point of High Raise.

Sergeant Man is not in view from the summit of High Raise. To find it turn sharp right from the line of ascent to find a narrow path over the marshy grass heading approx south-east.

Skirt the tarn on its right hand side. The prominent knoll of Sergeant Man will be in view slightly right. As the ground becomes marginally drier so the path becomes clearer. Climb the short rocky knoll to the summit cairn.

To Blea Rigg is a long and slightly complicated leg. Bear left off the summit of Sergeant Man by way of a gentle ridge and at the base turn right to cross the small beck. Bear right again heading for the wide ridge to Blea Rigg. The summit is at the far end of the broken ground just before the ground drops away out of sight. Pass to the left of the distinctive large flat rock slab set at a bit of an inclination.

As the path swings to the right around a knoll keep left to continue south east along the ridge.

The small summit cairn perched on a rocky outcrop is visible but still some way ahead. Skirt a large boggy patch on its right hand side to a cairn perched on a rock - we'll return here later. At the cairn turn left to continue below the knotted ground above on your right to the far end. Nearing the end cross a small depression and then up to the summit cairn of Blea Rigg.

Turn around, back the way you came, and look below and to the left of another rocky top with a collection of stones, you'll notice a large perched rock making for a very small howff underneath it.

Retrace your steps from the summit of Blea Rigg along the path below the knotted tops back to the large cairn. Bear left to pick up a faint path heading in the general direction of the Langdale Pikes. This narrow path meanders and becomes quite indistinct at times, often being lost over soft ground. The destination of Stickle Tarn though is clearly ahead - if caught out in mist keep heading west to regain the path or the tarn.

Reaching the tarn turn left and follow the shore line path to its outfall. Cross, beware the stones are quite slippery in places, to the dam.

Turn left to follow the rough path descending alongside the outfall, Stickle Ghyll. The path is over quite large boulders and rocky steps, however it is more stable than the one on the other bank. After 100m (110 yards) cross again at the large stepping stones.

Here the path is well reasonably well maintained, follow it down sometimes stone pitched, often rough, and a slightly interesting clamber down a rock step is required. Climb the step stile, with the dog gate, and continue down through the fenced off plantation. Cross the ghyll for the last time via the footbridge and drop down back to the car park.