Great Stickle

Great Stickle is a fell in the southern Lake District, rising to 305 metres. It sits on the southern ridge of Stickle Pike, between Duddon Valley to the west and Dunnerdale Beck to the east. Alfred Wainwright wrote about it in his guide to the Outlying Fells of Lakeland, though he once listed its height as 302 metres. The name ‘stickle’ comes from the Old Norse word for a hill with a rocky top. Its jagged outcrops appear most clearly near the summit and along the southern slopes. The fell is often climbed together with Stickle Pike, forming a ridge walk that rewards walkers with wide views. To the south the Furness Peninsula stretches out, while the southern fells rise in the distance. The route down passes the small hamlet of Broughton Mills, adding a quiet village to the walk. The rocky sections make the climb rough underfoot, but the scrambling is straightforward. From the top the surrounding valleys and lower hills create a patchwork of green and grey. The rocky edges give shelter to hardy plants that cling to the stone. The contrast between the rugged summit and the softer slopes below makes the scene striking. The ridge itself is narrow in places, with drops on either side that add to the sense of exposure. The walk ends with a gentle descent back to the quiet lanes around Broughton Mills.