If you’ve done Jack’s Rake and you’re ready for the next level, Crescent Climb offers just the thing with buckets of adventure and exposure packed into just a few short pitches. The route joins Jack’s Rake about two thirds of the way up providing a suitably entertaining finish.
The official grade is UK Moderate / Grade 4 scramble.
Equipment: 60 m rope, Helmet (possible falling rocks due to Jack’s Rake being just above it).
Route Map
Approach
The route is approached exactly the same as Jack’s Rake, starting from the Stickle Barn National Trust Car Park (NY 29460 06468) climbing up the well sign-posted track to Stickle Tarn.
From the tarn, follow a path around its eastern shore to the bottom of Jack’s Rack. Rather than climb up the scree, continue along the base of the crag to an obvious shattered rib that overlooks a gully on the left.
The Scramble
Climb the rib (with a bit of loose rock) for ~60 m to beneath a steep wall where the crag rears up above. A devious traverse line with huge hand and foot holds can be followed below the steepening and above the slab below.
Once across climb up a shallow earthy gully to reach the sanctuary of Jack’s Rake, which is finished up to the top.
Descent
Descent can be made to the east of the Pavey Ark down the main summit path, but then again why go down already! A short walk westwards lands you in the main mass of the Langdale Pikes with plenty of summit for bagging before a return to the pub.
Recommended Guidebook & Map
The best guidebook for this route is found in the Scrambles in the Lake District – South (Cicerone) book, which is available via Paperback or Kindle Book here.
The best map for this route is the Ordinance Survey OL6, The English Lakes, South-Western Area, available on Amazon here.
Recommended Scrambling Guide: (coming soon)
Best Accommodation: New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel
Located at the bottom of the route, and being very walker friendly, makes this hotel the obvious choice.
You can book their rooms + others for cheap on Booking.com here.
There are also camp sites in the Langdale valley, which can offer very cheap accommodation.
Route Info
| Distance | 5.15 km |
| Elevation | 600m +/- |
| Duration | 3 - 5 hours |
| Grade | MOD |
| Transport | Car - New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel |
Navigation
| Guidebook | Best Book |
| Maps | Best Map |
| Guided Tours | Guides |
| Accommodation | Where To Stay? |
| Contributor | Who Contributed? |
Route Contributor 1: Sam Wainwright
“I live for everything outdoors and to me a bad day in the hills still beats a good day in the office.”
Sam regularly publishes route blogs on his website Wainright Climbing here.
This route was created by Sam Wainwright and donated to the UK Scrambles website through our contributor program.
This generosity enables us to publish a whole range of scrambling routes to help you enjoy the outdoors.
If you have a route you could contribute, submit it to us today.
Route Contributor 2 (video): Adam Richardson
I’m a guy from the north east that has spent the past decade progressing from tame fell walks to free solos of 3s and diff… I’m terrified of heights, and really believe in building a strong relationship between yourself and the mountain, with which comes a sense of trust in the rock.
You can find more route videos from Adam on his Youtube channel here.
