For Sale: Stickle Tarn

© Haighy

Do you fancy owning one of the most famous hill tarns in the Lake District? Stickle Tarn is up for sale.

Pavey Ark in the morning sunshine.  © Haighy
Pavey Ark in the morning sunshine.
© Haighy, Sep 2010

Nestled under Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle in the Langdale Pikes, the tarn is a much loved scenic spot, a good place to stop for a paddle en route to Jack's Rake and the rest.

Current owners, the Lake District National Park Authority no less, have put the tarn on the market at a guide price of £20,000 - £30,000.

The 24.2 acre site includes the tarn and a surrounding strip of shoreline. But quite what any new owner will actually do with it is unclear.

'Stickle Tarn is located in one of the most spectacular areas of the Lake District' says the sales blurb, '...surrounded by the wonderful Langdale Pikes with magnificent views across Langdale and beyond.'

'Built as the water supply for the old Elterwater Gunpowder Works the tarn is still used as a water supply. The original water level was raised by a damn [sic], and the regulations of the Reservoirs Act 1974 apply.'

'The whole area is a part of the Langdale Pikes SSSI and surrounded by Common Land.'

The closing date for tenders is 12 noon, 12th March.


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6 Feb, 2015
Sickle? Hate to be a stickler, but...
6 Feb, 2015
Gosh. Lake district NPA raising some extra cash there. I imagine this is the same situation as for a lot of land in our National Parks - buying land is a liability because you have to maintain boundaries, and developing the land is subject to the National Park Authority's permission (i.e. denied). So hopefully safe for us, the hillgoing public.
6 Feb, 2015
On that basis, what would be the attraction for a potential purchaser? You can't fence it off to keep it for your own enjoyment, it's a SSSI so you can't do anything else... Here's hoping a benevolent rich person/foundation pays. Although what happens if nobody wants it?
6 Feb, 2015
I was wondering the same thing. Same with Blencathra, although there you get a lordship to sweeten the deal ;-)
10 Feb, 2015
FRCC have bought it. Pavey is being 'developed' into a sport crag, Stickle will be a watersports centre with luxury condos and an Impact conference centre. Admission charges for all scruffy hill walkers, no dogs or cats allowed.
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