31st May 2024 - Skiddaw
Walk Details
Distance walked: 8.1 miles
Total ascent: 2957 ft
OS map used: OL4 - The English Lakes, northwestern area
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: By the side of the road at Peter House Farm on the road to Orthwaite-Barkbeth Farm-The Edge-Ullock Pike-Long Side-Carl Side-Skiddaw-Bakestall-Birkett Edge-Cumbria Way-By the side of the road at Peter House Farm on the road to Orthwaite
A walk up Skiddaw in the northern fells today, and via a route that included three Wainwrights to add to my second round total. The last time I visited the summit of Skiddaw in 2017 I started from the same place, from the roadside at Peter House Farm on the road to Orthwaite. On that occasion I went east into Skiddaw Forest so that I could bag Lonscale Fell, Little Man, Skiddaw, and Bakestall. This time I'm heading south to take in the ridge of Ullock Pike, Long Side, and Carl Side (the three Wainwrights I'm bagging), before heading up Skiddaw for a descent via Bakestall back to the road at Peter House Farm. It's been a long time since I was last on them, 2008 and 2010. There's a fine day with sunny spells forecast, but given how glorious it looked outside first thing this morning I was expecting better than I got. It soon clouded over and became hazy. Although the cloud broke up to sunny spells the haze didn't clear, which meant any views were restricted to the nearby fells.
From where I parked my car in the layby opposite Peter House Farm I walked southwest along the road until I reached a sharp right-hand bend. I then took a bridleway south along a track across Mill Beck, fields and Barkbeth Gill to reach Barkbeth Farm, from where I went through a gate to take a bridleway past the farm. After going through a couple of fields I turned right to take a bridleway uphill, which joins a track and heads up to Southerndale. The bridleway becomes a footpath, which I followed along the track on the side of Watches, and then I took the footpath up the ridge of The Edge to Ullock Pike. Once I'd taken in the view I made the short walk along the ridge to Long Side, where I found a sheltered spot to stop for lunch. After this break I made my way to Carl Side, and then up the path to the summit ridge of Skiddaw, and to the south top. I then walked north along the summit ridge to the trig point, down Skiddaw's north ridge to Bakestall, Birkett Edge to the Dash Falls, and then the Cumbria Way back to Peter House Farm.
Total ascent: 2957 ft
OS map used: OL4 - The English Lakes, northwestern area
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: By the side of the road at Peter House Farm on the road to Orthwaite-Barkbeth Farm-The Edge-Ullock Pike-Long Side-Carl Side-Skiddaw-Bakestall-Birkett Edge-Cumbria Way-By the side of the road at Peter House Farm on the road to Orthwaite
A walk up Skiddaw in the northern fells today, and via a route that included three Wainwrights to add to my second round total. The last time I visited the summit of Skiddaw in 2017 I started from the same place, from the roadside at Peter House Farm on the road to Orthwaite. On that occasion I went east into Skiddaw Forest so that I could bag Lonscale Fell, Little Man, Skiddaw, and Bakestall. This time I'm heading south to take in the ridge of Ullock Pike, Long Side, and Carl Side (the three Wainwrights I'm bagging), before heading up Skiddaw for a descent via Bakestall back to the road at Peter House Farm. It's been a long time since I was last on them, 2008 and 2010. There's a fine day with sunny spells forecast, but given how glorious it looked outside first thing this morning I was expecting better than I got. It soon clouded over and became hazy. Although the cloud broke up to sunny spells the haze didn't clear, which meant any views were restricted to the nearby fells.
From where I parked my car in the layby opposite Peter House Farm I walked southwest along the road until I reached a sharp right-hand bend. I then took a bridleway south along a track across Mill Beck, fields and Barkbeth Gill to reach Barkbeth Farm, from where I went through a gate to take a bridleway past the farm. After going through a couple of fields I turned right to take a bridleway uphill, which joins a track and heads up to Southerndale. The bridleway becomes a footpath, which I followed along the track on the side of Watches, and then I took the footpath up the ridge of The Edge to Ullock Pike. Once I'd taken in the view I made the short walk along the ridge to Long Side, where I found a sheltered spot to stop for lunch. After this break I made my way to Carl Side, and then up the path to the summit ridge of Skiddaw, and to the south top. I then walked north along the summit ridge to the trig point, down Skiddaw's north ridge to Bakestall, Birkett Edge to the Dash Falls, and then the Cumbria Way back to Peter House Farm.
Route map
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From where I parked opposite Peter House Farm I walk south along the road
At a right-hand bend I take a bridleway along a track on the left
Looking over a gate to the ridge up to Ullock Pike in the distance
Following the bridleway past Barkbeth Farm
Looking north to Binsey
and back across Barkbeth Farm to the Uldale Fells in the distance
Lord's Seat, Broom Fell, and Sale Fell on the other side of Bassenthwaite Lake
Onto the footpath round the side of Watches
Looking across Southerndale to Little Knott and Great Knott with Skiddaw beyond
Following the footpath round the side of Watches above Southerndale Beck
Looking back along the track to Binsey in the distance
The ridge to Ullock Pike comes into view, and I join it and head for its top..
Looking across Bassenthwaite Lake to Sale Fell..
..and Southerndale to Great Knott and Buzzard Knott
..and back along the ridge to Binsey
Reaching the top of Ullock Pike
Taking in the view from Ullock Pike, which is a bit limited with the haze. Derwent Water, Dodd, and the Vale of Keswick below, with the northwestern fells just visible through the haze.
Barf, Lord's Seat, Broom Fell, and Sale Fell on the other side of Bassenthwaite Lake
Looking back along the ridge and down Southerndale towards Binsey
Walking the short distance along the ridge to Long Side
On Long Side with the rounded dome of Carl Side just a short distance away
Looking south across the top of Dodd and the Vale of Keswick to Derwent Water and the northwestern fells
and back along the ridge to Ullock Pike
Taking a look down Southerndale as I head for Carl Side
The bulk of Skiddaw looms large from Carl Side
Skiddaw Little Man
I leave Carl Side and climb the stony path up Skiddaw
There's a great view across Southerndale to Long Side and Ullock Pike on the way up
On Skiddaw's summit ridge and heading for the south top
A really hazy view of Derwent Water to the south from the south top
Blencathra, Lonscale Fell, and Skiddaw Little Man
Looking north along the summit ridge
Heading north to the trig point
To my right, Skiddaw Forest and Great Calva
At the trig point on Skiddaw, and looking back south along the summit ridge with Skiddaw Little Man on the left
Blencathra, Lonscale Fell, and Skiddaw Little Man
Heading north from the summit of Skiddaw
Looking across the top of Barkbethdale to Randel Crag and Great Knott, with Ullock Pike behind
The north top of Skiddaw from the cairn on the top of Broad End
Following the fence down to Bakestall
Knott, Little Calva, and Great Calva from the top of Bakestall
Skiddaw and Broad End
From Bakestall I follow the fence down Birkett Edge
I get a great view of Dead Crags and down into the valley of Dash Beck
At the bottom of Birkett Edge and I take the bridleway down the valley of Dash Beck
Looking down the valley of Dash Beck to Binsey from above Whitewater Dash
Following the bridleway beneath Dead Crags
Looking back to zoom in on the waterfall of Whitewater Dash
Binsey ahead
To my right, Great Cockup, Brockle Crag, and Meal Fell
A final shot as the bridleway approaches the road at Peter House Farm