The English Lake District - A Hiker"s Guide to Skiddaw
Rising to the North of Keswick, Skiddaw at 3054 feet is one of the most popular objectives for the walker based in the northern Lake District.
The mountain may lack the ruggedness of Scafell or Great Gable but England's fourth highest peak provides a wide variety of routes to its summit and - away from the popular paths - a sense of isolation not often found in the Lake District.
Here I'll outline a couple of ways to the top of Skiddaw beginning with the popular tourist route.
Most people climbing Skiddaw will do so by this route which begins at the Latrigg car park reached up the minor road from near the A66 roundabout at Keswick.
The road is actually the first right off the A591 from there.
The way is obvious leading on a wide track from the top end of the car park and veering off up to the left - the right track going to Skiddaw House Youth Hostel.
I wouldn't recommend this way on a weekend in the holidays as the world and all his dogs will be there but I recently did the route with my 11 year old son on a not so busy day and enjoyed it immensely.
I first did the route aged 7 or 8 and Skiddaw was my first Lakeland summit so if you're taking kids or just want the easiest way up without the risk of getting lost then this is for you.
The summit view from Skiddaw - weather permitting - is just as good whichever way you climb the mountain.
The way requires few directions as the path is wide and clear throughout.
After the initial steep slopes you will cross a more level area with views over to the northern side of Skiddaw to the empty hills known as Skiddaw Forest.
The path here forks near a stile - to the right is the main way to Skiddaw while left will also take you there via Skiddaw Little Man, its subsidiary peak.
This is well worth ascending and it's best to go up one way and to return by the other - I suggest returning over Skiddaw Little Man.
The last part is again steep to the summit but the far reaching views make up for the effort.
From the western side of the mountain near to shores of Bassenthwaite Lake there is a longer but much more interesting ascent of Skiddaw.
From near the Ravenstone Hotel - or alternatively walk along the forest trails from the Osprey Centre car park at Dodd Wood a mile to the South - a path ascends in a north easterly direction up a steep slope leaving the trees and doubling back to climb the ridge to the South.
This path is followed up the steep ascent to Ullock Pike which rewards the walker with wonderful views across Bassenthwaite over the West Cumbria Plain to the Galloway Hills in Scotland.
From Ullock Pike's summit, a narrow grassy ridge known as Longside Edge curves around towards the East traversing the fell called Long Side to end up just north of Carl Side which is worth visiting for the wider view its top gives.
This is one of the best walks in the area with Keswick and Derwentwater coming into view with the mountains of the Central Lakes beyond as its end is reached.
The ridge has no difficulties not being narrow enough to fall off and being on grass all the way.
Heading once more to the North East, a path leaves the pleasant grassy slopes to ascend steep scree to Skiddaw's south top.
This section is harder work but it's only another 600 feet or 200m of ascent, with the main summit of Skiddaw a short distance to the North along the easy summit ridge.
The Longside Edge Route is considerably quieter than the Tourist Route but also a longer outing at roughly 8 miles return and about 3300 feet of climbing but for a real feeling of remoteness head north from the summit to the next bump on the ridge - the North Summit - and continue down the ridge ahead.
A faint but intermittent path can be picked up in places and followed to a grassy depression known as the North Col.
From here follow the broad ridge down bending gradually more to the West where a more obvious path is seen.
The route curves back round more to the South across the steep face of Skiddaw before descending to the remote Barkbethdale and crossing Southerndale to regain the low ridge from where we set off up Ullock Pike.
This descent has plenty of opportunities for getting lost so don't try it in bad weather unless you know the area well but in clear conditions the circuit is one of my favorite Lakeland walks.
Even then I would take a map and compass - or a GPS if you trust the batteries not to run out - as paths are faint and a mistake could leave you a very long walk home!
The mountain may lack the ruggedness of Scafell or Great Gable but England's fourth highest peak provides a wide variety of routes to its summit and - away from the popular paths - a sense of isolation not often found in the Lake District.
Here I'll outline a couple of ways to the top of Skiddaw beginning with the popular tourist route.
Most people climbing Skiddaw will do so by this route which begins at the Latrigg car park reached up the minor road from near the A66 roundabout at Keswick.
The road is actually the first right off the A591 from there.
The way is obvious leading on a wide track from the top end of the car park and veering off up to the left - the right track going to Skiddaw House Youth Hostel.
I wouldn't recommend this way on a weekend in the holidays as the world and all his dogs will be there but I recently did the route with my 11 year old son on a not so busy day and enjoyed it immensely.
I first did the route aged 7 or 8 and Skiddaw was my first Lakeland summit so if you're taking kids or just want the easiest way up without the risk of getting lost then this is for you.
The summit view from Skiddaw - weather permitting - is just as good whichever way you climb the mountain.
The way requires few directions as the path is wide and clear throughout.
After the initial steep slopes you will cross a more level area with views over to the northern side of Skiddaw to the empty hills known as Skiddaw Forest.
The path here forks near a stile - to the right is the main way to Skiddaw while left will also take you there via Skiddaw Little Man, its subsidiary peak.
This is well worth ascending and it's best to go up one way and to return by the other - I suggest returning over Skiddaw Little Man.
The last part is again steep to the summit but the far reaching views make up for the effort.
From the western side of the mountain near to shores of Bassenthwaite Lake there is a longer but much more interesting ascent of Skiddaw.
From near the Ravenstone Hotel - or alternatively walk along the forest trails from the Osprey Centre car park at Dodd Wood a mile to the South - a path ascends in a north easterly direction up a steep slope leaving the trees and doubling back to climb the ridge to the South.
This path is followed up the steep ascent to Ullock Pike which rewards the walker with wonderful views across Bassenthwaite over the West Cumbria Plain to the Galloway Hills in Scotland.
From Ullock Pike's summit, a narrow grassy ridge known as Longside Edge curves around towards the East traversing the fell called Long Side to end up just north of Carl Side which is worth visiting for the wider view its top gives.
This is one of the best walks in the area with Keswick and Derwentwater coming into view with the mountains of the Central Lakes beyond as its end is reached.
The ridge has no difficulties not being narrow enough to fall off and being on grass all the way.
Heading once more to the North East, a path leaves the pleasant grassy slopes to ascend steep scree to Skiddaw's south top.
This section is harder work but it's only another 600 feet or 200m of ascent, with the main summit of Skiddaw a short distance to the North along the easy summit ridge.
The Longside Edge Route is considerably quieter than the Tourist Route but also a longer outing at roughly 8 miles return and about 3300 feet of climbing but for a real feeling of remoteness head north from the summit to the next bump on the ridge - the North Summit - and continue down the ridge ahead.
A faint but intermittent path can be picked up in places and followed to a grassy depression known as the North Col.
From here follow the broad ridge down bending gradually more to the West where a more obvious path is seen.
The route curves back round more to the South across the steep face of Skiddaw before descending to the remote Barkbethdale and crossing Southerndale to regain the low ridge from where we set off up Ullock Pike.
This descent has plenty of opportunities for getting lost so don't try it in bad weather unless you know the area well but in clear conditions the circuit is one of my favorite Lakeland walks.
Even then I would take a map and compass - or a GPS if you trust the batteries not to run out - as paths are faint and a mistake could leave you a very long walk home!
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