Skiddaw

Height: 931 metres / 3054 feet Grid reference: NY 26040 29085 Category: The Northern Fells

Skiddaw is the fourth highest fell in the Lake District and one of four that stand over 3000 feet.

Winter on Skiddaw summit

Skiddaw and Keswick from Walla Crag

Bassenthwaite Lake and Sale Fell from Skiddaw

White Out on Skiddaw

Looking back along the summit ridge

as well as the main top of Skiddaw (High Man), Birkett lists four others:

South Top Height 925 metres/3034 feet NY 26049 28544

Middle Top Height 928 metres/3044 feet NY 26068 28829

North Top Height 922 metres/3024 feet NY 26085 29332

Broad End Height 831 metres/2726 feet NY 26094 29845

Skiddaw

Walked on 19/02/2013

Start point: Gale Road End (NY 281 253)

Gale Road End – Skiddaw Lesser Man – Skiddaw Little Man – Skiddaw – Jenkin Hill – Lonscale Fell – Lonscale Pike – Latrigg – Gale Road End

Distance: 8.5 miles Total Ascent: 860 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 07:00

Weather: Beautiful sunshine above the haze. 5°C

I was up early again today to catch the sunrise and it was well worth it to see the beautiful rising sun across a temperature inversion. Once above the haze layer the air was very clear – a fantastic and memorable day to be out on the fells.

The Hawell Monument, pre-dawn.

The Coledale fells and a pinky pre-sunrise sky.

The sun appears on the horizon.

A sunny glow above the haze.

A warming glow.

Climbing higher, a fabulous sunrise and inversion to the east.

Skiddaw Little Man in the dawn glow.

Blencathra and the view to the east.

Skiddaw Lesser Man.

Skiddaw Little Man looking down to Lesser and the Helvellyn massif beyond.

Dougally Doo...no Casper today so you are on your own lad.

Clear skies now above the layer of haze.

The Ullock Pike ridge.

Catbells to Scafells.

Mono layers.

On the summit plateau looking down on Little Man.

The Ullock Pike ridge and Bassenthwaite Lake, beyond there is a heavy covering of cloud across the sea.

What a fabulous day.

The air was very clear and hardly a breath of wind today.

Well worth taking a photo or two.

The back o' Skidda.

Skiddaw summit.

The Lakeland giants across Derwent Water.

Descending to Lonscale Fell.

The mist is clearing a bit as the sun warms up.

Warmer, but not that warm.

Skiddaw from Lonscale Fell.

A panorama of loveliness.

Blencathra from Lonscale Pike.

The view from Lonscale Pike.

The steep descent.

Following the track back toward Latrigg, the green hill on the left.

The Coledale fells from Latrigg.

A.W?

Skiddaw from Latrigg.

Skiddaw

Walked on 17/12/2010

Start point: Gale Road End (NY 281 253)

Gale Road End – Skiddaw Lesser Man – Skiddaw Little Man – Skiddaw – Jenkin Hill – Lonscale Fell – Lonscale Pike – Gale Road End

Distance: 7.6 miles Total Ascent: 775 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 15 minutes Start Time: 10:40

Weather: Freezing. -3ºC

The blue skies of the early morning gave way to a rather more leaden one and it was one of those ‘never above freezing’ days today. Skiddaw was quiet with hardly anyone around (although I did bump into the current second on the GtF leader board Jon and Hils) and although a different sort of day to the Blencathra one I enjoyed last week, the winter skies were a treat and there were some fantastic views from up there today

Skiddaw route map.

There were no other cars at the Gale Road car park when I set off and Skiddaw looked decidedly cold this morning.

Come on boys!

The Hawell Monument.

The zigzags to the top.

Coledale.

Catbells from the climb.

Little man heading for Little Man.

Lonscale fell and Blencathra from the climb to Lesser Man.

Little from Lesser.

Derwent Water and a clear view in a lovely winter orange sky from the frozen cairn on Little Man.

Dougal works out the route to Skiddaw. The wind really whipped up whilst I was on here and it was a real Arctic blast as you can imagine - lots of layers on now.

Looking back to Little Man.

A lovely sky but I think there is snow up there somewhere.

The icy path to Skiddaw.

A panoramic view.

Walkers on the south top.

The Ullock Pike ridge and Bassenthwaite Lake.

Skiddaw summit.

Looking south from the summit.

Sun reflected on the viewpoint indicator.

Braving the elements.

Heading back along the ridge.

Frozen shelter.

Icy!

The Coledale fells.

Catbells and beyond.

Derwent Water.

The Back o' Skiddaw.

Lonscale Fell from Jenkin Hill.

Sun reflected on Derwent Water.

Looking back to Skiddaw Little Man from the path to Lonscale Fell.

Skiddaw from Lonscale Fell and it was really starting to go dull now as the clouds became heavier.

Blencathra and the Glenderaterra Valley from Lonscale Pike.

The descent from Lonscale Pike looking across High Rigg to Helvellyn and Thirlmere.

High Rigg and Helvellyn.

On the Cumbria Way.

Whit Beck.

Skiddaw

Walked on 23/03/2010

Start point: Gale Road End (NY 281 253)

Gale Road End – Skiddaw Lesser Man – Skiddaw Little Man – Skiddaw – Jenkin Hill – Lonscale Fell – Lonscale Pike – Gale Road End

Distance: 7 miles Total Ascent: 800 metres Time Taken: 2 hours 45 minutes Start Time: 08:45

Weather: Hazy, in and out of cloud, 9C

Today the weather was a lot better than yesterday and the sun was trying to burn through the haze and cloud most of the morning. My original intention was to go to Blencathra but I soon changed my mind when I saw the stubborn cloud on the top and Skiddaw looked a better bet with its wispy cloud which looked as though it would disappear at some point. It was noticeable how busy all the walking areas seemed to be today too, perhaps it is an indication that winter truly is over and the promise of better weather has brought people back to the area. We were recognised on Lonscale Fell today by a couple of Striding Edge fans and it was good to stop and have a chat for a while.

Skiddaw route map.

At the Hawell Monument. Skiddaw is covered in cloud but I was hopeful it would clear by the time I made it to the top.

Looking to misty Thirlmere from the climb and there is only my car glinting in the car park to the right.

The north western fells are pretty much snowless now.

Keswick and Derwent Water.

The view from further up the path as we headed into the cloud.

Skiddaw Lesser Man (and Casper) ahead.

Skiddaw Lesser Man summit.

A hat and glove stop was required at Skiddaw Little Man as it was a chilly wind and the clouds briefly parted to reveal a heavy cloak of cloud over the Helvellyn ridge.

Skiddaw ahead.

Carl Side and Ullock Pike - Dougal, you're going the wrong way!

Walking the cloud covered Skiddaw summit plateau and there is a another brief break for a quick view to the Back o' Skiddaw fells.

Bassenthwaite Lake below.

The summit of Skiddaw.

Dougal and Casper on the summit.

Looking back along the plateau from the trig column. This photo reminds me of an old one I have with Angus similarly sniffing around like Dougal...

Angus on Skiddaw, 2005.

Cloud capped Blencathra.

Lonscale Pike and Little Man.

Lonscale Fell revealed.

Lesser and Little from a frozen pool on the way to Jenkin Hill.

The Helvellyn ridge from Jenkin Hill.

Heading for Lonscale Fell - hurry up says Dougal!

All the Skiddaw's from Lonscale Fell.

...and the view from the cairn.

The boys have a look to Great Calva from Lonscale Pike.

Catbells and the rest beyond Derwent Water and Latrigg. The car park has filled up since I left!

Solitary post on the descent.

Crossing Whit Beck.

Skiddaw

Walked on 28/01/2008

Start point: Peter House Farm (NY 249 323)

Peter House Farm – Dash Farm – White Hause (526) – Little Calva – Great Calva – Skiddaw house – Sale How (527) – Skiddaw – Hare Crag (528) – Whitewater Dash – Peter House Farm

Distance: 11.6 miles Total Ascent: 1100 metres Time Taken: 5 hours

Weather: Overcast with the odd sunny spell. 9°C

Well, at least it wasn’t raining today! It turned out to be quite a pleasant day, more than a bit breezy but there was some sunshine around but it was great to be back up on the high fells again with a few Birkett humps and bumps taken in for good measure.

Great Cockup in the morning sun with Brockle Crags prominent to the right with its distinctive white stones.

Following the Skiddaw House track to Dash Farm. The first objective today is White Hause, the grassy hump in the middle, to the left of and above Dash Farm.

Burn Tod and White Hause.

Little Calva with Dash Fall to the right.

Bassenthwaite lake from the top of White Hause.

Bakestall and Dead Crags from the same place.

White Hause gets some golden sunshine looking back from the climb to Little Calva.

Great Calva from Little Calva.

Bakestall from Little Calva.

Looking south along the geological fault line from Great Calva with Thirlmere glinting in the sun.

High Pike and Carrock Fell across Knott.

Skiddaw from Great Calva with Sale How to the left of the central cleft and Hare Crag to the right.

Hare Crag, the route of descent from Skiddaw.

Sale How with Skiddaw Little Man beyond - the route of ascent.

Crossing the infant River Caldew.

Little Calva and Great Calva from Skiddaw House.

Blencathra is clear of cloud now from the climb - or should that be slog - to Sale How.

Skiddaw, however, remains under cloud from the top of Sale How.

Blencathra over Sale How, Lonscale Fell to the right just before we enter the cloud layer.

A break in the cloud cover on the climb to Skiddaw summit with the sunrays over Derwent Water and Keswick through the low ceiling of cloud.

Newlands Valley.

It was wild on the top of Skiddaw with a cold, cold wind.

Descending through the clouds again towards Broad End. The wind was fierce here and made taking a photo difficult.

The sun is still out over to the east on Great Calva from Hare Crag.

Great Calva again from the descent.

Binsey from the path above Dash Falls.

The upper section of Dash Falls.

Dead Crags and Binsey along the Dash Valley from the falls.

A final view of Binsey.

Skiddaw Forest

Walked on 07/06/2007

Start point: Gale Road End (NY 281 253)

Gale Road – Lonscale Fell – Lonscale Pike – Jenkin Hill – Skiddaw Lesser Man – Skiddaw Little Man – Skiddaw – Bakestall – Birkett Edge – Whitewater Dash – Little Calva – Great Calva (514) – Skiddaw house – Lonscale Crags – Gale Road

Distance: 13 miles Total Ascent: 1190 metres Time Taken: 5 hours

Weather: Overcast, clearing. 20oC.

After the sunshine and blue skies of the last few days, the clouds were hanging ominously over Skiddaw when I set off for a circuit of Skiddaw Forest from Gale Road this morning. From Lonscale Fell onwards, I was in the clouds with Skiddaw being windswept and cold as it so often is. The main objective today was Great Calva as I completed my second recorded set of 214 Wainwright fells on it. I haven’t been actively pursuing that goal and it has taken me 3 years to get round them all again.

A cloud covered Skiddaw at the start of the walk, the blue sky looked promising though.

The Hawell monument and the path to Skiddaw. We weren't going this way though as we descended right to Whit Beck and then continued along the bridleway below Lonscale Fell.

Descending to Whit Beck.

Latrigg and Derwent Water from the steep climb to Lonscale Fell, just before disappearing into the clouds.

Casper at the summit of Lonscale Fell. Someone has been doing a bit of cairn building.

Sat in the bog cotton on Jenkin Hill.

A windswept Skiddaw summit.

Descending the north end of Skiddaw, the clouds fleetingly parted here looking to Lonscale Fell...

...and a glimpse of Bassenthwaite Lake.

Ullock Pike across Southerndale.

Descending to Bakestall.

The Back of Skiddaw from Bakestall.

The route from Bakestall - descend Birkett Edge then climbing steeply with the fence before heading to Little Calva then Great Calva.

The steep descent of Birkett Edge.

Dash Beck, above the main falls.

Looking back to Dead Crags on Bakestall from the steep climb to Little Calva.

Oops! A bit deeper than you though Casper?

214 Wainwrights completed for the second time on Great Calva.

The summit of Great Calva.

The south cairn of Great Calva looking down the fault line that should have a view to Windermere. Skiddaw House is to the right of the post, encircled by trees with Lonscale Fell beyond.

Skiddaw House.

All that remains of Skiddaw Forest, Skiddaw House behind.

Great Calva.

Passing below Lonscale Fell on the Cumbria Way.

Mungrisdale Common.

The Glenderaterra Valley from Lonscale Crags.

A familiar silhouette - the Coledale fells.

That made me jump! Of course, Skiddaw is clear now as well.

Skiddaw & The Edges

Walked on 15/03/2007

Start point: Orthwaite Road, near Bassenthwaite (NY 237 311)

Nr.Bassenthwaite – Watches – The Edge – Ullock Pike – Longside Edge – Long Side – Carl Side – Skiddaw – Broad End – Bakestall – Nr.Bassenthwaite

Distance: 7.5 miles Total Ascent: 885 metres Time Taken: 4 hours

Weather: Wet and windy. 7oC.

This is a great way to reach Skiddaw, walking along The Edge and Longside Edge culminating in the steep, slate path cutting diagonally across the western face of Skiddaw – but it was not so great today as the weather was pretty atrocious! Today I was joined by my friend Nick with his dog Busta, both novices of the 3000 footers – I hope it didn’t put them off for life! Needless to say we didn’t see another soul for the whole walk either (apart from Andy Lang in the car park at the end – he did the same walk!).

Binsey from the climb to Watches.

Broad End and Skiddaw across Southerndale.

Looking from Watches to The Edge and Ullock Pike with Long Side and Carl Side beyond.

The cloud is down on Skiddaw from the rock formations on Watches.

Walking towards The Edge, with Busta, Angus and Casper leading the way.

On The Edge with Ullock Pike ahead.

Ullock Pike, the wind is starting to blow and the drizzle approaching from the west.

Bassenthwaite Lake through the mist. This is the last view of the day from Ullock Pike as the cloud came down and the relentless rain started.

Angus looking a bit fed up with the weather.

Casper on the climb to Skiddaw.

Here comes Nick out of the mist being battered by the wind on the slate path to Skiddaw. This view sums up the day nicely!

On the summit of Skiddaw in a really strong and cold wind. That's it! Camera away now and not to reappear as it was rain, rain, rain all the way back. From here we dropped down to Broad End then Bakestall before contouring Broad End to Barkbethdale and into Southerndale.

Skiddaw

Walked on 07/11/2005

Start point: Gale Road End (NY 281 253)

Gale Road End – Skiddaw Lesser Man – Skiddaw Little Man – Skiddaw – Gale Road End

Distance: 6.5 miles Total Ascent: 1256 metres Time Taken: 2 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Changeable, cold and windy. 10oC.

I was searching for clear skies again today after more rain all weekend. Keswick seemed very clear when I arrived with Skiddaw particularly looking good. With a walk from the Gale Road car park we did well to stay dry, if somewhat windblown, and saw perhaps the only blue skies in the Lake District today.

The Hawell Monument at the start of the climb to Skiddaw.

The north western fells across the Vale of Keswick from the ascent of Skiddaw.

Carl Side, Long Side, Longside Edge and Ullock Pike.

Bassenthwaite Lake behind Long Side, Longside Edge and Ullock Pike.

Looking along to the summit of Skiddaw...

...and looking back from the summit.

Very windy and cold up here.

Skiddaw Little Man.

Looking across to Blencathra.

Carrock Fell and 'The Back o' Skiddaw'.

Sun rays on Derwent Water.

Helvellyn and the Dodd's across St. John's-in-the-Vale.

More dramatic sky.

The Skiddaw massif.

Back O’ Skiddaw

Walked on 13/07/2005

Start point: Bowscale (NY 358 317)

Bowscale – Bowscale Tarn – East Top on Bowscale Fell (387) – Bowscale Fell (388) – The Tongue (389) – Bannerdale Crags (390) – Blencathra – Mungrisdale Common – Cloven Stone – Lonscale Pike (391) – Lonscale Fell (392) – Jenkin Hill (393) – Skiddaw Lesser Man (394) – Skiddaw Little Man (395) – Skiddaw – Bakestall – Whitewater Dash – Little Calva (396) – Knott – Coomb Height (397) – Little Lingy Hill (398) – Great Lingy Hill (399) – Hare Stones (400) – High Pike (401) – Miton Hill (402) – Round Knott (403) – Carrock Fell (404) – Mungrisdale – Bowscale

Distance: 25.8 miles Total Ascent: 2447 metres Time Taken: 10 hours 50 minutes

Weather: Sunny and warm with a slight breeze. 25°C.

Today’s walk was a long circuit of the quiet fells known as ‘The Back o’ Skiddaw’. The weather was very pleasant, not as hot and muggy as it has been recently with a slight, welcome, cooling breeze. The views were absolutely superb at times and I was glad I chose today to do this long walk. The only problem was I forgot my food and 26 miles is a long way without any fuel…

Back O' Skiddaw route map.

Early morning light on Carrock Fell. This was to be the last fell of the walk, some 11 long hours later.

Looking along the Mosedale valley.

Bowscale Tarn, keeper of two immortal fish so legend has it and mentioned by Wordsworth in his poem 'Song at the Feast of Brougham Castle', 1807. '...And both the undying fish that swim, Through Bowscale Tarn did wait on him, The pair were servants of his eye, In their immortality, They moved about in open sight, To and fro, for his delight...'

Strange light and a band of thick low lying cloud to the south from Bowscale Fell's subsidiary east top.

The north western fells seen between Blencathra and Skiddaw.

Blencathra from Bannerdale Crags.

Skiddaw across the summit tarn on Blencathra.

The summit of Blencathra.

Skiddaw from that most derided of Wainwright fells (for not being a true summit), Mungrisdale Common.

Lonscale Fell from Mungrisdale Common. It was a sharp drop off from Blencathra down to Mungrisdale Common then an incredibly steep pull to get back up onto Lonscale Fell via Burnt Horse.

Great Calva from the climb to Lonscale Fell.

The view from Lonscale Pike, the east peak of Lonscale Fell. In the centre is High Rigg with Tewet Tarn visible and Thirlmere behind.

Skiddaw Lesser Man. Little Man and Skiddaw from Jenkin Hill.

There were superb, breath taking views from the climb up to Skiddaw.

The north-western fells from Skiddaw.

Bassenthwaite Lake and Sale Fell from Skiddaw. Not as cold as the last time we were here.

The view reached as far as Scotland over the Solway Firth to Criffel.

Binsey along the Dash Valley. To reach this point was another steep drop off from Bakestall down Birkett Edge and then a hard climb following the fence up to Little Lingy Fell.

The path to Knott.

A quick rest on Coomb Height, Carrock Fell in the background.

High Pike had a welcoming seat...

Evening light and the cloud begins to form on Skiddaw, seen from Round Knott.

Skiddaw

Walked on 28/02/2005

Start point: Orthwaite Road, near Bassenthwaite (NY 237 311)

Bassenthwaite – Watches (300) – The Edge – Ullock Pike (301) – Longside Edge – Long Side (302) – Carl Side (303) –Skiddaw (304-308) – Broad End (309) – Bakestall (310) – Cockup (311)– Bassenthwaite

Distance: 7.9 miles Total Ascent: 1229 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 40 minutes

Weather: Cold, many snow showers with blizzard conditions on Skiddaw.

Today’s walk is to Skiddaw via The Edge and Longside Edge – a really great route of ascent. The weather worsened throughout the walk and crampons were required for the steep ascent to Skiddaw. Once on the top, the blizzard whipped up and there was a complete white-out.

Elevation profile of the route.

3D image of the walk route.

Summit panorama from Watches. See below for an annotated version of this photo.

Bassenthwaite Lake from The Edge.

Longside Edge from Ullock Pike.

Looking back to Ullock Pike from Longside Edge.

Carl Side and Skiddaw Little Man from Long Side.

Looking towards Borrowdale from Carl Side.

A frozen Carlside Tarn.

The steep path to Skiddaw. Crampons and ice axe were required for this ascent (for me, not Angus!).

Panoramic view of the route - Carl Side is on the left, then Long Side, Longside Edge and Ullock Pike.

White out on Skiddaw. Birkett counts five separate tops on Skiddaw - South Top, Middle Top, High Man, North Top and Broad End.

Bakestall from Cockup.

Binsey through a snow shower.

Panorama of The Edge and Bassenthwaite Lake from the Southerndale side.

Ullock Pike and Long Side from Southerndale.

Longside Edge

Walked on 20/01/2004

Near Bassenthwaite (NY 237311) – Watches – Ullock Pike (170) – Long Side (171) – Carl Side (172) – Skiddaw – Broad End – Bakestall – Cockup – Near Bassenthwaite