Height: 333 metres / 1093 feet Grid reference: NY 24058 30392
Summit panorama from Watches
Watches
Skiddaw & The Edges
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
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.