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.