Skiddaw Route Information

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Quick Facts

This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.

Total Ascent

840 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time

3.5 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

9.54 km

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required

89	West Cumbria, Cockermouth & Wast Water
90	Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside

Only £6.29 (£13.49 Laminated) from

A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

Notes

Rounded ridges and dale route traversing Skiddaw, much quieter than the tourist route and with good views.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

Travel Information

Head to: Keswick

From Keswick follow A591 NW 7.5km towards Bassenthwaite and park near the Ravenstone Hotel.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 840 metres. Allow 3.5 hours to complete this 9.54 km route.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

Route Information

Waypoint Detail

	Park near Ravenstone Hotel. Path starts beyond S corner of hotel grounds.
		NY23562963	Distance	Altitude 111 m

1	Begin E turning N on path keeping the fence to your left until the corner of dry stone wall.
		NY23843010	Distance 0.63 km	Altitude 245 m

2	Branch right and ascend NE on path
		NY23933020	Distance 0.15 km	Altitude 312 m

3	Bear SE on path and ascend to gain ridge
		NY24053001	Distance 0.23 km	Altitude 345 m

4	Follow ridge SSE to Ullock Pike
		NY24432877	Distance 1.30 km	Altitude 672 m

5	Continue SE to Long Side
		NY24862844	Distance 0.54 km	Altitude 734 m

6	Continue on path ESE to col below Carl Side
		NY25602825	Distance 0.78 km	Altitude 715 m

7	Ascend path NE up stony slope to the south top of Skiddaw (925m)
		NY26042866	Distance 0.64 km	Altitude 925 m

8	Follow summit ridge N over a middle top (928m) to trig point on summit of Skiddaw (3000ft+)
		NY26042909	Distance 0.48 km	Altitude 931 m

9	Descend NNE to where the ridge broadens.
		NY26172970	Distance 0.68 km	Altitude 828 m

10	Descend stony slope W and pick up old miners sledgate track at about 500m contour.
		NY25452974	Distance 0.72 km	Altitude 500 m

11	Follow path WNW around Bassenthwaite Common
		NY25012993	Distance 0.50 km	Altitude 440 m

12	Follow path NW to boundary dry stone wall
		NY24703043	Distance 0.59 km	Altitude 345 m

13	Follow path WSW beside wall and descend into Southerndale
		NY24413026	Distance 0.35 km	Altitude 325 m

14	Continue NW on path, cross Southerndale Beck, then on to gate in wall.
		NY24103068	Distance 0.56 km	Altitude 279 m

15	Take left branch and head WSW on path
		NY23943064	Distance 0.21 km	Altitude 292 m

16	Follow path S to rejoin the ascent route and return to start.
		NY23562963	Distance 1.18 km	Altitude 111 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

Cumbrian Fells
by MWIS (PDF format)

Lake District
by Met Office

Skiddaw
by Metcheck

Images of Skiddaw

The view across Southerndale to Skiddaw, from Longside Edge. Ahead on right is Carlside (low and rounded), with Little Man showing beyond. Alas Skiddaw had clouded up before I got there!

© David S Brown

Image by David S Brown

Skiddaw, with Little Man to the left, taken from the W end of Blencathra's main ridge.

© David S Brown

Image by David S Brown

Skiddaw seen from Atkinson Pike, Blencathra

© David S Brown

Image by David S Brown

Skiddaw from the SW: seen from the Kinn ridge (during an ascent of Grisedale Pike), and showing Little Man to the right.

© David S Brown

Image by David S Brown

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

Where to Stay

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Rating & Reviews

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Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.

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