
Skiddaw Group: Lake District - Northern Fells: Skiddaw (931m), Skiddaw Little Man (868m), Carl Side (746m): Started from Keswick Football Grounds Parking Lot (~90m). Crossed A66 and up the track to east of Applethwaite. Turned east passing Underscar Manor to the Car Park at the trail head for Cumbrian Way/Skiddaw. Ascended the trail to summit of Little Man, then Skiddaw. The return was via the fast drop off of Skiddaw South Peak to the west to Carl Side, down over White Rocks, and to Millbeck Farm. Through Millbeck, headed east through Applethwaite, and rejoined the track back to Keswick, and the Football Car Park. Total Time: 5 hours 31 minutes; Total Distance: 10.34 miles; Total Elevation Gain: 3,402 ft/1,217m. In planning this walk, checked Mountain Weather Information Service (NWIS) for Lake District, and the Met Office forecasts specific to Keswick and Skiddaw. The weather forecast were for mist in the morning and sunny mid day, and the forecasts were accurate. Sunny with a gentle breeze. Visibility was very good throughout the walk. The focus for this walk up Skiddaw, the fourth highest mountain in England, was reading angles of ascent and descent using the map contour lines for both timing and assessing the level of difficulty for individuals I might be responsible for in future. The climb up Skiddaw from the trail head at Cumbria Way/Skiddaw was manageable for most potential clients. The trail is well marked and I saw a wide variety of ages, including a few elderly walkers. Difficult, but not dangerous. Local walkers had recommended I try the Millbeck accent/descent as a more challenging walk. I descended on the Millbeck route and found it a significant challenge controlling descent on the majority of the fall, from the summit line of Skiddaw, to Carl Side Tarn, (the first respite), and then down to White Rocks (a second break), and then the descent continued to the switchbacks down to Millbeck Farm. I ran into several people who had started up the Millbeck ascent and turned around because of the level of difficulty. This was my first ascent in a new venue. Learned a lot about alternate walking routes, and the levels of difficulty, and availability of parking. Reviewed "Wainwrights Walking Guide to the Lake District Fells - The Northern Fells" and "Walking the Wainwrights" with Stuart Marshall" for route intelligence. Analyzed the ascent/descent contour lines for angles of attack using Ordnance Survey Explorer OL 4, "The English Lakes-North Western Area" (1:25,000) and Harvey ULTRAMAP XT40, "Lake District North" (1:40,000).
Area :
Northern Fells
The Northern Fells occupy a circular area about 10 miles in diameter. The centre is slightly lower, an area of upland grazing and marshland known as Skiddaw Forest. This name may be misleading since the only trees form the windbreak of Skiddaw House. This isolated building, was once a shepherd's bothy. It currently serves as a youth hostel. Skiddaw Forest stands at the head of the three major rivers of the Northern Fells. The Caldew, Dash Beck and the Glenderaterra. These streams divide the circular area into three distinct sections.