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.
The first day of our Bob Graham route exploration started at Skiddaw Little Man and continued through several prominent peaks, including Helvellyn and Nethermost Pike, before descending to Dunmail Raise. The weather took a turn for the worse about four hours into the day, with heavy rain and poor visibility making the terrain slippery and challenging. Despite these conditions, we maintained a steady pace and navigated through the challenging conditions, summiting a series of significant peaks before reaching our support crew at at Dunmail Raise.
