Ullock Pike, Long Side, Carl Side, Skiddaw & Bakestall

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Route: High Side House, Watches, Ling How, Kiln Pots, The Edge, Ullock Pike, Long Side, Carl Side, Skiddaw, Broad End, Bakestall, Dead Crags, Whitewater Dash, Cumbria Way, Peter House Farm, Melbreaks, Barkbeth, High Side House

Date: 28/02/2016

From: High Side House

Parking: Layby on Orthwaite Road
Start Point: High Side House
Region: Northern Fells

Route length: 8.2 miles (13.1 km)
Time taken: 03:59
Average speed: 2.1 mph
Ascent: 957m
Descent: 958m

Wainwrights on this walk:
Ullock Pike (692m), Long Side (734m), Carl Side (746m), Skiddaw (931m), Bakestall (673m)

Additional summits: Watches (333m), Skiddaw Middle Top (928m), Skiddaw North Top (922m), Broad End (831m)

Other points of interest: Dead Crags, Whitewater Dash

With the prospect of a fine sunny day on the cards, I left our Glenridding base for a long drive to the northern fringes of the National Park with the aim of climbing one of the Lake District's giants; Skiddaw. The curving ridge of Long Side is arguably the best approach and would form the beginning of a fine circuit to Skiddaw, Bakestall and beyond.

There's a layby with room for a number of cars on the minor road to Orthwaite where I managed to squeeze the car in for the day. A signposted path leaves the road up through the fields and on to the access land that encompasses the northern fells. The sun was dazzling, and the temperature was warm, a sure sign that Spring is just around the corner.

Cockup

Ullock Pike and Long Side

Skiddaw

Looking back to Binsey

The first climb of the day leads to the oddly named summit of Watches with its satisfying elevation of 333m. The path undulates along the ridge to Ling How where it steepens briefly before continuing on its way. This pattern of steep and flat is repeated a couple of times until you reach The Edge where Ullock Pike looms overhead.

The view across Bassenthwaite towards Sale Fell 

One of the steeper sections of Ullock Pike

Looking down The Edge

The Edge

Sale Fell

Here the path becomes very steep and steeper still towards the summit, almost becoming a minor scramble at times. The view on either side of the ridge though is excellent with Southerndale and Skiddaw to the east and Bassenthwaite to the west. Despite being over 3,000ft high, Skiddaw doesn't seem so tall from this angle, largely because of the absence of crags. Don't let this fool you though - there's still a way to go.

Looking down the final section of Ullock Pike

Skiddaw over Southerndale

The steepness finally gives way at the summit of Ullock Pike, the first significant named peak of the walk. Presented ahead is the fine Long Side ridge and one of the most expansive views in the entire Lake District stretching from Helvellyn over Borrowdale and the Scafells and the entirety of the northwestern fells. I can't think of many views that contain so much interest.

Ullock Pike's summit and view

The view along Newlands towards the Scafells

Panorama from Ullock Pike

Crag Hill, Grisedale Pike and Grasmoor

The view along Longside Edge

It's a view that accompanies you along the ridge of Long Side, a named fell though really a high point on Longside Edge, the link between Ullock Pike and Carl Side (some may argue that Ullock Pike is just the end of Long Side, which would also be correct). A huge group of people were just departing the summit as I arrived, and proceeded to follow the path below Carl Side towards Skiddaw. In order to put a bit of distance between them and myself, I aimed for Carl Side's quiet summit.

Long Side looking to Skiddaw

Southerndale

Carl Side's summit

Little Man

Skiddaw looms ahead with a path running up the flanks. I remember it being steep the last time I did it but had forgotten just how steep it is - it must be one of the steepest paths in the Lake District - that is one without steps. It's a tough climb up and I was a little disappointed to find no need for the crampons as the path was largely clear of snow. My ploy of giving the large group a head start failed as I caught them around the halfway mark. No doubt I'll show up in a few of the photos they were taking, becoming an honorary member if you will.

The path up Skiddaw

Long Side and Southerndale

I think I may have mentioned that the path is steep

We eventually reached the top and while the group re-grouped, I left them to and headed for the summit. The snow on the summit ridge was perfect and some brief broken clouds added to the atmosphere. Skiddaw was busy today - a large number of people were either heading for or from the summit trig pillar.

The Skiddaw summit ridge

Looking north towards the very top

Skiddaw Middle Top

Blencathra from Skiddaw

Skiddaw has a tremendous view of the northern fells though it's a shame the view from here is of the back of Blencathra and not the front. The long ridge that forms Skiddaw's summit is, however, superb and consists of a number of mini-peaks in addition to the main one. The winter conditions on the top were very pleasant and made for a nice walk down to Broad End.

The summit ridge

Skiddaw's trig pillar

View over Skiddaw Forest to Blencathra

Gibraltar Crag

Broad End

The navigation from Broad End to Bakestall couldn't be more straightforward as a fence joins the two summits. More hard snow on this north-facing ridge meant for an easy walk down with the odd glissade thrown in for good measure. It doesn't take long to reach the top of Bakestall.
Though not really a fell in its own right, Dead Crags make Bakestall worth a visit. Now that I was away from the Skiddaw crowds I decided to stop for lunch on the rim, peering down into the coomb below.

Looking across to Great Cockup

Binsey once again

Birkett Edge

Dead Crags

The valley of Dash Beck

Afterwards, I followed the fence down Birkett Edge (more grassy bank than edge) to the Cumbria Way. After rounding the corner the full spectacle of Dead Crags is revealed, a rare sight of cliffs in the grassy northern fells. As coming into view is Whitewater Dash, a delightful waterfall that tumbles some 100m over Black Nettle Hause. Sadly, it's a difficult one to access so I couldn't inspect it up close.

The upper portion of Whitewater Dash

The Cumbria Way underneath Dead Crags

Whitewater Dash

Foul Gill and Little Nettle Hause

White Hause

The Cumbria Way leads across fields and past farms until it reaches the Orthwaite Road though it was a fair trudge back to the car including a diversion around Barkbeth Farm. In hindsight, it would have been best to leave the car in a layby at the Cumbria Way close to Peter House Farm but hadn't known it was there at the time. One to remember for the future.

Bassenthwaite emerges in the distance

The farm lane at Barkbeth

Ullock Pike

The Long Side ridge is without a doubt the best way to reach Skiddaw, the sixth highest mountain in England, and has some mountain character in an area where it is hard to find, despite the lofty elevation of Skiddaw. It is perhaps the most accessible mountain in the Lake District thanks to the paths rising directly from Keswick but I would urge you to consider this route over any approaching from the south.