Route: Ullock Pike, Longside, Carl Side and Skiddaw
Area: Northern Lake District
Date of walk: 4th November 2013
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 7.6 miles
Ascent: 2,700 feet
As I approached the car parking space at High Side Bassenthwaite, there seemed to be blue skies and sun everywhere – except over the Skiddaw fells, which were covered in cloud. I had no plan B, so hoped that the cloud would clear. Halfway up my first fell on the route, Ullock Pike, I hit thick mist and met a lady coming back down who advised me to turn back ‘There’s nothing to see, it’s foggy’
I thanked her for the advice, but a mixture of obstinacy and optimism caused me to ignore it – and what a good thing I did. Maybe it was my imagination, but the clouds seemed to be thinning and maybe there was a glimpse of blue through the mist
I soldiered on through the mist, with no views at all, when all at once the clouds suddenly disappeared and there were wonderful views all around. For the remainder of the walk it was a glorious day and the conditions were perfect. It was freezing on top of Skiddaw, headgear and gloves were needed notwithstanding the sunshine and there was a thin layer of snow, or maybe hail, in places
The views on the way down were wonderful – Scotland and the Solway Firth could be seen clearly. It was a red letter day
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Welcome to Barkbeth, fortunately the advertised bovines were nowhere to be seen
An early view back to the north end of Bassenthwaite Lake
Looking ahead, the tops are in the cloud
Bassenthwaite again - the lake will make quite a few appearances in the photos to follow
Into the mist, there were no views at all for the next 30 minutes and I was beginning to entertain negative thoughts about continuing
But then I looked back to see my brocken spectre
It was like walking in heaven for the rest of the walk
Bassenthwaite, with Scotland in the distance
Skiddaw, my destination
Looking back down my ascent route
Derwent Water
Zooming in on Derwent Water
The southern end of Bassenthwaite
The way ahead….
…and looking back
The path to the top of Skiddaw - it looks steep and it is, but not difficult
Just before the final slog up to Skiddaw, a view of Derwent Water, Newlands Valley, and lots of North West fells
Looking back along my ascent route
Nearly there…..
The hard work is over now, time to enjoy more views
Blencathra and miles of wonderful wilderness. The Pennines are in the distance
Summit of Skiddaw on a special day
No caption can do justice to this scene
On the way down now. I’ve run out of superlatives, so will let the photos do the talking for the rest of the walk
