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Lonscale Fell, Little Man, Skiddaw & Bakestall from Latrigg Car Park

Lonscale Fell, Little Man, Skiddaw & Bakestall from Latrigg Car Park

Start/Finish

Latrigg car park which holds about 15 cars. It can get very busy so arrive early. From the roundabout outside Keswick where the A66 and A591 (for Carlisle) roads cross, take the Carlisle road and take the first right turn which is signed for Skiddaw. It is quite a narrow road and leads to Applethwaite. Turn right and follow the road to its end. In November, 2014, part of this road badly needed resurfacing so drive slowly when needed.

Distance/Time

16 km      About 5 – 6 hours

Peaks

Lonscale Fell, 715 m, NY 285 272.

Little Man, 865 m, NY 267 278.

Skiddaw, 931 m, NY 260 291.

Bakestall, 673 m, 266 307.     OS 1:50 000, Sheet 90.     OL4 North Western Lakes

Introduction

This is a fine walk and has excellent views on a clear day. It can easily be accomplished on a short winter's day but is not for the inexperienced in winter conditions. Views extend to Derwentwater and the surrounding fells, Blencathra, the Caldbeck Fells, the north western fells and the Helvellyn range. Much of the route is on good paths or tracks with just a few wet sections The worst thing about this walk is that both sides of the map have to be used. Much of the walk is on the south sheet but north of Bakestall the north sheet has to be used. Navigation is relatively straightforward even in mist.

Route

(1) Walk out of the end of the car park and turn left, following a path by a wall. Continue on the obvious path which splits after a gate. Take the right fork here and follow the good path to cross Whit Beck. If you reach a memorial cross then you have missed this right fork! After Whit Beck, follow the very good track, roughly E, across the S flank of Lonscale Fell. About 1 km after crossing the beck, a gate is reached with a path and fence going left uphill. Follow the path uphill, NW. Higher up, almost on the crest, a faint path forks right and this goes to the E Top which is on a craggy edge. There is a very small cairn. From this cairn, walk roughly SE, on the only path, to reach a medium cairn which is the summit of Lonscale Fell, 715 m.

(2) Continue on the path, soon following a fence, to reach Jenkin Hill which is more of a shoulder than a separate summit. Continue on the path, still following the fence and reach the main path up Little Man. Follow the path up to the SE Top, ignoring the major path going right which misses out Little Man. where there is a fair sized cairn then continue, still on the path, to ascend to the larger cairn which is the summit of Little Man, 865 m.

(3) Still following the good path, descend NW on to a crest about 250 m wide. Continue up and reach the crest of Skiddaw where the path goes N and eventually reaches the trig point, a view point cairn and a low shelter cairn. Other cairns will be passed on the way. The trig point is the summit of Skiddaw, 931 m.

(4) Walk N from the summit on a reasonably distinct path which descends to a level grassy section then suddenly disappears but a fence comes in from the right which is a useful aid to navigation. Follow the fence which has a path by it. It soon turns NE then NNE before turning ENE near a cairn which is the summit of Bakestall, 673 m. Another path leaves the fence here and goes N, soon reaching another medium cairn which is the N Top of Bakestalland a finer viewpoint.

(5) Follow the fence going ENE from the summit and descend down to the track at a gate. Turn right, through the gate, and follow the track, winding at first, which then heads SE, ascending gently, and eventually reaches Skiddaw House which is now a youth hostel. It is the only building around. Go around to the left of Skiddaw House and follow the track/path ESE then S. About 1.5 km S of Skiddaw House, the path splits. Take the right fork which pleasantly traverses the E flank of Lonscale Fell at around 400 m. When the path goes right, the gate at the foot of the SE ridge of Lonscale Fell is reached which is where the outward path is rejoined. Follow this back to Whit Beck and the start.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 21st November, 2014.

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