Ullock Pike, Long Side, Carl Side & Skiddaw

Ullock Pike
2230 feet
Long Side
2405 feet
Carl Side
2420 feet
Skiddaw
3053 feet

Date                    18/09/2010

Walk done by:  Susan, Jed, Paul, Troy, Ruby, Sue, Paul Emma, Jamie, Sara, Carol & Karen

Weather:            Mostly cloudy , rain shower, mist and strong winds on Skiddaw summit

Distance             6.0 miles. 2700 ft of ascent

Started at:          Lay by on the Orthwaite road

An early start for this tough walk as parking at our intended spot is difficult. I was driving, and picked Susan up and then Paul. Then it was on to meet two more cars at M65 J3. We were on the Motorway by 7.25. Before 9am we had parked on the Bell Close car park in Keswick for a break and had some toasties from the extortionately priced cafe before heading off to the lay-by on the Orthwaite road. After manoeuvreing around a silly old woman in a 4x4 who would not reverse 20 ft., we finally parked up and started the walk at 9.40

It was reasonably fine with some sunny spells as we we reached Watches, a natural rock deposit. at the foot of the ridge to Ullock Pike. Mist was hovering above Skiddaw. The weather was changing all the time and a 5 minute shower on the upper slopes of Ullock Pike forced us to get the waterproof's out. By the time we had reached the top it had stopped. Some of the party had never attempted a walk of this magnitude and had done superbly so far.

After Ullock Pike, Long Side and Carl Side were easy to scale, though Carol did wonder why we did Carl Side when there was a short cut to Skiddaw which omitted the short climb to Carl Side. We had lunch on Carl Side with the vista of Keswick and the NW fells below us.

Then it was time for the final 780 foot climb to the south top of Skiddaw. Not difficult, but a steep ascent, though one or two of the party were unimpressed by it. After taking our time, and some off us having to wait for Susan to apply blister patches to her feet, we finally met up with everyone in a shelter on the south top. The wind was very strong and loud - making it almost impossible to hear anyone. Paul and I took compass bearings as the mist had cut out all views and Skiddaw is difficult to navigate off in thick mist as paths cannot be seen on the slate surface of this massive mountain. And then we set off for the summit.

We didn't linger as there was no view and a strong biting wind did not make it an hospitable place. Very soon we were off the summit, and suddenly the wind ceased, there was silence. At the same time the mist simply evaporated and we had views to Skiddaw House to the east and the coast to the west.

Arriving at the 831m point we took a bearing to lead us in the direction of Cockup, then making a sharp turn to descend the steep slopes of White Horse. After the log steep descent we took a breather at Barkbeth Gill, filling bottles with the crystal clear mountain water. From there it was a small climb over sodden ground to Little Knott then a gradual descent all the way to the cars

A tough 6 mile walk with 4 summits all (above the 2000ft) that we all accomplished with ease, with sore feet or aching legs being the only problems. I enjoyed it and I hope everyone else did. Anyone who climbed this today can climb any summit in the Lakes.

Links to previous walks and to be able to see different weather condtions are here

Photo's by J. McCormick unless otherwise stated

27/4/2002

4/5/2002 17/10/2009

 

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Shortly after leaving the cars this is the start of the ascent to Watches.

 

This is the view to the head of Bassenthwaite Lake from the intake wall

 

After the intake wall we take the green path to Watches

 

Susan, Karen and Carol on the path to Watches. The false summit of Ullock Pike is in the distance - photo: Sara Tomlinson

 

It looks so easy from Watches! photo: Sara Tomlinson

 

 

Carol, Susan, Karen, Paul, Sue Emma and Jamie leave Watches for the start of the serious ascent to Ullock Pike

 

Scar Ness from near Watches

 

Sale Fell across Bass. Lake photo: Sara Tomlinson

 

Barf, Lords Seat and Broom Fell photo: Sara Tomlinson

 

Ascending The Edge

 

Height has been gained and we are now on The Edge. Bass. Lake is far below - Photo: P Thomason

 

Ruby and Jamie on The Edge - the ascent is steep

 

Carol and Susan about to begin a small scramble

 

A section of the steep path we have climbed. Note the fields way below

 

Taking a break - but almost there.

 

Looking down our route of ascent

 

Long Side from near the summit of Ullock Pike. To give a sense of scale, note the lone walker on the ridge (right)

 

"We are nearly there" photo: Sara Tomlinson

 

The Edge - photo: P. Thomason

 

Impromptu artwork

 

Troy waits for everyone to catch up

 

Ullock Pike summit

 

Zooming in on Karen, Jamie and Emma on the summit....

 

....waiting for everyone else to get there.

 

Skiddaw shrouded in mist, take from Ullock Pike

 

Sara, Ruby Paul and Susan reach the top with a spectacular view behind them

 

Everyone on the top - except Troy and I

 

The easy track to Lond Side photo: Sara Tomlinson

 

...and looking back to Ullock Pike photo: Sara Tomlinson

 

Looking over to the might of Skiddaw. The path we would take to its summit is clearly visible - photo: P. Thomason
Looking back to Ullock Pike from the slopes of Long Side. Bass Lake if far below

 

A clear Skiddaw with our path of ascent on the right. Sue would hate this later on!

 

The ridge we had just climbed .

 

On the ridge

 

Troy and Ruby reach Carl Side first

 

Carl Side summit cairn with Skiddaw Little Man beyond

 

Time for lunch with this vista. Keswick and Derwent Water way below Carl Side's south ridge

 

The view from our lunch spot on Carl Side photo: P. Thomason

 

Lunch time and Troy has just been given some well earned food photo: Sara Tomlinson

 

Emma, Sue, Paul and Jamie with Troy hoping he'll be offered something from Jamie photo: Sara Tomlinson

 

Slades Beck photo: Sara Tomlinson

780 feet to go as we pass the tiny Carlside Tarn

 

The Ullock Pike ridge from the path to Skiddaw

 

At this point on the path to the summit we met several other people - and the weather closed in photo: Sara Tomlinson

 

Jed looks up the easy gradient to the summit photo: Sara Tomlinson

 

... whilst Troy is pigged off. He hates wind with rain photo: Sara Tomlinson

 

The weather deteriorated near the summit and here Sue is probably explaining to Emma and Jamie that Skiddaw is made from marine deposits, unlike other mountain ranges in the Lake District - photo: P. Thomason

 

Very near the Trig Point stands this stainless steel information plaque photo: P Thomason

 

Emma (with a red letter P hanging from her nose), Jamie and Paul at the Trig point 3053 feet above sea level. The informational plaque is behind them photo: Susan Thomason

 

The wind was attrocious on Skiddaw summit, but it suddenly stopped as we made for Broad End

 

Here Paul gingerly takes one small step for mankind

 

Ullock Pike

 

The descent to White Horse

 

Sara starts the descent

 

Looking over Randel Crag and Southerndale to Long Side and Ullock Pike

 

Carol and Karen going down Broad End

 

Emma approaches the start of the very steep descent to Barkbeth Gill

 

...whilst behind are Karen, Carol, Sara, Susan and Paul and the two dogs

 

Rest time before the start of the trek to Barkbethdale. Paul takes off Susan's trousers - with her permission I assume!!

 

It's steep and hard work .

 

...but soon it's much easier after reaching Little Knott with its glacial stone deposits

 

Another view from Little Knott of the Ullock Pike ridge

 

large sheep pennear the ford

 

PThe sun finally came out as Paul takes to the path in Southerndale. Now its a simple gradient all the way back to the cars

 

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