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A mixed day for a first climb of one of the Lakeland giants.
Longside Edge makes a terrific approach route (albeit only gained by a breathtakingly steep path up from the roadside, almost too much before the calves are loosened up…) - a great path along the gently climbing rocky ridge, with – until they were lost in the gathering mist – lovely views to Bassenthwaite Lake and bleaker ones to the towering slopes of Skiddaw.
- Bassenthwaite Lake & Sale Fell
- Barf & the Derwent Fells over Bassenthwaite Lake
- Down The Edge
- Ullock Pike
- Bassenthwaite Lake again
- Buzzard Knott below a hidden Skiddaw
- Nearly a view of Derwent Water, from Carl Side
The last view for an hour or more was the one leaving Carl Side, any sight of Skiddaw or its lower Men lost in the peasoup. The walking is easy enough, the path cutting up across the scree much firmer and easier than expected and little chance of losing the well-cairned route across the stony summit ridge, but you feel a little cheated not to see the famed views south.
- Carl Side
- Token picture of the summit... The trig and toposcope are probably actually perpendicular, but it was very windy...
The route down - and back into the sun - over Lonscale Fell and Burnt Horse into the brown hollow of Skiddaw Forest, is gentle and quick going, if it lacks the drama of the ascent. This area feels a very peaceful and remote wilderness, even so close to the crowds on Skiddaw.
- Finally - another view... the approach to Lonscale Fell
- Burnt Horse
- Glenderaterra valley, and western slopes of Blencathra
- North face of Lonscale Fell
- Great Calva
- A first sight of Skiddaw, across Hare Crag
After an impressive view of Dash Falls and the crags that terminate Skiddaw’s north ridge, it’s a pretty long contouring route back to the starting point, quite rough-going in the early stages until a half-path forms that skirts most obstacles, but can’t quite find a good way through the bogs of Barkbethdale. Perhaps starting this route near Bassenthwaite and taking the Cumbria Way down would have a nicer symmetry and better paths? – but the ascent is one well worth repeating.
- Head of Dash Falls
- Dead Crags
- Back to Dash Falls
- Uldale Fells
- Binsey
- Longside Edge over Buzzard & Great Knotts
- Bass Lake