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This was an entertaining way up Skiddaw... while staying at the Coledale Inn at Braithwaite, the view out of the front hotel room windows is a cracker of Skiddaw and I spend much time studying it for interesting routes (although I didn't invent this route as I think it's been in Trail mag at some time). There are various wide ridges up the 'front' with interesting looking gills between them - this is one of those gills...
The gill is 'How Gill' and is a branch gill - you take the right-hand branch where the gill divides (or at least we did - there's no reason why you can't take the other one really)... It's accessed via the road which goes from Applethwaite up to the Jenkin Hill/Latrigg carpark and you can either park in Applethwaite or up at the carpark, depending on where you decide to descend...
A path actually goes as far as the waterfall as I believe it may be a popular picnic place for the locals. After the waterfall and the gill split, there's no path but the way is obvious - steeply up! After the first scrabble up a steep bit at the actual divide the way just becomes grassy up the side of the beck (either side will do). I loved this route as I like ways up mountains which go right into the mountain and seem like a secret, unused way. We certainly surprised people stomping up the Jenkin Hill path when we popped up at their shoulder! Richard wasn't keen on it though as it is unremittingly steep from the waterfall onwards - but the climb doesn't last forever and the peace and quiet is great!
From the top of the gill join the Jenkin Hill route - preferably over Skiddaw Little Man...
- The gill is on the far right of the pic...
- Exit is at col in middle of pic
- Barren - but I love it!
