Eat low: sleep high - for a quiet Skiddaw

[old danensian]

A big late late lunch in the pub after the midday rush had gone and there were a few hours to rest and doze. This time, Longside Edge or Carl Side was to be the overnight stop on the way to an early morning Skiddaw and a descent over the back to Bakestall.

Within 20 minutes of arriving at the parking place on the lane below High Side House the last of the other cars had departed. In another half an hour the cyclists had stopped swooping past on their way down to Keswick and the sac was packed.

Ullock Pike, Longside Edge and Carl Side - ready for an evening stroll up the ridge

By 6, the late afternoon heat began to drop, the steady ascent of Ullock Pike began, and the sun continued dropping lower in the sky over the Solway Firth. Ninety minutes later and the tent was pitched below the cairns on Longside Edge. A gentle unencumbered wander over to Carl Side to see Derwent Water and Keswick slide into shadow followed. Finally. the last of the evening was spent clutching a mug of tea sat back by the cairns on Longside Edge: who needs HD, 3D and Sky+?

Like the trip the day before around Coledale, the route requires little description as the paths and tracks on the map are all too clear on the ground. The almost pathless north west descent from Bakestall skirts the cliffs and gullies of the worryingly named Dead Crags, but with care the steep grassy slopes can be negotiated. In bad weather following the fence would be a safer option. However, apart from that aspect of the trip, a few photos can tell the story more eloquently.

Keswick and Derwent Water from Longside Edge

Sunset refelctions across the Solway Firth and on Bassenthwaite from Longside Edge

Sunset silhouette of summit cairn on Longside Edge

Deserted summit of Skiddaw at 6.45am

North from Bakestall

Cloud caps the top of Skiddaw - as it had done fifteen minutes or so ater the summit had been left

Another great trip with the fells to myself; that bit of extra weight a price well worth paying.

[Crawler]

Truly beautiful photos there especially the sunset one

[skuk007]

Great pictures, well worth the effort of wild camping to get those great sunset/sunrise pics.

[Paul Webster]

Great piccies Nigel.

I did that approach to Skiddaw in the mist and there were a couple of mini-twisters swirling the mist; one picked up a sheep and spun it round but noone has ever beleived me.

I've since seen another mini-twister - and on an otherwise perfectly calm day on Beinn Sgritheall. There was no flying sheep though.

[Gable Gable End]

great photos there; looks like a cracking evening out!