Lake District Walks | Skiddaw via Ullock Pike (a 6 Wainwright walk)

Towering over Keswick in the English Lake District is Skiddaw. At 931-metres (3,054 ft), Skiddaw is England's sixth highest mountain, and a classic Lakeland fell. In August 2021, Neil follows Alfred Wainwright's advice and starts his walk with Ullock Pike. This is an updated version of the film, with corrected sound mix - many thanks for all the view, likes and kind comments on the previous version.
Wainwright said, "There is no doubt in my mind that by far the best approach to the top of Skiddaw is by way of its north-west ridge. This offers a fine expedition along a narrow crest in exciting surroundings and provides excellent views throughout … for the collector of summits here are three waiting to be picked off in addition to Skiddaw."
A 6-Wainwright day, Neil starts with Ullock Pike, followed by Long Side, Carl Side, Skiddaw Little Man, Skiddaw and Bakestall, finishing with a walk past the majestic Whitewater Dash, one of the finest falls in the Lake District. It's about a 10 mile walk, and around 3,430 ft/1.045 m of ascent, with... all the weathers.
Check out the route here: explore.osmaps.com/route/2090...
Even though the lockdown has lifted, please continue to follow the Lake District National Park Authority guidance to Respect. Protect. Enjoy! More details can be found here: www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/countryside-code
Subscribe for more films of our walks and visit our website: www.onyvafilms.com to read more and to suggest other walks that you would like to see.
More films coming soon!
Ordnance Survey maps used with permission. OS Explorer maps: OL4: English Lakes: getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co....
#lakedistrictwalks
#lakedistrictvlog
#lakedistricttravelguide
#lakedistrict
#Skiddaw
#Keswick

[@liam4603]

Did this walk yesterday. Great fun and great views, thanks for the continued high quality and extremely informative videos!

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Many thanks - glad you enjoyed it!

[@sidewaysid]

Skiddaw was the first fell I climbed in 2004, after falling out with my partner of ten years, she was a Keswick lass (very good looking girl) but it all went tits up, as they say, she could run up Skiddaw! and so after we split in 2000 I decided I needed to go up there, it was tough for the first time on a fell but I did it, the feeling was so intense, so much that I couldn't explain, I then went on to doe Blencathra etc etc, and took a friend up Skiddaw a year later ( I must be mad) I love your videos, and I am returning to the fells next week to complete my fells after illness stopped me.

[@michaelbrockett9287]

I recently did this walk after watching this video and absolutely loved it and will be sure to follow more of your wainwright walks in future. Brilliant videos

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Thank you - so good to hear! Let us know how you get on. All the best

[@grahamcurl5026]

I can’t tell you how much I enjoy these videos. They are by far and away, the best Lakes videos and are really encouraging me to face my fears and give them a go 👌🏼

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Thanks, Graham. That’s so lovely to hear. Hope you have great days out on the fells - let us know how you get on!

[@Karlmoylan]

Did this walk on the weekend with the same Wainwrights ticked off. For anyone watching there’s a couple of points to note. 1) it’s bigger than you think 2) it’s steeper than you think. Wonderful views, beautiful setting, great graft on the legs but loved every second of it.

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Thanks for sharing - it is a long day, but there's something to be said for the reasonably flat (if long) walk back to the start at the end. Cheers!

[@Karlmoylan]

@@LakeDistrictFilms I do agree with that, the view from the cumbria way looking back onto the route is mesmerising. Great shout and thanks for the recommendation

[@greycrag.]

Just finished this route yesterday and took a 1hr trek to/fro Lonscale Fell as a 'bonus' Wainwright from Skiddaw Little Man, your recommendation of using the lesser-trodden path on the western side of Skiddaw to miss out the entirety of the climb up Skiddaw-South was very much welcome once getting to the top of Carl Side and seeing the wall of scree that was ahead.

[@andrewsmith7573]

I'm going up tomorrow, I found this video ,amazingly helpful ,I'll definitely look at more u have done

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Thanks, Andrew. Hope you have a great day.

[@andrewnorrab7809]

Before I emigrated, going up Skiddaw via Ullock Pike was my last walk in Cumbria. Great film.

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Thanks, Andrew. Hope it brought back some happy memories.

[@davidglover9672]

I never did climb Skiddaw but your video in some way helped to make up for that. I am truly grateful for your commitment to bringing these incredible sights to us. I followed the route on my well worn 1963 OS map (not used since 1971), only to see that the paths you took are not even marked on it !!!! Thank you.

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Thank you, David. So glad the films are of use to you! Hope to bring you more soon.

[@snakebite69]

Thanks for pointing me to this video. Your Whitewater Dash footage was sublime. Andy H

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Many thanks!

[@clairegreenlea3945]

I am sketching the views at minute 2:10 and 2:17. Spectacular! Thanks!

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Thank you. If you ever feel like sharing them, we'd love to see them - info [at] onyvafilms.com - Thanks!

[@CityWalks]

Love seeing this country. Visited the Lakes District decades ago and would love to take my family back to see it. Your walking vids are definitely inspiring. Thanks for these. -H

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Many thanks - glad you enjoyed them.

[@Brian-hk7mt]

Inspired to go and do this route, thanks Neil.

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Great to hear, Brian. Hope you have a great walk - it’s long but very rewarding! All the best

[@goprocaz4019]

You’ve excelled yourself again, a great video once again I thoroughly enjoyed it 👍

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jeffreyroden3691]

awesome another gem of a film.

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Thank you!

[@mockingbird-media-uk]

What a fantastic video and a hike ive planned for early september, thank you for this share and looking forward to following your footsteps so to speak.

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Many thanks - good to hear it's helpful. Hope you have a good day for it - let us know hoe you get on! All the best.

[@MLB007]

Great video, I’ll be doing this route next week 😊

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Thank you - enjoy it, it’s a belter!

[@mreezageeza5936]

Great walk! I've watched this twice now, because they pop up on my smart TV feed, but without any summary, and having watched version 1 yesterday I've just spent 22 minutes playing spot the difference. I failed! Still, one of your best walk videos so far I thought, so watching twice wasn't a problem.

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Thank you! The edit was to the sound near the beginning, which was "hot" - probably nobody but Neil would have noticed! Glad you enjoyed it, though.

[@hikingwiththeshackletons]

We hiked Skiddaw and it was an amazing hike. It was fairly quiet at the summit, we hiked to Little man first, then onto the summit

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Glad you had a good day. Thanks for the message.

[@Merritt7278]

Done Skiddaw 3 times and it's my favourite mountain, never done this route but will give it a go as staying in Ravenstone hotel soon.be taking the wife so would you say its safe for a moderate hiker?

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

There's only one bit that feels a little problematic (the steep section at 4:29), but even that's not to bad, and there are no moments of enormous exposure or hard scrambling. For a lot of it, once you're up, you're up, and the views are definitely worth it. Hope you have a great time - let us know how you get on!

[@Merritt7278]

@LakeDistrictFilms had an amazing day going up this way. The weather was terrible, and there were no views, but because of your video, we had the confidence to do it. Thank you.

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

That's really good to hear - thank you!@@Merritt7278

[@michaelhooper810]

One of my favourites, just curious how easy is the navigating from Bakestall back to the start?

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Very easy, if quite long, particularly at the end of a long day... Once you get to Whitewater Dash, turn left and follow the broad and well-laid Cumbria Way all the way down to the road, turn left again and follow the road until the bend, then turn left at the signpost. The next bit wiggles through the countryside a little, but the route is fairly clear all the way.

[@michaelhooper810]

And roughly where did you park? (no grid ref's mind that goes over my head!) Loved the walk.

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

@@michaelhooper810 No problem! There's a small parking area on the road heading towards Orthwaite. Hopefully you can click on this link, and it will take you straight to it: goo.gl/maps/3nQvoPVa2S4AGRJZ9

[@sorryofficer1]

Great vid and great walk. Recently subscribed and I like your presentation style. We’re going to be in the lakes in October and I’d like us to do this walk. How far is it? Do you think we’d have enough light in the day? I don’t think we’d cover the ground as quick as you so could you recommend an abridged version? Less Wainrights?

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Hi Steve. Thanks for the comment and for subscribing. It's about a 10 mile walk, taking about 8 or 9 hours (we always take longer, when filming), but if the daylight is short you could cut out Carl Side and Skiddaw Little Man, going straight up the side of Skiddaw (the left hand of the two paths after Carl Side). You should be OK with this shorter route in October, particularly as the way off after Bakestall is long but pretty even, but do take head torches (mountain rescue advise taking them anyway, as they are easier to locate in an emergency than a whistle) in case it gets dark. You can avoid the winding footpath after coming off the Cumbria Way by following the road all the way back, too. Have fun and stay safe!

[@mreezageeza5936]

We walk very slowly - we rarely overtake others, but are often overtaken - and our Garmin tells us our moving average on the fells is about 2.2mph, so we'd allow 5 hours for this walk. Add another hour or two for eating drinking and staring at views, and you're looking at 6 - 7 hours total. There are 10 daylight hours in Keswick in mid-October (c. 8am - 6pm), so fitting in the whole walk shouldn't be a problem. If you miss out Skiddaw Little Man as well (really an unnecessary diversion unless you're a summit bagger!) you should do it easily.

[@sorryofficer1]

Cheers lads. That’s for getting back so quickly. As we get older we find ourselves slowing down so we have to take time and available light into consideration these days, especially in the autumnal months.

[@lukemckenna4216]

Great watch. Do you have the exact route for this? I've looked at 4 or 5 options and none include Little Man. Thanks very much.

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Hi Luke. Thanks for the message. There's a guide to this route in Mark Richard's excellent book "Great Mountain Days in the Lake District." www.walking-books.com/Great-Mountain-Days-in-the-Lake-District.html Hope that helps!

[@lukemckenna4216]

@@LakeDistrictFilms Thanks for getting back to me. Apologies, I found it later, it's walk 22 on his website I believe. Thanks again for replying.

[@maggyatkins2341]

Hello. We are planning too do these 6 the end of this month ( April 2022 ) can you tell me how many miles it is please??

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

Hi. We think it's about a 10 mile walk, and around 3,430 ft/1.045 m of ascent, although there are several permutations, depending on whether you choose to do all the hills, here. Hope you have a great day for it - stay safe and let us know how you get on!

[@maggyatkins2341]

@@LakeDistrictFilms we will, and thank you … have a good day 👍🏼

[@Jamtoastbutterlovely]

Great video! Where did you park?

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

There's a lay-by near the start, here: www.google.co.uk/maps/place/54%C2%B040'06.3%22N+3%C2%B011'08.7%22W/@54.6684209,-3.1865047,222m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d54.6684209!4d-3.1857425

[@Jamtoastbutterlovely]

@@LakeDistrictFilms thank you for the quick reply. Hoping there will be a space at 9am on Sunday!

[@GSF404]

I've done Skiddaw before but never via Ullock Pike, now I think it looks FANTASTIC the other half is a bit uneasy on the narrow 'edges', with the steep drops off to the side. Is Ullock as sharp and steep as it looks or is that due to the camera perspective? Love your videos by the way. 👍

[@LakeDistrictFilms]

It isn't as exposed as perhaps it appears - the path along the top of Ullock Pike is wide and clear. It's not as perilous as Striding Edge, or something like that (it doesn't have that feel of walking along a roof-edge!). The only bit that is a little steep is the section at around 4:20, but that's fairly brief, and again isn't exposed. Good luck!

[@GSF404]

@@LakeDistrictFilms Thanks for that, I'll definitely give it a look, back over Bassenthwaite way in about ten days. 👍