Bakestall & Skiddaw - Wednesday 26 December 2018
Route
Peter House Farm - Cumbria Way - Whitewater Dash - Birkett Edge - Bakestall - Skiddaw North Top - Skiddaw - Sale How - Skiddaw House - Cumbria Way - Whitewater Dash - Peter House Farm
Parking
Peter House Farm (Donation - see below) - Grid Ref NY249323. Nearest Postcode is CA12 4QY. There are two verge parking areas 100 yards apart with room for a total of approximately 14 cars.
Mileage
9.7 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths and tracks throughout.
Weather
Sunny spells & light breezes however on Skiddaw's summit ridge the wind speed picked up to approximately 50mph.
Time Taken
5hrs
Total Ascent
2457ft (749m)
Wainwrights
2
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
Peter House Farm - Cumbria Way - Whitewater Dash - Birkett Edge - Bakestall - Skiddaw North Top - Skiddaw - Sale How - Skiddaw House - Cumbria Way - Whitewater Dash - Peter House Farm
Parking
Peter House Farm (Donation - see below) - Grid Ref NY249323. Nearest Postcode is CA12 4QY. There are two verge parking areas 100 yards apart with room for a total of approximately 14 cars.
Mileage
9.7 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths and tracks throughout.
Weather
Sunny spells & light breezes however on Skiddaw's summit ridge the wind speed picked up to approximately 50mph.
Time Taken
5hrs
Total Ascent
2457ft (749m)
Wainwrights
2
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
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GPX File
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Route Map
One of the two small parking areas near Peter House Farm
At the gate leading to Dash Falls is an honesty box - just slip a few quid in before you set off.
From the parking area a good track heads into the Dash Valley along the Cumbria Way
Binsey
Great Cockup and the stony Brockle Crag
A panorama to the fells known as "the Back O'Skidda"
Fudge usually has a bit of a pose here on the sign but wasn't in the mood today. Whitewater Dash, also known as Dash Falls can be seen in the distance.
White Hause & Little Calva as we walk through the Dash Valley
Approaching Whitewater Dash. The best views of the waterfall are as you approach from this direction - there is less effect once you are close up to it.
Dead Crags on Bakestall
Whitewater Dash
The path to Little Calva heads steeply up the fence line however today we would be going in the opposite direction to Bakestall
Fudge points the way up Birkett Edge as we reach the gate on the Cumbria Way. We would be returning to Peter House Farm via the path on the other side of the gate.
Heading up Birkett Edge to Bakestall looking back to the path to Little Calva
Our return route along the Cumbria Way
The steep ascent up Birkett Edge
Looking down Birkett Edge to Little Calva with Great Calva to the right. This picture gives a better idea of the steepness of Birkett Edge.
The traditional summit of Bakestall - this cairn lies a hundred yards or so from the highest point near the fence corner
Bakestall from the path to Skiddaw
The weather today was pretty unpredictable certainly with regard to the light. The wispy cloud lingers over Skiddaw North Top as we make our approach - at this point we were hoping that the cloud would quickly pass over leaving the summit cloud free.
Skiddaw North Top looking to Skiddaw's summit with the Trig Point & Toposcope now visible
The toposcope on the summit of Skiddaw
The summit of Skiddaw which we had to ourselves for once. By this time it was blowing a right old hooley.
The Toposcope and Trig Point on the summit of Skiddaw - the wind was really fierce therefore we didn't hang about up here today.
The route from Skiddaw to Sale How
The summit of Sale How
Sale How looking over to Lonscale Fell & Burnt Horse
Skiddaw House which is in the trees ahead
Skiddaw House
Skiddaw House is an independent hostel. It was built as a gamekeeper's lodge in the 1800s and first began providing accommodation to walkers, runners and bikers in 1987. The House was leased in 1986 by John Bothamley who had already created the YHA Carrock Fell Hostel a few miles away. A new staircase was built, several internal walls and three doorways were knocked through to convert the two dwellings into one. After much effort and expense the building was handed over to the YHA and operated as a simple hostel until 2002, when it closed and began to fall into disrepair again. But with the help of the previous hostel manager, many volunteers and the Skiddaw House Foundation (a registered charity), the hostel was renovated and reopened in 2007. It has been welcoming guests ever since, operating as an independent hostel affiliated to the YHA.
The hostel's website can be found here
Skiddaw House is an independent hostel. It was built as a gamekeeper's lodge in the 1800s and first began providing accommodation to walkers, runners and bikers in 1987. The House was leased in 1986 by John Bothamley who had already created the YHA Carrock Fell Hostel a few miles away. A new staircase was built, several internal walls and three doorways were knocked through to convert the two dwellings into one. After much effort and expense the building was handed over to the YHA and operated as a simple hostel until 2002, when it closed and began to fall into disrepair again. But with the help of the previous hostel manager, many volunteers and the Skiddaw House Foundation (a registered charity), the hostel was renovated and reopened in 2007. It has been welcoming guests ever since, operating as an independent hostel affiliated to the YHA.
The hostel's website can be found here
A view back to Skiddaw House from the Cumbria Way
Great Calva
The Cumbria Way winding its way towards the gate at the foot of Birkett Edge with Dead Crags ahead
A last look over to the "Back O'Skidda" near the end of the walk