Loop around Skiddaw Little Man and Skiddaw

Start : Small car park at Grid ref. NY 280 254 nearby Applethwaite.

(D/A) Go through the gate at the car park exit and immediately turn left onto the obvious path which starts to climb.

(1) After 310m or so, leave a slightly downhill path (Cumbria Way) on the right and continue up the slope on your left-hand side. This is a tough climb (obvious from the bottom), with a few switchbacks that do little to ease the slope. Cross another barrier in the first third of the climb. The path eventually comes to a slightly flat area, which leads to a Y-junction.

(2) Leave the large track (gate) on the right, which climbs directly to Skiddaw summit, and take the left-hand path straight up the slope to the first summit named Little Man which is just before reaching Skiddaw summit (cairn).

(3) From Little Man summit, descent straight down the slope to shortly join the main path and continues in the same direction.

(4) Go through a gate and follow the wide track, first steep, then along a ridge (very wide), which leads to Skiddaw summit. Wide views over the region, Keswick and the Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite lakes, the nearby Blencathra summit, Helvellyn and the heart of the massif around Scafell Pike.

(5) From Skiddaw summit, go down the same route.

(4) Once through the gate, immediately turn left onto a small path heading East then North-East, barely marked out in the grass.

(6) After a short descent, there's a small hill (Sale How) before resuming your descent towards the valley bottom. Beware when wet: good shoes and gaiters are useful - prefer summer and/or a relatively dry period. Go left around a small wood surrounded by a stone wall before reaching Skiddaw House.

(7) Take the path on the right and cross a small bridge. The path follows more or less a contour line, heading due South.

(8) Leave a path going downhill on the left that joins Blencathra foot and continue straight on (South) with a slightly uphill section. Go around Lonscall Fell and then due West back to the original path.

(1) Go straight ahead to reach the car park (D/A).

Start : Small car park at Grid ref. NY 280 254 nearby Applethwaite.

Driving to start : Access by car: from Applethwaite, heading back towards Keswick, take a small road on the left, following signs for Underscar. It's straight ahead and climbs steeply.
Small free car park: arrive early to find a space.

Note : As always in the Lake District, warm, waterproof clothing and good footwear are essential - poles may be appreciated on the tough climbs to the summit. Gaiters are useful for the boggy passages on the way down.

Facilities : Possible river water supply on the descent near Skiddaw House (caution though, lots of sheep, so filter or water purification tablets essential).

Terrain : Beware of wet terrain: good shoes and gaiters are useful - prefer summer and/or a relatively dry period.

Lake District National Park.