Elevation profile

The bridleway route up Skiddaw is a brutal climb. I started from the car park at the end of Gale road which is about 300m elevation; Skiddaw summit is at 931m. The steepest section is not long after the start, at an average gradient of 26% (1 in 4) for just over a kilometre horizontal and 300m vertical distances. It does zig-zag and the gradient varies slightly. The surface varies from relatively smooth to quite rocky. It’s bottom gear and turbo mode. It’s a very challenging climb, one needs to get most of the weight over the back wheel for grip but then the steering is so light it’s easy to lose the line or lose balance. Then it’s a dab and stop. Getting started again is not easy as the motor kicks in hard and if you’ve not got all your weight on the bike you’ll get wheelspin. My technique is dropper post down, get both feet on, stand and pedal, dropper post up and continue. Fine timing required. Progress would be like this: ride a bit until either out of breath or lost momentum / balance. Walk the roughest bits. Rest a bit then repeat (chat with curious hikers). More riding than not though. Once over the steepest section, ride continuously but keep the speed down to suit the human motor.

Approaching the summit meant entering the clouds. My route plan was to drop down to Bakestall then to Dash falls to pickup the track to Skiddaw House. But as I was on the steep ascent and taking a rest, a descending rider put me off that route and at the summit the Bakestall route was completely hidden. So I decided to back track and join the unmarked,(but used) track to the east over Sale How that leads directly to Skiddaw House. This route was clearly visible from the summit; it wasn’t difficult but quite boggy in places.

After leaving Skiddaw House I wanted to ride the track on the side of Lonscale Fell. This started off with a few gnarly bits but as you progress it becomes exposed with a deadly drop to the valley. This section is not for the faint hearted or if you’re scared of heights or exposed tracks. There are some gnarly bits which I walked – no mistakes here. Once rounding the corner the track quickly became a lot easier, then it was through the shallow ford and back to the car park.

I had time and battery left so went up onto Latrigg for the view where there was a convenient bench for a lunch stop.

A challenging climb and an unforgettable ride, might consider again to go via Bakestall after more research.

The climb

Looking back

Derwent Water and Keswick

Summit

Summit games

At Skiddaw House

Skiddaw House

Lonscale

View from Latrigg