Skiddaw via Ullock Pike
Surprising maybe as Skiddaw is often (and inappropriately) considered dull but Ullock Pike is a really good approach and offers numerous options of varying lengths for descent.
Summit ridge - rocky and because it is virtually a stand alone mountain remote
Not a whole lot of photographs of the route itself - this will be rectified when my leg is fully healed. But he was fortunate enough to be up there in a temperature inversion in December 2006.
Blencathra & Lonscale Fell in temp inversion, Pennines in the far distance
Anyone who's been lucky enough to be on the fells in an inversion will know how good this day was and how difficult it was to come down into the murk.
Back to the route - there are a number of potential starting points, but my favourite is to start from Orthwaite (small car park on right as you drive up the road) into the field following obvious path into the valley above Barkbeth Gill, behind The Edge gaining the ridge at Ling How.
Follow the ridge to the top of Ullock Pike continue along the ridge up to Carl Side then turn left up a clear path to the summit plateau (Allerdale ramble on OS maps) summit is a short walk to the left.
Summit from the north in fab winter conditions
Winter pose on summit, Helvellyn range behindAfter the summit there are a number of options for descent, if I'm up for a longish walk my favourite is to drop down to Lonscale Fell then along the 'Back O'Skidda' track to Skiddaw House & out past Dash Falls - bit of a trek back from there but it can be done off road via Barkbeth Farm - path marked on OS maps. Shorter route via Bakestall brings you to Dash Falls rather more quickly.
O'
Looking down from the summit to 'Back O'Skidda', Blencathra in background
Slightly reluctant mountaineer in summit shelter
Despite the fact that I've done this walk at least 20 times, there is currently a shortage of pictures until my leg heals sufficiently to repeat it (Spring 2009 is latest guess), however you can see excellent pics of Ullock Pike on
Roger Hileys' website.