7th September 2009, 09:54 pm
View after ascending Red Gill on the way to Grasmoor
“I love the mountains of Lakeland. They have been good friends to me over a long life, always there when wanted, always reliable, always welcoming. I have often sung their praises in an attempt to repay the debt I feel I owe them.”
So said Alfred Wainwright in the introduction to his book “Wainwright’s Favourite Lakeland Mountains” an illustrated book with photos by Derry Brabbs. In the book he describes his favourite 20 (at least at the time) lakeland peaks. It’s not a guidebook, rather it provides some evocative text and photos for each of the mountains along with suggestions for various ascent routes.
The twenty peaks are as follows:
1. Blencathra
2. Bowfell
3. Coniston Old Man
4. Crinkle Crags
5. Dale Head
6. Eel Crag
7. Fairfield
8. Glaramara
9. Grasmoor
10. Great Gable
11. Haystacks
12. Helvellyn
13. High Stile
14. High Street
15. Hopegill Head
16. Langdale Pikes
17. Pillar
18. Scafell
19. Scafell Pike
20. Skiddaw
Walks to all of these can be highly recommended for any keen walker; do all 20 and you will a gain a great overview of, as well as probably a great love for, the Lake District, certainly one of my favourite corners of the world.
7th September 2009, 09:13 pm
“Skiddaw is the fourth highest peak in Lakeland and geographically the most important. Completely isolated by the Vale of Keswick and surrounded by lesser supporters which form a close-knit family group, it rises proudly in their midst like an old hen with a brood of chicks.”
Wainwright’s Favourite Lakeland Mountains
Yet another walk from the archives – and this is the last of my brief descriptions of ascents of Wainwight’s favourite 20 lakeland peaks. An appealing walk close to Keswick, for this walk I used the Pathfinder “More Lake District Walks” guidebook. The walk commences at a car park at the end of the Gale Road from Applethwaite. It follows a well worn path north-westwards that in contrast to most ascents, starts steeply and then eases off.
The summit of Skiddaw is labelled Skiddaw Man on the OL map and is marked with an ordnance survey marker and a view indicator. After visiting the summit you can return via the same route or alternatively descend the screes towards Carl Side and then follow the path to Millbeck (the Allerdale Ramble). The latter route requires a 2 mile walk along the road back to the car park.
My rating: A
Map OL4 – The English Lakes: North Western Area (1:25,000)
Wainwright’s guides: Book five, The Northern Fells
