Up to Skiddaw Round Trip
Photo: © Lee McCoy
Start Latrigg car park (free)
Getting here Parking: Latrigg car park, 0.1 km from the start (straight line). Bus: the 509, 555, X4 and X5 stop at Keswick, at Latrigg Close; from there it is 2.6 km and 330 m of ascent to this start. And the same back: about 17.1 km in all, with the walk. Getting there ↓ · Route map ↓
Hardest part Hard steepness: Steepest sustained climb about 30% around the 1.3 km mark.
Before you choose
Conditions on this route
We score every Lakeland Wainwright each morning on cloud, wind, rain and underfoot, and this route crosses 3 of them. The worst summit governs the verdict — a route is only as kind as its roughest top.
Modelled guidance — not a substitute for the mountain forecast or your own judgement. See how every fell ranks today →
Daylight & turnaround
Daylight is short from October to February — check today’s sunrise and sunset before you set off, and carry a head-torch and spare batteries. On short days, decide your turn-back time before you start.
See also walking in bad weather and today’s conditions.
Route map
1 Lonscale Fell2 Jenkin Hill3 Skiddaw Middle Top4 Skiddaw5 Skiddaw South Top6 Skiddaw Little Man7 Skiddaw Lesser Man
Easy 65%Moderate 24%Hard 12%Severe
Heights on this chart and its high point are read from the track itself (a terrain model sampled along the line, or a GPS recording), so a top can differ from its listed height, usually reading lower.
Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap, with SRTM elevation data (switch layers top-right).
The elevation profile is under the map; the stage notes follow.
The walk, stage by stage
- 1
Start → Lonscale Fell (2.8 km, 420 m)
Depart the Gale Road car park through the gate and climb north on the wide, well-used path up the fellside. At about 680 m, where the path levels, leave it and head east along the broad ridge to the summit cairn of Lonscale Fell. The summit is an out-and-back from the main path; the next stage takes you back along the ridge.
WaypointsGale Road car park (start), the main path north, the turn east at about 680 m, Lonscale Fell summit cairn.
Decision pointThe main path is well trodden. The spur out to Lonscale Fell and back is on open ground, so in mist note where you left the path and take a bearing before you set off along the ridge.
Easy to get wrongThe climb from Gale Road is steep and sustained, and the grass can be wet and slippery underfoot.
If you need to get offTurn around at any point on the climb and retrace your steps down the main path to the car park.
© Lee McCoy - 2
Lonscale Fell → Jenkin Hill (1.7 km, 151 m)
From the summit cairn of Lonscale Fell, head west-north-west along the crest, keeping near the fence. Drop into the grassy col known as Flag Pots, pass through the gate, and climb gently westwards along the fence to reach the broad, grassy junction at Jenkin Hill, where your trail meets the main Skiddaw tourist track.
WaypointsLonscale Fell summit, Flag Pots col / gate, Jenkin Hill junction.
Decision pointThe fence line provides a clear handrail across the saddle between Lonscale Fell and Jenkin Hill.
Easy to get wrongThe ground in the Flag Pots depression can be boggy after rain.
If you need to get offAt Flag Pots or Jenkin Hill, turn left onto the main, wide tourist path and descend directly south back down to the car park, bypassing all the high summits.
- 3
Jenkin Hill → Skiddaw Middle Top (2.1 km, 202 m)
At the Jenkin Hill gate, join the wide, main mountain track heading north. The route climbs steadily up the stony ridge, passing above the head of Little Man before tackling the steep slate slope that leads to the southern edge of the summit plateau. Follow the high ridge path north past South Top to reach Skiddaw Middle Top.
WaypointsJenkin Hill gate, main Skiddaw track, Little Man bypass slope, South Top, Skiddaw Middle Top cairn.
Decision pointThe main track is a wide, gravel motorway-like path, and cairns mark the route across the summit plateau.
Easy to get wrongA long, sustained climb over loose slate scree and gravel. The summit plateau is fully exposed to high winds and weather.
If you need to get offTurn around at any point on the climb to descend via the main Jenkin Hill tourist path back to the car park.
- 4
Skiddaw Middle Top → Skiddaw (0.3 km, 4 m)
Follow the broad, gravelly summit ridge trail north across the high plateau for 300 metres from Middle Top to reach the true summit of Skiddaw (High Man), marked by a trig point and large stone orientation table.
WaypointsSkiddaw Middle Top, High Man summit trig point & OS indicator.
Decision pointThe broad ridge path and prominent trig point / orientation table at High Man.
Easy to get wrongHigh exposure to extreme mountain weather, freezing winds, and potential loss of visibility in thick cloud.
If you need to get offRetrace your steps south along the summit ridge to join the main Jenkin Hill descent back to the car park.
© Lee McCoy - 5
Skiddaw → Skiddaw South Top (0.6 km, 7 m)
Head back south along the broad summit plateau from High Man, passing Middle Top to return to the cairn at Skiddaw South Top, where the main descent route off the plateau begins.
WaypointsHigh Man summit, Middle Top, Skiddaw South Top cairn.
Decision pointThe slate/gravel summit path and prominent cairns.
Easy to get wrongFully exposed ridge top; requires a due south compass bearing if visibility drops in thick fog.
If you need to get offFrom South Top, continue down the main tourist track directly to the car park, bypassing the summit ridge of Little Man if tired.
© Lee McCoy - 6
Skiddaw South Top → Skiddaw Little Man (1.1 km, 60 m)
Descend south off the summit plateau into the shallow dip between Skiddaw and Little Man. Instead of taking the lower bypass track, branch right/south-east to ascend the distinct, sharp slate ridge up to the rocky cairn at the summit of Skiddaw Little Man.
WaypointsSkiddaw / Little Man col, Skiddaw Little Man summit cairn.
Decision pointThe summit ridge of Skiddaw Little Man forms a distinct, narrow spine leading to the cairn.
Easy to get wrongThe short re-ascent to Little Man is steep with loose slate underfoot.
If you need to get offStay on the lower tourist bypass track to the right, which skirts around Little Man and leads directly down to Jenkin Hill and the car park.
© Lee McCoy - 7
Skiddaw Little Man → Skiddaw Lesser Man (0.3 km, 5 m)
Continue south-east along the crest of the ridge from Skiddaw Little Man, dropping down slightly and crossing over the small subsidiary peak of Skiddaw Lesser Man, marked by a small iron post overlooking Grey Crags.
WaypointsSkiddaw Little Man summit, Skiddaw Lesser Man summit outcrop.
Decision pointThe physical ridge line guides you directly south-east.
Easy to get wrongAn exposed narrow ridge with steep drops down Grey Crags to the east.
If you need to get offDrop down the short grassy slope to your right (west) to join the main Jenkin Hill tourist path for an easy descent.
Skiddaw Lesser Man → Finish (3.2 km, 0 m)
From Skiddaw Lesser Man, descend east and then south-east down the grassy spur to rejoin the main Jenkin Hill tourist track above the gate. Pass through the gate and follow the wide bridleway as it descends steadily down the ridge, passing the Hawell memorial and continuing alongside the fence line all the way back down to the Gale Road car park.
WaypointsLesser Man descent spur, Jenkin Hill gate, Hawell Memorial, Gale Road car park (finish).
Decision pointThe main path is a broad, clear mountain thoroughfare flanked by a fence on the lower section.
Easy to get wrongA long, 527m continuous descent on hard-packed gravel and stone pitching that can be taxing on the knees.
If you need to get offDirect, clear descent back to the starting car park with no complex navigation required.
© Lee McCoy
GPX track for your GPS or phone. Walked in part · km 5.1–5.8, km 9.4–10.2 from the map
Summits bagged (7)
- 1Lonscale Fell715 m
- 2Jenkin Hill735 m
- 3Skiddaw Middle Top929 m
- 4Skiddaw930 m
- 5Skiddaw South Top926 m
- 6Skiddaw Little Man865 m
- 7Skiddaw Lesser Man824 m
In the order you walk them — the same numbers the elevation profile, the stage notes and the pacing table use.
Conditions and timing
Check live conditions in the “From the fells” panel, on MWIS (opens in new tab) and the Met Office mountain forecast (opens in new tab) before you set off.
When the sun reaches the tops
Not sunrise — the moment the sun clears the skyline from that summit, which on a fell with high ground to its east can be a good deal later.
- Lonscale Fell — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:30, about a quarter of an hour later. In late September, about 07:15. It waits longest in late March — about a quarter of an hour after sunrise.
- Skiddaw — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:15, with the sunrise. In late September, about 07:00.
- Skiddaw Little Man — in late March the sun reaches it around 06:15, with the sunrise. In late September, about 07:00.
How to read these times
The two equinoxes are shown because they fall in the walking season, and late December too wherever a top keeps you waiting then; the clock gap between the equinoxes is British Summer Time, not the hill. Rounded to the nearest quarter hour and meant as a general idea, not a schedule.
Modelled from a 30 m elevation model against each summit’s own skyline — the same figures the fell pages carry, never observed. Cloud is not in it.
Getting there and back
Parking
2 more places to park near the start
Positions are approximate.
Vehicles are left at their owner’s risk: we list places people park and cannot vouch for any of them. Take valuables with you and leave nothing on show.
Buses
The 509, 555, X4 and X5 stop at Keswick, at Latrigg Close. From there it is 2.6 km and 330 m of ascent to this start — a walk in before the walk. And the same back: about 17.1 km in all, with the walk. Last bus: Monday to Friday 21:15 towards Keswick (555); Saturday 21:15 towards Keswick (555); Sunday 19:06 towards Keswick (555). Checked against the operator’s timetable, 8 September 2026; that timetable runs to 1 November 2026. Times here are a guide, not a promise — leave yourself more than the minute.
Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before travelling.
Toilets and refreshments
The essentials
- Arrival Latrigg car park at the top of Gale Road, by the start: free. Gale Road runs a long way down, and people park along it. (Lee, confirmed in person, checked 9 August 2026)
- Toilets No toilets are mapped within 250 m of the start. (OpenStreetMap, as mapped on 13 September 2026, checked 13 September 2026)
- Refreshments No café or pub is mapped within 250 m of the start: bring what you need. (OpenStreetMap, as mapped on 13 September 2026, checked 13 September 2026)
Everything mapped near the start
Mapped as nearby on OpenStreetMap, as of 13 September 2026, within 250 m of where this route starts (information boards within 150 m; benches and shelter within 50 m):
Also mapped within reach: a bench.
Distances are straight lines from where this route starts, not walking routes. Opening hours are as mapped and change; none of this is checked daily.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (opens in new tab), ODbL.
Water, shelter & getting away
On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors — an absent marker does not mean the facility isn’t there.
Getting there across the Lake District: Buses · Parking map · By train · By boat
Planning detail
How each grade on this page is set, and the timings stage by stage.
Difficulty profile
Hard overall — hardest: Steepness
Five independent axes, not one score. None of them was set on the ground: three of the five are our judgement from the map and the route’s record, and the rest are computed from the recorded track and the map, which measures the line rather than surveying the ground.
How we grade: each axis is Easy, Moderate, Hard or Severe, and a route between two bands takes the higher one. Length: under 8 km, 8–14 km, 14–20 km, over 20 km. Steepness, the steepest 500 m of the track: under 15%, 15–25%, 25–35%, over 35%. Terrain, navigation and exposure are judged rather than measured, and each note says why. How we grade.
Pacing
| Summit | Cumulative | Ascent | Time (fast–steady) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Lonscale Fell | 2.8 km | 420 m | 1:15–1:40 |
| 2Jenkin Hill | 4.5 km | 571 m | 1:51–2:27 |
| 3Skiddaw Middle Top | 6.6 km | 773 m | 2:37–3:29 |
| 4Skiddaw | 6.9 km | 778 m | 2:41–3:34 |
| 5Skiddaw South Top | 7.5 km | 785 m | 2:48–3:44 |
| 6Skiddaw Little Man | 8.6 km | 844 m | 3:07–4:09 |
| 7Skiddaw Lesser Man | 8.9 km | 849 m | 3:11–4:14 |
| Finish | 12.0 km | 849 m | 3:49–5:05 |
A fast–steady range from Naismith’s rule, deliberately on the slow side. Breaks, weather, rough ground and the slowest person in your party all add to it. How we time walks.
Access & barriers
Can a dog, a buggy or dodgy knees manage this route?
- Buggy: Stiles or rough going on the route.
- Knees: A long, steep ~31% drop over 250 m around the 10.4 km mark — hard on the knees.
With a dog
Hardest for a dog here: stiles and gates. The steepest stretch is a sustained climb of about 30% around the 1.3 km mark.
- Stiles and gates: Stiles of unmapped type at 0.0, 1.1 and 5.9 km — a dog may need lifting over. (OpenStreetMap, mapped as of 18 July 2026)
- Drops and exposed ground: Moderate – our judgement from the map and the route’s record; that stretch not walked.
- Rock and scrambling: Ground underfoot: Moderate – our judgement from the map and the route’s record; that stretch not walked.
- Ways off early: None recorded for this route.
- Livestock, shade and water: Not recorded for this route yet. We never call a stream safe for a dog to drink, so carry enough for both of you. The lead rules, and what to do around cattle, are on dogs on the fells.
On the line: 8 gates · 2 kissing gates · 1 step-over stile · 3 stiles (type unmapped)
Barriers as mapped on OpenStreetMap, which can miss some. Spotted one? Tell us (opens in new tab). Barrier data as of 18 July 2026. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).
Places to stay near this start
From Underscar: 10 places in Keswick
Walks from places nearby
- Walks from Keswick — 2.4 km from this start
- Walks from Portinscale — 3.5 km from this start
Straight-line distance from this walk’s start. Those lists hold the routes we have mapped and every Wainwright and Outlying fell within about 5 km of the town, ranked nearest first.
