Route: leaving the car by the village Green in Bassenthwaite Village and heading across fields via Burthwaite, Hole House and Barkbeck to reach the start of the ridge but contouring to the right to find a path uphill. Then on a clear track initially below the ridge but then climbing onto it to gain Ullock Pike, Carl Side and then on a steep scree path to the summit of Skiddaw. In order to avoid the knee-breaking descent at Bakestall and then Birkett Edge, instead heading down Blake Hill to Hare Crag in very boggy conditions but eventually reaching the Cumbria Way and along this and across fields back to the start.Conditions: initial low cloud obscuring the summits rising through the afternoon (though still on the top when we reached it) and some sun, the hills a blaze of heathery purple.
Pub: the Sun, Bassenthwaite for Banks Bassenthwaite Beauty and Ringwood Razor Back.
