Five winter walks in the Lake District

Five winter walks:

1. Skiddaw

Skiddaw looms large above the bustling town of Keswick, so when it catches the snow, everyone knows about it. Be prepared for the summit crest being like an Arctic wasteland, regardless of conditions on the streets.

The hike:

1 Follow waymarked field paths alongside drystone walls and hedgerows. Open
fellside leads to the foot of Ullock Pike, where the ascent steepens.

2 Walk along the crest of Long Side and Carl Side to reach a gentle saddle. Climb straight up the ‘big end’ of Skiddaw, then head north for the summit at 3054ft/931m.

3 Keep heading northwards for the descent, until the line of a fence offers a sure guide to the little hump of Bakestall. A steep descent leads to a fine track.

4 Turn left to follow the track, perhaps catching a glimpse of Dash Falls in the beck below. The track leads back to the road at High Side.

2. Blencathra

Blencathra’s northern flank can look truly Alpine even with a mere dusting of snow. A fine circuit can be enjoyed from Threlkeld, avoiding steep and crumbling ridges in favour of a route along the high crest of the fell.

The hike:

1 Follow the farm road from Threlkeld to Gategill, climbing just above the farm before turning right to traverse round the lower slopes of Blencathra.

2 A path climbs above Scales, steepening in Mousthwaite Comb, to reach a gentle saddle. Turn left to keep climbing, eventually reaching the top of Blencathra.

3 Enjoy views from the 2847ft/868m summit, then continue walking along a fine edge overlooking Threlkeld to reach the hump of Blease Fell.

4 Either drop straight downhill to a road, or walk a wider loop to ease the gradient.
Either way, follow the road back down into Threlkeld to finish.

3. Helvellyn

Helvellyn can usually be relied upon to catch the first snows of winter. While the famous Striding Edge and Swirral Edge might become quite scary for ordinary walkers, a safer ascent can be made from the Wythburn flank.

The hike:

1 Follow a forest path uphill from Wythburn Church, emerging on an open fellside. A fine path zigzags higher and higher to reach the crest of the Helvellyn Range.

2 Simply keep walking straight ahead to reach the summit of Helvellyn, at 3118ft/950m, but keep clear of any cornice that might form in winter.

3 Continue towards Lower Man, but keep left to descend a steep, stone-pitched path, eventually reaching a car park at The Swirls. Buses can be caught here.

4 To walk back to Wythburn, use a series of forest paths and tracks, running parallel to the road, but at a higher level.

4. Red Screes

Nothing matches the sheer exhilaration of climbing above a cold, dank, winter mist to find the fell-tops bathed in sunshine, with crystal-clear air allowing extensive views across an ocean of cloud. It happened on Red Screes.

The hike:

1 Leave Ambleside via the Golden Rule pub and turn left along Sweden Bridge Lane. Pass a farm and cross a bridge, but do not cross Sweden Bridge itself.

2 Follow a clear path up through Scandale, which involves fording Scandale Beck at one point. Climb more steeply uphill to reach the top of Scandale Pass.

3 Turn right to follow a wall uphill, but leave it at a high corner to make a beeline for the 2541ft/777m summit of Red Screes, then enjoy the view.

4 Descend along the broad crest, passing Snarker Pike before being funnelled by drystone walls on to a path. When a road is reached, follow it down to Ambleside.

5. Kentmere Horseshoe

This classic Lakeland ‘horseshoe’ walk might prove to be better in the winter than the summer. The dale is likely to be less busy and as a consequence parking should be easier. The fells, of course, should look stunning in snow.

The hike:

1 Walk from Kentmere Church up on to Garburn Pass, then turn right to climb over Yoke, Froswick and Ill Bell to reach the pillar cairn on Thornthwaite Crag.

2 It is possible to include the summit of High Street, otherwise simply head straight towards Mardale Ill Bell, then drop down to the Nan Bield Pass.

3 Climb to the top of Harter Fell, then turn right to walk to Kentmere Pike. Keep to the rugged ridge and head downhill to pass Shipman Knotts.

4 The path wanders down to a gap to reach a clear track. Turn right towards Stile End and follow minor roads back to Kentmere Church to finish.

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Five winter walks in the Lake District

Five winter walks:

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