Parking
Start at the free Gale Road (Latrigg) car park at the head of Gale Road. It has limited capacity and the approach is narrow. If it is full, do not block the lane or park on verges; use a legal alternative in the Keswick area.
Overview
About Skiddaw via Jenkin Hill
This is an out-and-back from the small car park at the head of Gale Road, below Latrigg. The full round trip is 5.7 miles or 9.1 km, with about 606 m of ascent, and most walkers take 4 to 5.5 hours including stops. The mapped line measures 5.67 miles there and back. It is a strenuous high fell walk, but this variant needs no scrambling.
Why go
- Direct high-fell route to one of the Lake District’s major summits
- Open views over Keswick, Derwent Water and the northern fells
Heads up
- Exposed, stony upper mountain with demanding ascent
- Limited parking and the same route is retraced on the return
From the gate at the car park the route heads north on a broad public bridleway across the lower slopes and up Jenkin Hill, the steady work of the day. It passes the junctions near Lesser Man and Little Man without turning off, then follows the wide Skiddaw south ridge to the 931 m summit, where a trig point and low stone shelter walls mark the top. The reward is a long open outlook over Keswick and Derwent Water, across to Blencathra, and out over the northern and western fells. Return by the same path.
Parkwolf’s verdictThe climb and the payoffMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Lake District map
Full mapElevation330–919 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
8 active Lake District alerts
- ClosureChapel Stile footpath closed for retaining-wall riskPart of Footpath 543030 between Chapel Stile and Baysbrown campsite is closed because a retaining wall beside the path could collapse and material it supports could fall across the footpath.Official details
- ClosureStanley Ghyll Lower Falls footpath closed for rockfallThe section of Footpath 408037 leading towards Stanley Ghyll Lower Falls is closed because severe rockfall damage has made the path unstable and further rockfall remains a danger.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lake District Tour Guide
Your drive to Skiddaw via Jenkin Hill, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake District National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Skiddaw and Latrigg from Gale Road0:00 / 1:16
“You're nearing the access roads for Skiddaw and Latrigg, where the walks begin at the small car park at the head of Gale Road.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Keswick: Music Made from a Mountain
- Castlerigg Stone Circle
- The Railway Trail That Came Back
- Keswick Railway Trail: River and Tunnel
- 298 audio storiesacross Lake District’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Red Deer, Eurasian Otter, Osprey, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 265 trails, 89 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Skiddaw via Jenkin Hill
Footing, exposure and navigationIn good conditions the path is broad and obvious, mixing gravel and stone with rougher fell…
In good conditions the path is broad and obvious, mixing gravel and stone with rougher fell surfaces. Above roughly 800 m the mountain is exposed and stony, and cloud, strong wind, wind chill, snow and poor visibility are all common. The summit ridge is wide enough to feel featureless in cloud, so carry a map and compass and be confident using them rather than relying on the line of the path alone.
Dogs, access and permitsDogs are welcome on the route.
Dogs are welcome on the route. Sheep graze the open fell, so keep dogs under close control at all times; on open access land the legal requirement is a lead no longer than 2 metres through the spring and early summer nesting season, and any local signs take precedence. The walk uses public rights of way and open access land, and there is no indication that a permit is needed.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Lake District
81 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
13 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
76 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
51 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
233 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
176 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
