Skiddaw via Longside Edge

Overview

About Skiddaw via Longside Edge

Why go

Long, airy ridge above Bassenthwaite Lake
A satisfying loop with Whitewater Dash on the return

Heads up

Immediate steep climb from a tiny roadside pull-in
Exposed, rough upper mountain with no facilities

This 8.3-mile loop is the more rewarding way to climb Skiddaw from the north. The mileage is the complete loop, not a one-way figure: it starts at High Side, crosses Ullock Pike and Long Side on the airy Longside Edge ridge, reaches Skiddaw's 931 m summit, then returns by Bakestall and Whitewater Dash. Bassenthwaite Lake keeps appearing below the ridge, while the summit opens the view toward Derwent Water, the northern fells, and Scotland on a clear day.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhy go

Map & elevation

The route

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Full map

Elevation155–910 m

TrailheadHigh Side lay-by54.66817, -3.18609

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Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Turn off the A591 onto High Side near High Side Farm and follow the narrow road to the small High Side lay-by. It is a rough roadside pull-in with space for only a few cars; do not block gates or the road. The route starts on the footpath just beyond the parking area.

Best time to go

Allow about six hours for ordinary walking, pauses, and photographs. The route gains roughly 1,000 m and has no facilities once you leave the road, so carry food, water, waterproofs, and warm layers. Aim for a clear, settled day: cloud and wind can arrive quickly on the exposed ridge and summit, and poor visibility makes the open-fell descent harder to follow. Early starts usually give the best chance of quieter paths and clear light over Bassenthwaite.

Dogs may be brought, but keep them close around livestock and follow lead requirements on open access land. There is no technical scrambling on the intended line, but steep grass, loose slate, uneven paths, and exposure make this a serious mountain walk. If you want a shorter, simpler Skiddaw day, the Jenkin Hill route is more direct but misses the Longside Edge experience.

Safety

The ridge and summit are exposed to wind and cloud, and the final climb to Skiddaw is steep over loose slate. In poor visibility the open-fell descent toward Bakestall and Whitewater Dash is easy to misread. Keep dogs close around livestock and use a map or charged navigation device.

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

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Lake District Tour Guide

Your drive to Skiddaw via Longside Edge, 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

High Side: Skiddaw via Longside Edge

0:00 / 1:05

“Up ahead is High Side, the starting area for a walk up Skiddaw by Longside Edge. I'd choose this route for the ridge itself, crossing Ullock Pike and Long Side with Bassenthwaite Lake spread below you.”

Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.

Hiking Skiddaw via Longside Edge

The routeThe first climb is immediate and steep from the roadside pull-in, through fields and onto the…

The first climb is immediate and steep from the roadside pull-in, through fields and onto the ridge. Longside Edge looks sharper from below than it feels on the ground, but it is exposed and walkable rather than a scramble. After Long Side, the route passes Carl Side and climbs again over loose slate and rough mountain ground to Skiddaw. The summit is broad and open, not a craggy viewpoint, and the upper slopes can feel much wilder than the straightforward lower paths suggest.

The return is what makes this a worthwhile loop. From Skiddaw, descend toward Bakestall, then follow the open valley beside the access track toward Whitewater Dash before walking back along High Side. It is a varied day with a dramatic ridge, a hard-earned summit, and a quieter waterfall finish, though the rough descent is less forgiving when tired.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Lake District

All Lake District wildlife maps

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 map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.