A longer walk over Bakestall and Skiddaw

At the top of the car park, go through the gate and immediately turn left to follow a path alongside the wall.

After a straight path for 250m (275 yards) through a couple of gates, the path bears left to another gate. Go through and bear slightly right away from the fence line. Descend to the ford crossing Whit Beck, follow the track round to the right climbing a little, then left across the southern shoulder of Lonscale Fell through fields of bracken. The views to the right over St Johns in the Vale are fantastic.

The track bears left to go through the gate.

Follow the track as it continues to swing left, northwards, becomes narrower and perched high above Glenderaterra Beck on a wonderful terrace.

Follow the track. Keep on the track and don't inadvertently descend towards the beck. Pass the ruined buildings below the ridge of Burnt Horse, a wall joins on the right for a short while. Continue generally ahead, northwards. Go through the gate at the bottom of Burnt Horse, and bear left to YHA Skiddaw House in amongst the only trees in Skiddaw Forest.

At YHA Skiddaw House follow the path in front and below the hostel, at the far edge bear left and up to the supply track. Turn right onto the track.

Follow the supply track down to the ford with the River Caldew, there's a footbridge to keep your feet dry. And continue up, along, and eventually down the track to the gate above Dash Falls.

Go through the gate and immediately turn sharply left up onto steep grass slopes. After an initial soft patch, which may be rather boggy after wet weather, a plausible path materialises.

Keep close to the wall, and then fence, on the left, although a look over to the right at Dead Crags is worth a look higher up. The cliff edge path through the heather is little used these days and makes the climb more arduous. Just below the last steep section to Bakestall is the welcome respite of an almost flat section. Carry on across and continue climbing up beside the fence. Nearing the top of this steep bit you can take the narrow path bearing right to take a direct line to the summit cairn of Bakestall, or follow the fence to the corner and turn right on the wide path to the cairn 100m (110 yards) north.

You may notice that the cairn beside the fence corner is marginally higher - it is not the summit.

From the cairn on Bakestall turn around, and return to the fence corner just 100m (110 yards) back. Carry on, bearing slightly right to follow the fence. Cross the depression, past the ruined sheepfold, and just on the other side of the fence through the broken gate a puddle might be found holding enough water for a thirsty dog. Continue climbing alongside the fence, bear right and more climbing.

At a corner the fence bears away left, continue ahead across open grass and moss to the path ascending the ridge. A few cairns mark the way in poor weather. Now climb the small zigzags over loose skiddaw slate and bear left to the north top and the windshelter.

The trig point and toposcope is just a little further along this ridge.

From the summit continue ahead down to the slight depression and up again to the cairn on the South Top. Just before reaching the gate bear right to the fence corner and follow the path ahead along the fence line down into the shallow depression.

Climb up the other side and when the fence bears away left continue ahead to the cairn on Little Man.

Continue over, and down to the wonderfully adorned cairn of Lower Man. It definitely stands proud with the old bits of rusting fence embedded in its cairn, rather like stags picking up grass and undergrowth to make their antlers look more impressive!

Drop down the other side to the track just below the gate. At the track bear right and continue the descent. This rough track takes you all the way down past the Hawell Shepherds monument, and to the car park.