High Side, Dead Beck mine, Bakestall, Skiddaw, Ullock Pike, Cumbria.
[12.8 km] Thu 02 May 2013

NY 2360 3099

During a February walk this year I lost my Silva altimeter and data logger. I was planning to return to try and find it but snow had lingered in many of the gullies so I delayed it till today with warmer weather. Having a gps track file from the Feb walk I was able to copy it on to my Garmin GPS and follow the track.

It was pleasantly sunny when I set off along the lane to the NE, I didn’t even need my windproof jacket. Just before Peter House Farm I turned off the road and headed up the farm track towards Dash Farm and Skiddaw House. There was hardly any wind and I even needed to take a layer off in the sunshine. At Dead Beck there is a gate and it was here that I started straight up the fell side. There is a faint track to follow and the occasional boot print shows that it is used by walkers.

As I got higher the wind began to increase and even though the thermometer showed 12degC it felt much colder. When I reached 530m I left the faint path and headed for the old abandoned mine in the bank of Dead Beck. The entrance isn’t sealed off with a metal grill as most old mines are. It’s probably not visited often as it is away from all the main paths.

The last time I was here the deep valley was partly filled with snow but now there was sunshine on the bank and enough was reflecting into the mine entrance to take a picture without flash. Further up the beck I came to the spot where I’d stopped for my lunch on the trip where I lost my Silva. I thought I may have dropped it then but I searched all around but there was no sign of it. It got windier and colder as I climbed to Bakestall at 673m. I’d still not seen anybody out walking and enjoying the sunshine. It wasn’t until I was almost at the summit of Skiddaw at 931m before I saw the first walker of the day.

There were about 6 people on the summit but it wasn’t warm enough to hang about. I took the steep descent down to Carl Side which was much easier in the dry conditions. Instead of following my Feb route down to Dodd I followed the inviting looking ridge along Longside Edge to Ullock Pike.

When I’d descended to 450m at Kiln Pots it was much warmer in the sunshine and I sat for a while to enjoy the views. After Link How the path splits and I took the left branch which is a steep descent to Ravenstone Hotel. I didn’t want to go that way so took a lesser path along the contour to a gate above Kennedy Plantation. An easy descent down the field took my back to the official path and back to the car.