Ullock Pike

Doing it next Sat (Nov 5) – I know a Sat isn’t the best time but my only option.
Least painful way to Skiddaw summit?
Only been up on once and that was on foot – up Ullock then walked down towards and over Latrigg back to Keswick. Someone suggested up the zig zags…is that the way I came down before? Been up past Dash Falls on bike twice before which goes past Skiddaw House…is there a reasonable bike/hike way up from around the back? Oh…and best place to park too please and thank you 🙂

Least painful way to Skiddaw summit?

Ride up the main BW?

Park at the car park at the foot of the bridleway. When I do it I go up the bridleway, then first right down the scree slope.

Then head down to just above the 250m contour where you take the footpath on the left to the Ravenstone hotel. Then ride up Long Side through the wood to Carsleddam then down the footpath to Millbeck, then back along the road. A very satisfying route.

Enjoy it, it’s a cracker.

I’d set off from Keswick and then you can hoon back down all the way. I’d go straight up the front, it’s the most direct route. I suppose you could go up from Skiddaw house over ‘sale how’ but I think the general consensus was (when I asked on here years ago) that it’s boggy mess and indeed it did look like it when I went up the main path.
Although it’s not marked there is also a path up to ‘little man’ which is when you pass through a gate, take the path to the right up to Skiddaw summit. I hate those moments of indecision at altitude where you panic thinking one wrong route and you’ll end up in a different valley.

park at the foot of the bridleway that goes up from Keswick to Latrigg, here

Up Latrigg; up the bridleway that you descended; summit; turn around and branch right after 200 m to pick up that scree slope; Ullock Ridge then decision time…either fork left off the end of the ridge and drop back through woods towards Keswick…. or… go straight on and pick up the track to Whitewater Dash/Skiddaw House/etc and then Lonscale Fell back to Latrigg; descent from Latrig to Keswick is OK.
This option makes it a reasonable day out, bit short otherwise.

If you want a longer challenge, park at same spot; track to Blencathra Centre; hike a bike up Blencathra; traverse summit ridge; descend Scales Tarn and down to Scales Village; traverse above Threlkeld to Blencathra Centre; doubletrack up Glenderaterra beck; back down Lonscale Fell to Latrigg; up Skiddaw; down scree slope; over Ullock; fork left at end of Ullock; down through woods; road back to carparking.
That’s a full day out, 26 miles/6500 feet
https://www.strava.com/activities/643997720

[edit] yes the climb from Skiddaw Ho is a horrible boggy mess. Don’t do it. I have and wouldn’t again. [/edit]

I was going to do it one weekend this year but was talked out of it by my friends who live in the lakes who suggested it was a sensitive trail and lots of mtb use was causing trouble. As much as I wanted to do it I couldn’t fit it in a sensible time so had to leave it for next year.

Would starting somewhere near Bassenthwaite village, riding up to past Dead Crags to Dash Falls then going up over Bakestall be a ridiculous idea? Someone mentioned bike-a-hike but the the map it at least looks a logical loop. There’s a fair chunk of the bridleway that’s pretty steep as far as I remember walking down it previously…quite happy to go up from Keswick then road it back after getting to Ravenstone Hotel or do munrobiker’s suggested route….speaking of which, do you have a file I can look at please MB? Cheers

I’m afraid I don’t (my Strava account has been hacked so I can’t look it up), but here’s a crap map of it-

The descent of Carlsleddam is tricky in its steepness but mostly a goer.

Munrobiker’s is the loop I did with ir_bandito and co.

The descent down Doups/Carlseddam doesn’t feature any of me riding – I didnt really feel like stopping was an option for much of it. The bottom pitch gets silly – the path has been diverted on to switch-backs that were too tight for me to get a bike round without cheating. If the grass was dry I’d consider having another crack at the fall-line… maybe.

Some fun rock features on the descent too but definitely not a track that would see many bikes and ride accordingly.

Aye, did doups once, wouldn’t climb up to do it again.

Be aware you may meet walkers coming up the scree as you start to descend. Its steep so try to be as careful as poss with the timing.

Also its about 4 degrees in the area tonight so probably below zero on top of Skiddaw, if theres a breeze (usually is) it will feel pretty cold.
Dark by 5:00

take care, have fun.

From mountain forecast

Days 3-6 Skiddaw Weather Summary: Mostly dry. Freeze-thaw conditions (max 2°C on Tue afternoon, min -2°C on Sat afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the N on Sat afternoon, light winds from the N by Tue morning).

Always windy on skiddaw. If clagged/poor weather, and you want to avoid skiddaw summit, you can get the ullock pike ridge in by riding up to the back of Dodd on forest roads, then push/ride/push up Carlside from there to join Ullock Pike route. Be respectful and avoid antagonism if you can.

Thanks for the advice all – I will disarm angry redsocks with my charming, smiling ‘good afternoon’ face on when coming down. I will be more pleasant than a very pleasant thing.
Think I’ll go up the bridleway from Latrigg rather than over Bakestall as the deafening silence about that option speaks volumes 😉
Was gonna wear baggies downstairs with baselayer, Endura Hummvee s/s top with Gore Phantom for the fun bit down…normal summer gloves though my hands get cold easily – no pads and normal lid. If I park near the bottom of the bridleway, where’s the best decent local pub to get a reward pint when I’m done, without going right into the centre of Keswick?

Always windy on skiddaw

No its not

Be aware you may meet walkers

Most of whom (once you’re off the main drag from Keswick) will step aside and encourage you.

Pub wise
The better pubs are in Keswick dog and gun etc
Avoiding the town the walkers bar in the coledale inn is quite nice if the fires lit.
Coledale inn is in Brathwaite the little village just at the foot of the whinlater pass

NCB – the Dog & Gun used to be my fave pub in Keswick before the refit – TBH I’ve only had a quick pint in it since so can’t comment fairly – will be tricky with bike in tow though. Braithwaite is a bit of a trek out when I’m in Keswick anyway – liked the Coledale inn when I went there last year though….obviously some tough decisions to ponder 😉

Bakestall not a good option.
Pub – The Pheasant, 100m from the roundabout leading into Keswick. Opposite the Old Filling Station cafe, which is also good. Take care on the ‘scree’ section off the summit.

.normal summer gloves though my hands get cold easily

We did Ullock Pike in November two years ago. I was wearing autumn gloves and coming down the bit after the scree zig zags my hands were so cold and numb I couldn’t feel my bars or brake levers 😯
I had some liner gloves with me but hadn’t put them on 🙄

Anyway enjoy. It’s a challenging descent but a lot of fun.

I usually follow the fence from Dash falls. You can ride to the top once you’ve overcome the steep carry. 😀

So how was it?

I imagine bloody cold and windy if anyone ventured up there yesterday!

Well I finally did it!
I knew when I pulled up by the Filling Station and looked up and saw snow it would be hard work. Set off up the Latrigg bridle way at 9.45 and got to the top of the zig zags at 11 – they are bloody steep! Went past Little Man and through the gate. By the time I got to the next gate I was in thin ice which quickly turned into not very deep snow. This coupled with the clag down and a vicious northern wind had me questioning whether it was a good idea to carry on. I thought well I’ve come this far so I’m not turning round now…reached a big cairn and followed the ridge to the main top. Fleeting glimpses of Bassenthwaite and across to Lonscale and Blencathra. Plenty of people heading up both the bridle way and Ullock but quite a few I spoke to weren’t going to the top. Was convinced I had frostbite on the thumbs at one point. Found the path down to Carlside which initially was quite icy – ride for a while to be told by walkers there’s a ”really steep bit down there” and “you must be terrified”. The next bit was bloody steep and loose – not ashamed to say a walked/shuffled my way down that! Nice bit after then to Carlside – then had chat to some friendly walkers. Some bits of the main ridge were great but some bits were bonkers steep and techy. The wind was insanely strong to the point that if I was walking a section the bike was like a sail pressed up against me. Some bits were really nice but anything I was a bit unsure I ended up walking – on another day I think I would have ridden it so that was a bit frustrating! Took some pics but not sure how to post them! Ended up roading it back from near Ravenstone hotel – it wasn’t an epic ride but glad I’ve ticked off the descent – might have been different with a group on a nicer day…think my balls have decreased in size! To top it off The Pheasant wasn’t showing the rugby – saw first half in sports bar in Keswick but walked out in disgust after Wales inept performance. Still bloody freezing up here with all the tops of the Pennines dumped in snow.

old fat bloke i know did it in the snow……by himself.
silly old bugger.

cidImage_FOTB1D8.JPG by 20ston[/url], on Flickr

Well done Rascal, nice one. You are a mountain biker!

Yeah it’s a must do. Loved it, the slog up not so much 😆