A glorious Lakeland weekend in the northernmost area of the Lake District National Park. On day one, we climb Lakeland giant, Skiddaw (3054ft / 931m), from the pretty village of Bassenthwaite. This beautiful mountain, the sixth-highest in England, forms the backdrop to Keswick with wonderful views over Derwent Water and Lake District fells beyond. On day two, we head for the summit of Skiddaw’s neighbour, Blencathra, or Saddleback as it’s commonly known, (2847ft / 868m). Our route visits the Cumbria Way and more remoter areas of the mountain. Join us for one or both days.
Price range: £55.00 through £110.00
Blencathra and Skiddaw Lake District Guided Walk Weekend – The Routes
Saturday – Skiddaw
The Route: Our walk starts in the pretty village of Bassenthwaite, from which we are able to make our ascent via a scenic path, avoiding the crowds on the tourist routes to Skiddaw. We walk up the hillside, ascending via a high ridge over the three Wainwrights of Ullock Pike, Longside, and Carl Side. On a clear day, there are spectacular views over the lake and over the Southerndale Valley to the top of Skiddaw. As we get higher, our route swings round to the left, and we ascend to the summit itself. Our descent route takes in the summit of Bakestall, and we return to Bassenthwaite via White Water Dash waterfall and the Cumbria Way. This guided walk not only takes in the summit of this iconic mountain, but it provides the opportunity to bag five Wainwright fells in one day! (The Wainwright fells are the 214 fells described by Alfred Wainwright in his famous Lake District guidebooks).
Sunday – Blencathra
The Route: From the quaint village of Threlkeld, we’ll circumnavigate the mountain via well worn paths and tracks including the Cumbria way. After visiting Skiddaw House we cross the river Caldew and begin our steep ascent of Blencathra on the Bob Graham Round mountain running route. The hard work is worth it and the summit is a fine place to visit, with weather permitting, stunning views over the Keswick fells and Helvellyn range. Blencathra has some impressive ridge lines connecting to the summit including Sharp Edge and Halls fell ridge and we get a fine view of these as we descend the high plateau summit. Our descent continues via Blease fell on good paths and tracks all the way to our starting point.
Want to ask a question about the Blencathra or Skiddaw Guided Walks? Please Contact Us >
Please note: On both days, to maximise your enjoyment and safety, it’s possible we may have to alter routes according to weather conditions and party ability. Alternative routes will be in the same area.
| The Walk | A glorious Lakeland weekend in the northernmost area of the Lake District National Park. On day one, we climb Lakeland giant, Skiddaw (3054ft / 931m), from the pretty village of Bassenthwaite. This beautiful mountain, the sixth-highest in England, forms the backdrop to Keswick with wonderful views over Derwent Water and Lake District fells beyond. On day two, we head for the summit of Skiddaw's neighbour, Blencathra, or Saddleback as it’s commonly known, (2847ft / 868m). Our route visits the Cumbria Way and more remoter areas of the mountain. Join us for one or both days. |
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| Walk Date | Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 September 2027 £110., Saturday 4 September 2027 only £55., Sunday 5 September 2027 only £55. |
Here’s an Essential Kit Kist for all our walks >
Meeting and Parking Saturday – Skiddaw
We meet in Bassenthwaite Village Centre, CA12 4QP. There is free parking around the Village Green. Final details will be confirmed on booking.
Meeting and Parking Sunday – Blencathra
We meet at Threkeld village centre. There are small car parks in the village. Parking options will be shared on booking.
Coming by Bus or Train
We’re keen to support public transport use and reduce emissions. If you’re arriving reasonably nearby we’ll give you a free lift.
Our Meeting Points:
There are limited facilities in either Bassenthwaite (start of the Skiddaw walk) or Threkeld, (start of the Blencathra walk).
The nearby, popular tourist town of Keswick is nearby and more reliable in terms of toilet facilities, and other facilities such as cafe’s pubs, restaurants, shops and accommodation.
See a map of the local area here >.
These are Tough! Walks. Participants will need to be able to maintain momentum all day, walking at a Moderate Pace. Here is our walk difficulty guide >
We have created a separate page of the most frequently asked questions here >
Keswick is probably the best place to look for accommodation for both walks, and is a great base to explore, with plenty of cafes, hotels and restaurants.
Click here to see a Google map of accommodation near this walk’s start.
We all want to respect, protect and enjoy the fragile upland environments where we walk, so that they can be enjoyed by generations to come. Following The Countryside Code really helps…