Skiddaw via Long Side

M0NOM · 10 July 2021 14:10

It’s been two years since I ventured up Skiddaw. Although the WX forecast wasn’t great I wanted to get the SOTA points, and tick off the related WOTAs for the year.

The route covers the Wainwrights Ullock Pike, Long Side, Carl Side and Skiddaw itself. Wainwright himself recommends this route for the ascent of Skiddaw. I would agree, although being a ridgeline walk probably not the best approach with high winds.

Parking

As you traverse the A591 there are a number of potential parking spots. I chose a pull in at Rabbit Warren which can take about 10 cars, and free!

©Crown copyright 2021 Ordnance Survey. Media 018/21
Parking Position

Parking

I made the mistake of taking the low footpath to the Ravenstone Manor. The path up from that position (although labelled as a Bridleway) is very steep and muddy with low overhanging branches, not how you want to start such a long ascent. Better to start in the opposite direction (South) from the car park into Rabbit Warren and after about 50m you can turn to the North East for a much more pleasant ascent through the woods to the foothills.

Taking a better route

Initial Ascent from Rabbit Warren

Ascent GPS Track

The ascent takes you through some fantastic woodland - it would be worth a trip to walk through the woods on its’ own.

Amazing Woods

The path to the rideline of Longside Edge is good, and before you know it you are looking back down on Bassenthwaite and across to Skiddaw.

Bassenthwaite

Obligatory Lake District Sheep Photo

Conditions under foot were good although visibility was poor. You have to remind yourself that when you arrive at Ullock Pike you are already at 680m, because it feels like it!

It is then a very easy 10 minute walk to the next Wainwright, Long Side.

Walking in the Mist

Brief views down the Bassenthwaite

Cain stones on Long Side

The plan was to the ascend via Carl Side but in the mist I took the left hand track and ascended Skiddaw via the northern route, rather than Allerdale Ramble. I preferred this route to the ramble, especially when I realised that it reached the summit, and not half way up Allerdale Ramble which is how I read the map!

Skiddaw

WOTA ID: LDW-004	Height: 931 m (3054 ft)
SOTA ID: G/LD-004	Grid ref: NY260290
HuMP ID: n/a	QTH Locator: IO84KP
Book: The Northern Fells	Lat: 54.650551 Long: -3.147009

Skiddaw Map

Skiddaw Summit

Summit Selfie, not the best expression!

Thankfully although misty it didn’t affect the activation.

VHF Contacts

I used the FT1XD with the Spectrum Communications 49cm Whip to do the VHF activation, as I had once again misplaced my Slim J. A nice set of contacts on VHF!

TIME	CALLSIGN	FREQ	MODE	RSR	RST	OPERATOR	QTH
11:22	G1OHH	145.575	FM	59	59
11:24	G4WHA/M	145.575	FM	59	59		Centre of Carlisle
11:25	G1FVA	145.575	FM	59	59
11:26	G7CDA	145.575	FM	53	56
11:27	2E0XUP	145.575	FM	59	59
11:27	M1DYU	145.575	FM	53	53
11:28	G1OAE	145.575	FM	59	59
11:30	2E0LDF	145.575	FM	59	59
11:32	M7KOM	145.575	FM	59	59		Dearham
11:33	G0TDM	145.575	FM	59	59
11:34	G8CPZ	145.575	FM	52	54
11:34	M7BUY	145.575	FM	59	59	Kevin	Workington

VHF Contacts

For HF I had the FT-817, with Palm Pico Paddles, SOTABeams Band Hopper IV and 6m travel mast, to support the antenna Inverted V at about 5m. I setup on the easterly edge of the summit ridgeline, and as I was operating from time to time had views over to Mungrisdale Common.

Views to the East

Repairing a path

HF SSB Contacts

It was nice to get some SOTA summit to summit contacts. Band conditions have not been anywhere near as good as we had for the past two weeks, and especially on 20m the QSB was deep at times.

TIME	CALLSIGN	FREQ	MODE	RSR	RST	SOTA-RX	OPERATOR
11:52	S59WT/P	14.275	SSB	55	55	S5/KS-061
11:54	F4WBN	14.305	SSB	59	59
11:55	G4IPB	14.305	SSB	55	56
11:55	HB9DDZ	14.305	SSB	55	59
11:56	SQ9MDF	14.305	SSB	56	59
11:57	G8CPZ	14.305	SSB	44	44
11:57	OE6GND	14.305	SSB	59	59
11:58	OK2PDT	14.305	SSB	57	58
11:58	SM5LNE	14.305	SSB	57	58
11:59	EA4BQG	14.305	SSB	57	56
12:00	M0MZB/P	14.305	SSB	59	59	G/LD-025
12:01	SP9AMH	14.305	SSB	56	44
12:02	OK2JIQ	14.305	SSB	55	51
12:07	F4HZR	7.158	SSB	56	58
12:08	EA2CKX	7.158	SSB	53	58
12:08	EA2DT	7.158	SSB	51	51
12:09	GI4OSF/P	7.158	SSB	55	55	GI/SM-009
12:09	M0BKV	7.158	SSB	55	57
12:10	DL3HXX	7.158	SSB	44	55
12:10	G4WSB	7.158	SSB	55	55
12:11	2E0WGA	7.158	SSB	51	57		Anthony
12:15	GB250CC	3.716	SSB	55	55
12:16	M0BKV	3.716	SSB	55	55
12:17	EI3GYB	3.716	SSB	52	58
12:17	G8CPZ	3.716	SSB	58	55
12:18	M6BLV	3.716	SSB	53	53

HF SSB Contacts

SSB S2S with Igor S59WT/P on S5/KS-061

Great to get Matthew M0MZB/P in the log S2S from Seatallan G/LD-025. He’d been out camping. I’d recommended the combination of FT-817/8 and a Chinese 50w amplifier and he sounded great on that combination with nice punchy audio via our 20m groundwave contact.

S2S with Matthew M0MZB/P on Seatallan G/LD-025

HF CW Contacts

I braved a Morse activation, and after 25 minutes was thoroughly exhausted! The summit to summit contacts were especially tricky, because there is more information in there and the signals tend to be weaker. I was pleasantly surprised however when checking my log that all but one of the callsigns had been copied correctly. Still struggling to differentiate between U and V, and S and H. Lots of dits, but how many!

TIME	CALLSIGN	FREQ	MODE	RSR	RST	SOTA-RX
12:26	HB9AGH	14.058	CW	549	559
12:28	DL1FU	14.058	CW	569	559
12:31	EA7GV	14.058	CW	529	599
12:32	DL2HWI	14.058	CW	579	599
12:33	UT8UU	14.058	CW	559	559
12:35	HB9AFI/P	14.058	CW	559	519	HB/VS-118
12:38	DL6WT	14.058	CW	599	599
12:40	OH3GZ	14.058	CW	559	519
12:42	HB9CLT/P	14.058	CW	569	559	HB/AR-004
12:44	HB9AFI/P	14.058	CW	569	559	HB/VS-118
12:47	G8CPZ	14.058	CW	539	559
12:50	DJ5AV	14.058	CW	549	599
12:51	HB9CBR/P	14.058	CW	449	519	HB/BE-172

Good to get Andy @G8CPZ in the log - another nice 20m groundwave contact.

HF CW Contacts

Furthest contact of the day at 2,311km with Sergey UT8UU

S2S with Kurt HB9AFI/P on HB/VS-118, Pointe des Mossettes at 2,277m, must have been a nice view!

Descent of Skiddaw

I somehow missed the start of Allerdale Ramble which I though would be more direct to Carl Side than the route I ascended by, but at the bottom it was clear they both converged. The Ramble never gets any easier, thankfully it was dry but the loose scree always provokes some Laurel and Hardy comedy.

Views of Long Side on the descent via Allerdale Ramble

Carl Side Tarn

Arty Cairn Stone pile on Carl Side

Main path to Millbeck

Mountain Bikers on Carl Side

Heading back to Long Side

The return journey was uneventful apart from the rain starting and making stones underfoot slippery. There was sporadic cursing but I managed to stay mostly upright. My trousers were a bit of a state at the bottom however!

Dodd from Carl Side

Dodd summit from Carl Side

Skiddaw now back in the clouds

One of two obvious TV Masts to the North East

Bassenthwaite

Noisy Raven!

Dropping off Ullock Pike

Descent GPS Track

Thanks to all the chasers, the legs were suitably stiff this morning - taking a day off now!

All photos including panoramas

G4IPB · 10 July 2021 14:13

Thanks for the complete Mark! Paul

MM0EFI · 10 July 2021 15:01

Well done Mark! That looked like a productive day out.

I’ve not braved the hills in shorts yet this year. It’s either been sunburn weather or hypothermia weather…

M0WIV · 10 July 2021 15:44

Thanks for the fascinating and comprehensive report.

But your noisy rook looks more like a noisy raven from the shape of the bill.

M0NOM · 10 July 2021 23:41

Noted John. I’m hopeless identifying birds, if it doesn’t have a red-breast I’m pretty much lost!
The Ravens I saw on the jolly were very impressive however, a good size and very comfortable with the environment. I’ve heard they are very intelligent too. The call was echoing in the valley between Long Side and Southerndale. I hadn’t even noticed that the slope is called ‘Raven Crag’ Would appear they are maybe not a new addition to the area.