Why no walking routes?
I am concerned if I was to add walking routes and pathways, a website user may get lost and blame me for it! Highly unlikely but you never know.. Before going on these walks you need to wrap up warm with a waterproof jacket, a thermal fleece, waterproof trousers, a hat and walking boots. You will also need a good map. It is also very important to let someone know where you have gone and which route you are taking. Don't rely too much on modern technology in case there is no mobile reception! Enjoy!
A majestic but gentle giant, standing at 931 metres tall. Beautiful views of Skiddaw can be seen from the small market town of Keswick but its distinctive triangle can be seen throughout the whole Lake District.
Skiddaw is geologically unrelated to the other mountains of the Lake District. It is far older.
I used to be interested in mountains and the sheer escapism and exhilarating days out that climbing them can bring, especially if the walk involves varied terrain and a small bit of scrambling (using your hands).
On your way down you may find a curious natural rock formation near the summit known as “The Watches”. These simple rocks have been observing people enjoying a day out on Skiddaw since the end of the last ice-age.
The last slog. My favourite place is the final climb to the summit which is steep but enjoyable. This is known as Carl Side.
To get here you may have traversed Ullock Pike - a steep climb but with majestic views over Bassenthwaite Lake.
The summit
The story of Tommy Jones
Presence of Sky Larks
Pen y Fan is 886 metres high and sits in the area of outstanding beauty - the Brecon Beacons, or in Welsh - Bannau Brycheiniog.
I must have climbed this mountain at least ten times, starting as a young as 15 years old. I enjoyed taking my friends up here to their amazement at the beauty of the place. I am too unfit at the moment to climb Pen y Fan but it is to be one of my long term goals.
Presence of Sky Larks
The story of Tommy Jones
Presence of Sky Larks
I used to be far more confident walking, I had no worries that the clouds could come down at any moment. Which they did. This was before mobile phones were common place. There was a section in which I heard a lot of Sky Larks (birds) on the ascent and on the misty descent I could hear them again, almost guiding me to my car. I nearly got lost!
I became more careful walking after this episode...
The story of Tommy Jones
The story of Tommy Jones
The story of Tommy Jones
There is a very sad tale linked to Pen y Fan in 1900. A young five year old boy somehow ended up getting lost on Pen y Fan. His name was Tommy Jones.
No one could explain how he had managed to reach the high location where his body was found. He'd climbed 1,300ft (396m) . An inquest into Tommy’s death was held shortly after. It was determi
There is a very sad tale linked to Pen y Fan in 1900. A young five year old boy somehow ended up getting lost on Pen y Fan. His name was Tommy Jones.
No one could explain how he had managed to reach the high location where his body was found. He'd climbed 1,300ft (396m) . An inquest into Tommy’s death was held shortly after. It was determined that he’d died from exhaustion and hypothermia. There is a memorial in the place where he was found.
Other places of interest
The story of Tommy Jones
The story of Tommy Jones
If you do not want to climb Pen y Fan, majestic views can be seen from Llangorse Lake - a place of beauty.
I used to live in Hereford (on the Welsh border) so I was able to visit the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons fairly regularly.
If you are in this part of the world, I recommend visiting Hay on Wye, a small town famous for it's love
If you do not want to climb Pen y Fan, majestic views can be seen from Llangorse Lake - a place of beauty.
I used to live in Hereford (on the Welsh border) so I was able to visit the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons fairly regularly.
If you are in this part of the world, I recommend visiting Hay on Wye, a small town famous for it's love of books and literature. There is a literature festival held every year, the biggest of it's kind in the world.
Blencathra - Razor Edge
Sharp Edge
This ridge provides one of the most famous scrambles in the Lake District and certainly the most dangerous. Hiker and author Alfred Wainwright noted that: "The crest itself is sharp enough for shaving". Sharp Edge is a knife-edge ridge with steep drops on either side. Hiking along the ridge is the best way to enjoy the climb, but this Grade 1 scramble is not for everyone. I have not tried this approach because I'm not very good at heights!
Hall's Fell
Hall's Fell is a famous ridge walk for those who may not feel ready for traversing Sharp Edge. It is a beautiful and highly varied scramble. I walked this fell with my university friend. There was fresh snow on the ground. It really felt like an adventure into the unknown. Hall's Fell is not as steep as Sharp Edge but there are still some tricky bits. Luckily you can traverse the harder parts by taking lower paths. A wonderful and atmospheric walk.
Castlerigg Stone Circle, Keswick
Beneath Blencathra's Watchful Eyes
Thought to have been constructed about 3000 BC, this impressive stone circle is potentially one of the earliest created in the country. Castlerigg has no link to solar alignments. Nevertheless, it remains a popular site to visit during solstice celebrations. Various archaeologists have mentioned the beauty of Castlerigg and its surrounding landscape. In his study of the stone circles of Cumbria, archaeologist John Waterhouse commented that the site was "one of the most visually impressive prehistoric monuments in Britain."
Archaeologists estimate at least 70 workers would have been needed to move and raise the stones. Techniques may have included wooden rollers, sledges, ropes, and levers, combined with sheer manpower. Stones were set upright in shallow pits, sometimes supported by smaller packing stones at their bases.
The Bay
At high tide there is no sand at all. Be careful you do not get cut off by the tide coming in. Beautiful place.
Getting there
Parking: There is limited parking in Pitton village, about 400m from the beach. There is a farmer’s field with an honesty box system. There are no toilets or facilities.
A walk to the bay
The walk to the bay is a 10–15 minute stroll through woodland and a picturesque valley, with a short easy scramble down to the sand.
