Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge up Bakestall: route map, distance and time
674 m · Cumbria
Bakestall is Skiddaw's steep northern shoulder above Whitewater Dash, the start of a quiet route to Skiddaw from the back o' Skiddaw side.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Gale Road / Latrigg car park.
The Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge starts at about 294 m and gains 611 m over 6.8 km to 662 m on the track. The first kilometre climbs 104 m. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 258 m at an average of 26%. The final 0.8 km eases to the top. About 22% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge at a glance
| Distance | 6.8 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 630 m |
| Climb on the track | 611 m up, 245 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 295 m to 910 m (summit 674 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 28%, from 0.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 22% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 25m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 45m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Gale Road / Latrigg car park, CA12 4PH |
| Start grid reference | NY 280 253 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 266 307 |
| Parking | Gale Road / Latrigg car park |
Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge GPX
Ascent only: plan your way down. A planning track, not checked on the ground; it doesn't show safe scrambling moves. Track data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), heights from a terrain model.
Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge kilometre by kilometre
Height, climb and average gradient for each kilometre of the track, with a grid reference at the end of each one to check your position on the map.
| At | Height | Climb | Gradient | Grid ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 398 m | +104 m | 10% | NY 280 261 |
| 2 km | 656 m | +258 m | 26% steep | NY 276 269 |
| 3 km | 748 m | +92 m | 9% | NY 270 276 |
| 4 km | 847 m | +99 m | 10% | NY 263 283 |
| 5 km | 907 m | +60 m | 6% | NY 260 291 |
| 6 km | 778 m | -129 m | -13% | NY 262 300 |
| 6.8 km | 662 m | -116 m | -15% | NY 266 307 |
How long the Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 3h 5m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 25m | 3h 45m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 0m | 4h 40m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:05. Start by 13:20 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:03. Start by 13:18 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 45m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Bakestall summit weather for this route
-
Marginal Today Monday 19 October
Mostly dry, up to 9°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -1°C, summit wind 28 mph gusting 35 mph, 16% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:05.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October
Slight rain, up to 9°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -4°C, summit wind 29 mph gusting 36 mph, 67% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:03.
Best day of the next seven for the Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge: Monday 19 October, with summit gusts around 35 mph and a 16% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Bakestall forecast
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -1°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 35 mph.
- Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
- A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.
About Bakestall
Bakestall is Skiddaw's steep northern shoulder above Whitewater Dash, the start of a quiet route to Skiddaw from the back o' Skiddaw side. More about Bakestall, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Skiddaw (930 m), 1.8 km south
- Sale How (666 m), 2.3 km south-east
- Great Calva (691 m), 2.5 km east
- Great Cockup (526 m), 2.7 km north
- Skiddaw Little Man (865 m), 2.9 km south
- Carl Side (747 m), 2.9 km south
Challenges that include Bakestall
More walks from Gale Road / Latrigg car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Gale Road car park up Latrigg
- Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths up Lonscale Fell
- Keswick via Jenkin Hill up Skiddaw
- Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths up Skiddaw Little Man
- Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths up Sale How
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 280 253, the summit at NY 266 307), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge: questions and answers
How far is the Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge?
The Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge is 6.8 km one way to the summit of Bakestall, with 630 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 13.6 km.
How long does the Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge take?
About 2h 25m to the summit of Bakestall and 3h 45m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 4h 40m for the round trip.
How steep is the Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge?
The steepest 500 m averages about 28%, starting 0.9 km from the start, and 22% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge climbs 611 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge?
The Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge starts from Gale Road / Latrigg car park (postcode CA12 4PH). The grid reference is NY 280 253. Gale Road / Latrigg car park
Is the Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge suitable for beginners?
Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first.
What time should I start the Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge today?
By 13:20 at the latest. Sunset on Bakestall today is 18:05, The Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge takes about 3h 45m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for the Gale Road via the Skiddaw summit ridge?
Yes. Download it from this page. It is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.