Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths up Skiddaw Little Man: route map, distance and time
865 m · Lake District
Skiddaw Little Man is the sharp-topped shoulder of Skiddaw above Keswick, a short detour from the main Skiddaw path with a fine view south.
A hard mountain walk to the summit from Gale Road / Latrigg car park.
Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths starts at about 294 m and gains 538 m over 3.4 km to 835 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%. It keeps climbing at 12% to the top. About 42% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths at a glance
| Distance | 3.4 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 570 m |
| Climb on the track | 538 m up, 0 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 295 m to 836 m (summit 865 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 28%, from 0.9 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 42% of the way |
| Time up | 1h 40m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 2h 20m, down the same way |
| Grade | Hard |
| Start | Gale Road / Latrigg car park, CA12 4PH |
| Start grid reference | NY 280 253 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 266 277 |
| Parking | Gale Road / Latrigg car park |
Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths 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 Jenkin Hill walking paths 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 Jenkin Hill walking paths 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 | 786 m | +130 m | 13% | NY 269 275 |
| 3.4 km | 835 m | +49 m | 12% | NY 266 277 |
How long Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 20m | 1h 55m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 1h 40m | 2h 20m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 0m | 2h 50m |
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 14:45 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 20m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:03. Start by 14:43 to be down before dark, allowing 2h 20m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Skiddaw Little Man summit weather for this route
-
Poor Today Monday 19 October
Moderate drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 41 mph gusting 51 mph, 32% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:05.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October
Dense drizzle, up to 6°C at the summit, feeling as cold as 1°C, summit wind 26 mph gusting 32 mph, 94% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:51, sunset 18:03.
Best day of the next seven for Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths: Monday 19 October, with summit gusts around 51 mph and a 32% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Skiddaw Little Man 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 -2°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 51 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 Skiddaw Little Man
Skiddaw Little Man is the sharp-topped shoulder of Skiddaw above Keswick, a short detour from the main Skiddaw path with a fine view south. More about Skiddaw Little Man, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Carl Side (747 m), 1.2 km west
- Sale How (666 m), 1.3 km north-east
- Skiddaw (930 m), 1.4 km north-west
- Long Side (734 m), 1.9 km west
- Lonscale Fell (715 m), 2 km east
- Dodd (502 m), 2.3 km west
Challenges that include Skiddaw Little Man
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 via the Skiddaw summit ridge up Bakestall
- 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 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 266 277), 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 Jenkin Hill walking paths: questions and answers
How far is Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths?
Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths is 3.4 km one way to the summit of Skiddaw Little Man, with 570 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 6.8 km.
How long does Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths take?
About 1h 40m to the summit of Skiddaw Little Man and 2h 20m 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 2h 50m for the round trip.
How steep is Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths?
The steepest 500 m averages about 28%, starting 0.9 km from the start, and 42% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths climbs 538 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths?
Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths starts from Gale Road / Latrigg car park (postcode CA12 4PH). The grid reference is NY 280 253. Gale Road / Latrigg car park
Is Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths 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 Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths today?
By 14:45 at the latest. Sunset on Skiddaw Little Man today is 18:05, Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths takes about 2h 20m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Gale Road via Jenkin Hill walking paths?
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.