Ullock Pike ridge up Skiddaw: route map, distance and time
930 m · Lake District
Skiddaw is the broad slate mountain above Keswick, a long-standing tourist climb with a well-worn path from Latrigg and a sharper ridge over Ullock Pike.
You climb onto the heathery ridge over Ullock Pike and Long Side, then go up a loose stony path from Carl Side to the summit.
The Ullock Pike ridge starts at about 116 m and gains 843 m over 6.3 km to 910 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 7%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3 km, which climbs 206 m at an average of 21%, with a 500 m stretch from 5.4 km at about 32%. The final 0.3 km eases to the top. About 27% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Ullock Pike ridge at a glance
| Distance | 6.3 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 850 m |
| Climb on the track | 843 m up, 53 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 114 m to 910 m (summit 930 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 32%, from 5.4 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 27% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 40m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 55m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Dodd Wood car park, CA12 4QE |
| Start grid reference | NY 235 281 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 260 290 |
| Parking | Dodd Wood car park |
Ullock Pike 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 Ullock Pike 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.
Ullock Pike 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 | 190 m | +74 m | 7% | NY 235 290 |
| 2 km | 261 m | +70 m | 7% | NY 238 300 |
| 3 km | 467 m | +206 m | 21% steep | NY 241 293 |
| 4 km | 662 m | +195 m | 19% | NY 246 285 |
| 5 km | 736 m | +74 m | 7% | NY 254 280 |
| 6 km | 906 m | +170 m | 17% | NY 260 288 |
| 6.3 km | 910 m | +5 m | 2% | NY 260 290 |
How long the Ullock Pike ridge takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 15m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 40m | 3h 55m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 3h 15m | 4h 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 07:47, sunset 18:07. Start by 13:12 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:05. Start by 13:10 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 55m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Skiddaw summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Mainly clear, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -7°C, summit wind 16 mph gusting 22 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:07.
-
Poor Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Moderate drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -3°C, summit wind 42 mph gusting 53 mph, 28% chance of rain. Rated Poor. Sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:05.
Best day of the next seven for the Ullock Pike ridge: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 22 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Cloud inversion tomorrow morning: 24% (Low), best around 05:00. 7-day inversion outlook.
Hour-by-hour Skiddaw forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Skiddaw?
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 -7°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
- 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
Skiddaw is the broad slate mountain above Keswick, a long-standing tourist climb with a well-worn path from Latrigg and a sharper ridge over Ullock Pike. More about Skiddaw, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Furth, Hewitt, Nuttall, Marilyn, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Carl Side (747 m), 1.1 km south-west
- Long Side (734 m), 1.3 km south-west
- Skiddaw Little Man (865 m), 1.4 km south-east
- Ullock Pike (690 m), 1.6 km west
- Sale How (666 m), 1.6 km east
- Bakestall (674 m), 1.8 km north
Challenges that include Skiddaw
- Lake District 3000ers · 4
- Bob Graham Round · 42
- Furths · 34
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
- Wainwrights · 214
- Marilyns · 1,555
More walks from Dodd Wood car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side up Carl Side
- Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side ridge up Long Side
- Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side ridge up Ullock Pike
Other routes up Skiddaw
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keswick via Jenkin Hill | 4.9 km one way | 640 m | 2h 5m | Moderate |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 235 281, the summit at NY 260 290), 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.
Ullock Pike ridge: questions and answers
How far is the Ullock Pike ridge?
The Ullock Pike ridge is 6.3 km one way to the summit of Skiddaw, with 850 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.6 km.
How long does the Ullock Pike ridge take?
About 2h 40m to the summit of Skiddaw and 3h 55m 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 50m for the round trip.
How steep is the Ullock Pike ridge?
The steepest 500 m averages about 32%, starting 5.4 km from the start, and 27% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. The Ullock Pike ridge climbs 843 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for the Ullock Pike ridge?
The Ullock Pike ridge starts from Dodd Wood car park (postcode CA12 4QE). The grid reference is NY 235 281. Dodd Wood car park
Is the Ullock Pike ridge suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.
What time should I start the Ullock Pike ridge today?
By 13:12 at the latest. Sunset on Skiddaw today is 18:07, The Ullock Pike ridge takes about 3h 55m 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 Ullock Pike 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.