Skiddaw

Skiddaw is a 931-metre mountain in the Lake District National Park, just north of Keswick in Cumbria. It stands at the centre of a roughly circular upland area about 16 kilometres wide, with Skiddaw Forest—a treeless plateau at about 400 metres—at its heart. The mountain forms a north–south ridge about 800 metres long, with steep slopes on either side. To the south-east lies Latrigg, an easily reached viewpoint for Keswick and Derwentwater. The eastern flanks drain into Skiddaw Forest, while the western slopes lead down to quiet valleys and Bassenthwaite Lake. Skiddaw is often recommended to occasional walkers because it has a well-trodden path from a car park near Latrigg. The summit is also the first of the Bob Graham Round when taken clockwise. The mountain gives its name to Skiddaw slate, a rock used to make tuned percussion instruments like the Musical Stones of Skiddaw in Keswick Museum. Its smooth, rounded slopes and graceful curves were praised by Wainwright, who noted the rare combination of strength and beauty in its outline. From the summit ridge four tops rise, each marked by cairns and stone windshelters. The view stretches across the Border hills, the Cheviots, and the North Pennines to the north-east. To the south-east are Blencathra, the Helvellyn range, and beyond them the Yorkshire Dales. On clear days the Isle of Man and the Mourne Mountains appear 100 and 195 kilometres away. Moving to South Top brings Borrowdale into sight, while Slieve Meelmore in Northern Ireland can be seen 195 kilometres distant.