Reckon I will look for a descent route from skiddaw that hits that path directly.
The only issue at the moment is the heather is almost 2 feet deep in places: when the heather was burnt down 6-7 years ago and fast running, I reckon the near straight line was a lot faster than it is now. On route (a) the descent down the fence is heather free, route (b) the lower reaches are only walkable, although I agree i think it is still faster - but only maybe 4-5 mins.
Here goes.from the top:
Skirt calvas first top tot he right, then down the good path that leads to 284299 track crossing( path not shown on harveys at all!) - the last 200m the trod wiggles a bit , and is hidden a little by overhanging heather but is good running never the less.
Up to skiddaw house, passing it to the left, and follow the track down to
294288 track bend/fence.
And theres the thing - you get there in 17 mins which is only the same time it takes to cross the caldew on the "usual" fence route - yet you are already 200 feet higher.
Then ( it is a bit damp crossing the valley: you could shorten this by crosing more straight W) - first aim for the remains of a sheep fold? stones? you see at 301285 dont try and climb too high too quickly now, because you dont want to drop into roughten gill: I think I crossed sinen gill at about 303283 where there is a trod which takes you round to roughten gill. Aim to cross roughten gill at just above stream junction 311279 then dead reckon the summit from there.
I aimed to hit the ridge W of blencathra, just to make sure I knew which side I was approaching from.
Because the route is a traverse it isnt as steep a climb as it appears as first sight.
Why does this route work:
First, because just jogging you get as far as the fence 294288 in a similar time that it takes to cross the caldew by any other route.
Second because you are already 200 feet higher than the normal caldew crossing.
But the main reason is the nature of mungrisdale common. It is at that awkward gradient where you figure you should jog, but the nature of the ground( tussocky /wet) makes it too much effort. So I reckon that is where the time is lost.
Other than the short valley crossing at 296285 which is wet, but not nearly as bad as the caldew valley floor the ascent is all essentially on firm short grass: and the traction that gives makes for better climbing.
But as with all things, I think it depends on people - who are all different in terms of terrain likes and dislikes.