The lost art of navigation?

[Stolly]

Not so sure about that. There is a trod the whole way from Skiddaw to Great Calva, I have just had a look for it on Google Earth and no joy. I could see the fence that u need to climb over just after the summit of Skiddaw.

I'd agree with that. There are so many trods and paths but you need to know where to look and which ones to choose and many of them will be completely invisible to google in any event. The only real 'Elephant Trod' though is the first 5 miles up Skiddaw and of course the last 5 mile run in to Keswick. There are lots of little short cuts and snickets too - the gate on the descent from Great Calva, the best line up Blencathra, the best route off Blencathra? which way to drop off Dollywaggon? Sergeant Man or High Raise first? the preferred line to Rosset Pike? the sneaky hidden path up to Bowfell, the runners trod to Ore Gap, how to flipping find Ill Crag in fog, Fox Tarn, Broadstand or Lords Rake up Scafell? the sneaky runners trod beyond Yewbarrow etc etc. I don't think you could figure out anything like the ideal route from google earth thats for sure, with or without the summits loaded onto GPS