Somwehere on this thread was a discussion about the way up SKiddaw for a c/w BGR, i.e. either up the main tourist track or up via Carl Side. The latter seems shorter and steeper with more road running and so has pluses and minuses.

This Saturday, a mate and I who are very similarly paced on the fells (1 place and a few secs apart last time we raced in the fells against each other) are going to set off from the Moot Hall together before splitting up - with me doing the 'normal' route and him going the Carl Side way. We'll resist the urge to race (!) mainly because we are both aspirant BGR-ers and are keen to genuinely know which is the quicker route.

We'll meet on the summit of Skiddaw and compare notes. I suspect if there is no more than a couple of mins in it, then the normal route is likely to take less out of you, but if the gap is significantly in my mate's favour (say, more than 10 mins), then it's certainly worth thinking about.

I'll report back afterwards and hope people find it useful.

ST