Quote Originally Posted by Thatusernameisalreadyused View Post
An excellent variation that I've not heard of before. I think you mean Millbeck, not Millside?

So the proposed route is: A591, road to Millbeck, somehow through to the dams, up Slades beck to reach Carlside tarn, then up to summit?

Two qs.: is it obvious through Millbeck to get to the start of the fell eg. the dams; and once at Carlside tarn do you aim across the hill to hit the summit directly, or just go straight up to 261285 then along the ridge to the summit?


Yes Millbeck. Bad memory!
To go up the beck, you go straight on at the roadcrossing in milbeck. it says private, but dont worry about it. The map is spot on. You cross left at a dam, back right higher up. Look for the path. It goes all the way up but every now and then you lose it for a few yards and have to look. Kicks up at steeper at the end, but not for long.

Just use the tarn path to skiddaw, which hits the ridge 400m short of the top. It is better than bolder hopping.

But having done both of them, try carlside first - the gully is good to keep out of wind.

PS If you are after trying novelties, i once turned right 100m at blencathra then dropped down the gully to the right of halls fell ridge. I got down a couple of minutes quicker. A couple of hairy bits - but they can probably be avoided right. ANd you dont run the risk of tripping headlong...which I have done before on the ridge at night in rain.