Skiddaw House is not accessible by car! It is 3.5 miles from the nearest road and can only be reached on foot or mountain bike
How to find us
The shortest route is from Threlkeld which is 3.5 miles and takes around 1 hr 20 mins. The route from Keswick is 5 miles so takes a little longer - and can take up to 2 hours - but is arguably more scenic. See our descriptions below for more detail. It is advisable to bring a map and a torch.
Skiddaw House is situated at OS Grid Reference: NY288291 what3words: ///shipwreck.companies.train
There are four possible approaches to Skiddaw House
From Keswick (south):
Following the Cumbria Way, the route climbs through woodland out of Keswick to reach the Latrigg/Gale Road fell car park CA12 4PH (OS Grid Ref: NY280253). Alternatively you can start at the car park for a shorter walk (3.5 miles). From Latrigg car park the path heads towards Skiddaw, then turns off right and contours round Lonscale Fell, giving fantastic views over the Vale of Keswick. The path then passes through a dramatic, but not difficult, rocky section high above Glenderaterra Beck, before joining the path from Threlkeld and heading over a broad col to the hostel.
From Bassenthwaite (north):
From the parking area opposite Peter House Farm CA12 4QX (OS Grid Ref: NY249323), a tarmac track heads through fields. At a path junction, follow the stony track up towards Dash Falls (Whitewater Dash). The path then levels off and passes through heather moorland before reaching the hostel. There are good views of Whitewater Dash waterfall and the Solway coast along the way.
From Threlkeld (3.5 miles)
From Threlkeld (east):
The shortest and easiest route, which is recommended for families with young children, starts at the Fell car park at the end of Blease Road, beyond the Blencathra Centre CA12 4SG, (OS Grid Ref: NY302256). A good track contours along the east side of the Glenderaterra valley with great views to the south. At the head of the valley a narrower path crosses the beck and joins the path from Keswick on the west side of the valley, then passes through the col to the hostel.
From Mosedale (north east):
Park at the end of the tarmac road beyond Swinside CA11 0XG (OS Grid Ref: NY327326). A mainly level track follows the river Caldew through the isolated Mosedale valley, before becoming a smaller, often muddy path, that climbs gently towards Skiddaw House. There are great views of the hostel for most of the way.
Address
Skiddaw House, Bassenthwaite, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4QX
what3words: ///shipwreck.companies.train
Contact
Opening Hours
Hostel opens at 5pm
Individual & Groups
(Easter - end of October half-term)
Sole Use Hire
All year round