Longside Edge (approx. 6 miles)

Important Note: We went wrong on this walk - so the route described is not the one that we would recommend. For this reason the Kindle version is not for sale - it's available free of charge: either email me the address of your Kindle (or other device) and I'll email it directly (to find the email address of a device, go to Amazon.co.uk > Your Account > Content and Devices > Your Devices then click on the menu button next to the device) - or I'll email the .mobi file to your email address, then you can add it to your device yourself (via usb cable from a PC).

Maps:	Sheet OL4 The English Lakes - North Western area.
Start:	NY 235 281 - Dodd Wood Forestry Commission Car Park (there is a bus stop nearby, but not a great bus service).
Route:	a demanding circular walk with great views over Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite and out to the Solway estuary. There are very steep ascents and an even steeper descent, which involves some scrambling.
Links to route files:	Ordnance Survey OS Maps online (may only available to OSMaps subscribers) or .gpx (exported from OS Maps app on Android device - can be imported into many devices).
More info:	Dodd Wood - Forestry Commission Dodd Wood - Visit Cumbria Carl Side - Wikipedia Long Side - Wikipedia Ullock Pike - Wikipedia .
Refreshments:	The Old Sawmill Tearoom - next to the car park at the start/finish of the walk.

	Walk between the tea room and the toilet block …
	… following the path to the right (signposted for the osprey viewing point), staying on the right of Skill Beck.
	Follow the path through the forest …
	… as it winds up well-defined tracks. At junctions of paths, choose the route that stays closest to Skill Beck.
	After just less than 1½½ miles the track opens out into a clearing. Walk to the opposite side and take the left hand track.
	Look out for a stile on the left. Climb this and follow ...
	... the steep path open the open fell.
	There are splendid views over Derwentwater and to Borrowdale.
	A cairn marks a junction of paths - and this is where we went wrong! We turned left to follow a narrow path - we should have turned right and then left at the next junction! By the time we had realised our mistake we had climbed too far too think of going back, so we continued, bearing right at a couple of junctions, with the path becoming more indistinct until …
	… we met the path we should have been on. Here we turned left along a well-maintained stony path.
	The path is marked with cairns and leads to the summit of Carl Side, the highest point of the walk.
	From here, the route along Longside Edge is clear …
	… and fairly easy to follow …
	… providing stunning views across Bassenthwaite Lake, the Solway estuary and to the Scottish coast.
	The descent from Ullock Pike is steeper than the ascent was.
	In places it's a scramble using arms as well as legs!
	As the path levels out, there is a junction of paths. Bear left to continue descending …
	After about 100 yards there is a sharp left turn
	… so that you are heading south west. The path leads down to a post and wire fence - walk south alongside the fence …
	… until you arrive at this gate. Go through the gate and almost immediately turn left.
	From here, follow the yellow markers for the Sandbed Gill Trail.
	It's right at this junction …
	… and continue downhill through the woods.
	Where the path meets the road, we turned left onto the road and walked the short distance back to the car park.

Other walks near here:

All text and images ©Graham Dean, June, 2017.

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