From Millbeck a signpost says "Skiddaw".  An easy path leads through a gate and after 100 yards the path I would use in descent came down from White Stones to the left.  I headed straight on up Slades Beck until I reached the larch tree marking the foot of Black Beck.  A tough walk up from the foot of the beck followed.  Steep heather and bilberry slopes were hard on man and dog - it was a moot point as to whether Polly or me was the most tired after 20 minutes hard work to reach the foot of the rocks.  Andrew Leaney did a rather similar ascent (but his was up to Skiddaw Lesser Man on the other side of Grey Crags) a few weeks back on his marathon Skiddaw week - I think he chose the better route!

Once I reached the arete the going eased.  It was just as steep but a mixture of grass and rock proved to give better footing than heather and that horrible slate scree which even Polly had come to hate.

We lunched just below Little Man summit - out of the wind which was surprisingly cold for June - but then Skiddaw is always a cold mountain in my experience.  Then up to the lower summit and on to Skiddaw itself.  Polly stopped at every cairn and shelter looking for food but I didn't give her any more until we reached Whitesones on the descent from Carlside.  There I met an Australian family and walked with them back to Millbeck and gave them a lift back to their holiday let in Keswick.  Giving lifts to Australian walkers is another hobby of mine!  ;)

Of my 5 "unfrequented" Wainwrights this is the one I would recommend the least.  I'm glad I have done it and the views are great but none of this really compensates for that slog up the heather and scree below the arete.  And the arete is not really testingThe other three are quite highly recommended.

Enjoy the pics - you may never see some of the views again - I reckon the route gets 20 ascents a year - if it is lucky!

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/559631608WgNSfE  

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