Lake District
Skiddaw Middle Top
929M
3047FT
About Skiddaw Middle Top
High on the windswept ridge of England’s fourth-highest mountain, this Birkett summit offers a slightly quieter perspective than the nearby High Man. The terrain is typical of the Skiddaw slate—broad, stony, and exposed—providing a clear, airy vantage point over Bassenthwaite Lake and the distant Solway Firth.
Key Statistics
Rank
8th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Northern Fells
Prominence
?
10.1m
Nearest Town
Applethwaite
Geology
You are standing on the Kirk Stile Formation, a foundation built from layers of ancient mud and silt that have hardened into solid stone.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY260288
Latitude
54.6491°N
Longitude
3.1474°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Skiddaw is likely derived from the Old Norse 'skyti' and 'haugr', meaning archer’s hill, though the Middle Top suffix is a modern descriptive addition to mark this specific high point on the long summit ridge.
- •While Alfred Wainwright considered this part of the main Skiddaw mass, it gained individual status as a Birkett, being one of the few points in England to exceed the 3,000-foot mark outside of the Scafell and Helvellyn ranges.
- •The summit offers a superior view of the 'Back o' Skiddaw', looking down the long valley of Dash Beck towards the lonely slopes of Great Calva and the remote wilderness of Mungrisdale Common.
- •The ground here is composed of ancient Skiddaw Slate; these are some of the oldest rocks in the Lake District, predating the volcanic activity that formed the more rugged central fells like Langdale or Scafell.
- •It is a useful destination for those who find the main summit trig point a little too metropolitan, offering almost identical views with significantly less competition for a seat.