Skiddaw House

Built around 1829 as a keeper's lodge for the Earl of Egremont. It was originally divided into two seperate dwellings; one side for the gamekeeper’s family and the other for a shepherd’s family. In 1957 the Estate was broken up and Skiddaw House was sold to a local farmer. Pearson Dalton, a shepherd, lived alone in the house for the next twelve years. In 1986 it was handed over to the YHA and operated as a simple hostel until 2002 when it closed and began to fall into disrepair. It reopened in 2007 and has been welcoming guests ever since.

I have visited many times. It is passed on one of our preferred routes up or down Skiddaw, and I have a romantic fascination for it.