24th May 2022 - The Dodds
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.2 miles
Total ascent: 2565 ft
OS map used: OL5 - The English Lakes, Northeastern area
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: High Row-Dowthwaitehead-Brown Hills-Birkett Fell-Hart Side-Green Side-Stybarrow Dodd-Watson's Dodd-Great Dodd-Calfhow Pike-Clough Head-White Pike-Old Coach Road-High Row
For my second walk of the week I decided to do a walk on the Dodds, the grassy rounded hills of the eastern fells north of Helvellyn. I visited five Wainwrights on the route that I did today; three of which, Watson's Dodd, Great Dodd, and Clough Head, counted towards my second round as the last time I was on them was in 2009. These fells make for easy walking once up on them with firm ground underfoot and gradients that aren't too steep, but I didn't have the best weather for taking them in. It was cool and windy throughout, especially up on the fells, any sunshine was quite limited, and every now and then the cloud was thick enough for a fairly brief shower to pass through. When it did it felt quite bleak.
After parking at High Row above Dockray I walked down the road to Dowthwaitehead and to its end at Dowthwaitehead Farm, where I took the public footpath south across Aira Beck and up across Watermillock Common to its top at the wall on Brown Hills. I left the footpath here and followed the wall up the hillside to reach Birkett Fell, then I made my way up to the first Wainwright of the day, Hart Side. From Hart Side I made my way southwest across the moor to Green Side, where I found a sheltered spot to stop for lunch. After the break I left Green Side and made my way up to the summit of Stybarrow Dodd, then north to Watson's Dodd, Great Dodd, Calfhow Pike and the final Wainwright of the day, Clough Head. From the trig point on Clough Head I made my way northeast to the rocky knoll of White Pike and then down the hillside to the track of the Old Coach Road. I then followed the Old Coach Road east all the way back to where I was parked at High Row.
Total ascent: 2565 ft
OS map used: OL5 - The English Lakes, Northeastern area
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: High Row-Dowthwaitehead-Brown Hills-Birkett Fell-Hart Side-Green Side-Stybarrow Dodd-Watson's Dodd-Great Dodd-Calfhow Pike-Clough Head-White Pike-Old Coach Road-High Row
For my second walk of the week I decided to do a walk on the Dodds, the grassy rounded hills of the eastern fells north of Helvellyn. I visited five Wainwrights on the route that I did today; three of which, Watson's Dodd, Great Dodd, and Clough Head, counted towards my second round as the last time I was on them was in 2009. These fells make for easy walking once up on them with firm ground underfoot and gradients that aren't too steep, but I didn't have the best weather for taking them in. It was cool and windy throughout, especially up on the fells, any sunshine was quite limited, and every now and then the cloud was thick enough for a fairly brief shower to pass through. When it did it felt quite bleak.
After parking at High Row above Dockray I walked down the road to Dowthwaitehead and to its end at Dowthwaitehead Farm, where I took the public footpath south across Aira Beck and up across Watermillock Common to its top at the wall on Brown Hills. I left the footpath here and followed the wall up the hillside to reach Birkett Fell, then I made my way up to the first Wainwright of the day, Hart Side. From Hart Side I made my way southwest across the moor to Green Side, where I found a sheltered spot to stop for lunch. After the break I left Green Side and made my way up to the summit of Stybarrow Dodd, then north to Watson's Dodd, Great Dodd, Calfhow Pike and the final Wainwright of the day, Clough Head. From the trig point on Clough Head I made my way northeast to the rocky knoll of White Pike and then down the hillside to the track of the Old Coach Road. I then followed the Old Coach Road east all the way back to where I was parked at High Row.
Route map
On the road from High Row down to Dowthwaitehead
Looking across the valley of Aira Beck to Gowbarrow Fell with the far eastern fells in the distance
At the end of the road at Dowthwaitehead Farm
Crossing Aira Beck
Looking back to Dowthwaitehead Farm beneath Dowthwaite Crag from the footpath up onto Watermillock Common
and down the valley of Aira Beck to Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell
The moorland of Watermillock Common
At the top of the footpath on Brown Hills and this is where I'll leave it to follow the wall up to Birkett Fell. I have a view across Glencoyne to Sheffield Pike on the left and to Helvellyn through the gap to its right.
Finally at the top of the wall just below Birkett Fell. Below is the valley of Aira Beck and Watermillock Common, with Great and Little Mell Fells, Gowbarrow Fell and Ullswater beyond.
At the cairn on Birkett Fell. I have an extensive to the east from up here, all the way to the North Pennines in the far distance.
Place Fell, High Raise, High Street, Caudale Moor, Red Screes, Sheffield Pike, St. Sunday Crag and the other fells around Patterdale
The featureless slopes of Hart Side rise to the west
To their right, the rounded dome of Great Dodd
It was a short walk from Birkett Fell to the top of Hart Side. High Raise, High Street, Caudale Moor, Sheffield Pike, Red Screes, and St. Sunday Crag in view to the southeast across Patterdale.
Another cairn a short distance away gives me a great view to the northeast down the valley of Aira Beck to the Mell Fells and Gowbarrow Fell, with the North Pennines in the far distance
Leaving Hart Side for Green Side ahead, and then Stybarrow Dodd to the right
Looking back to Hart Side
On the summit of Green Side, which isn't a Wainwright. It's a bit on the cool and windy side up here.
Looking across Patterdale to Place Fell, High Raise, High Sreet and Caudale Moor
To the south, Catstycam, Helvellyn and Raise
Heading for Stybarrow Dodd
Looking back to Green Side
Catstycam, Raise, Helvellyn, Helvellyn Lower Man and White Side from the top of Stybarrow Dodd. To the right is Stybarrow Dodd's slightly lower south top.
Looking west to the fells around Borrowdale and the Newlands Valley
Skiddaw and Blencathra behind Watson's Dodd and Great Dodd
Looking down the valley of Deepdale to Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell
It's a short walk to Watson's Dodd
At the summit cairn on Watson's Dodd. Looking south to Stybarrow Dodd, Raise, Helvellyn, White Side, and Helvellyn Lower Man.
I have a better view to the southwest and west from here than from Stybarrow Dodd. The ground drops steeply down to Thirlmere with High Seat and the other central fells on its other side, then in the distance is Great Gable, the fells around Buttermere and Borrowdale, Crag Hill and Grisedale Pike.
To the west and northwest; Bleaberry Fell, Crag Hill, Grisedale Pike, High Rigg, Keswick, St. John's in the Vale, and Skiddaw
Next stop, Great Dodd
Looking back to Watson's Dodd as I head for Great Dodd
and south to Stybarrow Dodd and Helvellyn as I near the top of Great Dodd
On the summit of Great Dodd. The weather is a bit inclement up here, it's windy and a bit cool for the second half of May. At the moment I have a view to the east across the far eastern fells to the North Pennines in the far distance.
As a shower passes through the visibility deteriorates..
..and I seek shelter
The shower soon clears, the visibility improves, and I can take in the view from the summit of Great Dodd. Crag Hill, Grisedale Pike, Keswick, the Whinlatter fells, and Skiddaw to the west and northwest.
It looks pretty bleak with very little in the way of brightness around..
..especially to the south around Helvellyn
Next is Clough Head, via the rocky knoll of Calfhow Pike..
The view from Calfhow Pike isn't too bad. Crag Hill, Grisedale Pike, the Vale of Keswick, the Whinlatter fells, and Skiddaw to the west and northwest.
The ground drops steeply down to Thirlmere and St. John's in the Vale with High Seat and Bleaberry Fell on the other side, then in the distance are the fells around Buttermere, Borrowdale and the Newlands Valley. It looks like the weather might be improving.
I finally arrive at the trig point on Clough Head, the last summit of the day
The better weather has arrived at just the right time to take in the best views of the day. That of the Vale of Keswick and Skiddaw.
and of Threlkeld and Blencathra
A long distance view to the North Pennines
Ullscarf, Bowfell, Esk Pike, a cloud-topped Scafell Pike, Lingmell, Great Gable, Kirk Fell, Pillar, and High Stile to the southwest
From the top of Clough Head I make my way to White Pike for a descent to the track of the Old Coach Road
Walking east along the Old Coach Road beneath Wolf Crags..
Looking back to Clough Head
and across Threlkeld Common to Blencathra
A fine end to the afternoon as I walk back to High Row