It’s a bright, sunny morning and the birds are singing as I’m dropped off at the old coach road at Wanthwaite bridge, the start point of today’s walk. The high pressure weather system that has brought unseasonable Mediterranean heat to our shores continues to linger over the country into a second week and even though it’s early the temperature is already in the mid 20c’s . As soon as I start walking I realise that my poles, instead of being strapped to my rucksack are sitting in the back of the camper. It looks like today is going to be powered by legs only.
I’m a relative newcomer to poles, taking them up only in my mid fifties. My knees, joints and legs have since enjoyed their benefits and I certainly wish I had invested in a pair years earlier. Today’s walk takes me over Clough Head and then a series of Dodd’s – Great Dodd, Watsons Dodd and finally Stybarrow Dodd before dropping down to the Sticks Pass and then the Greenside road into Glenridding.
After a brief bit of woodland by Hilltop Farm, the coach road reaches the open fell and it’s a pleasant incline up with good views across the Glendermackin valley to the giants that are Skiddaw and Blencathra. I keep a look out for the source of Hause well, marked on the OS map but although I can see where the water stops flowing down the drainage ditch I can’t honestly say I can see a spring flowing from the rock.
A little further on there is a gate in the fence and this marks the start of the business end of the day, a steep climb up the grass to Clough Head. I switch into low gear and, missing my poles, take a steady walk up the hillside. As height is gained the views of the surrounding area open up. As well as Skiddaw and Blencathra, Little and Great Mell Fell, looking like mole hills can be seen to the east and far beyond them, the Pennine hills.
Eventually, after a bit of toil and sweat in the ever warming sun the gradient eases at White Pike. From here to the summit the walking is very pleasant indeed, walking along the top of Red Screes at 2,100ft the views over to the Northern Fells and down to Keswick and Derwentwater, shimmering in the sunshine are glorious.
The path rises up slightly to the summit and before long I am standing at the trig point, breathing in the clear mountain air and rejoicing in the panorama of mountains, from Newlands to Coledale and then onto the Northern fells, that are all laid out before me. I have the summit to myself and it is somehow satisfying to know that I am the only person in the world enjoying this view at this moment. As Wainwright says “This is an excellent viewpoint” and being early the view is still clear and not interrupted by a heat haze. I eat a banana and some fruit jellies, drink a load of water and suitably refreshed, both in body and soul continue along the obvious path that drops away from Clough Head heading towards the little anomaly that is Calfhow Pike, a pile of rock in a sea of grass.
After Calfhow Pike the ground rises, the second significant bit of uphill of the day to reach the summit of Great Dodd. Great Dodd is the high point of the day, in measurement at least, being 2,807ft but probably not in experience as the summit is a small cluster of rocks on a wide plateau. Clough Head is much prettier in my opinion. Coming up from Dockray I meet my first other walkers of the day.
From Great Dodd it is really just a stroll over to Watson’s Dodd which can be seen from the summit. From here Thirlmere can be seen down in the valley below, the ring around its edge reflecting the dry weather we have been having and the low level of the reservoir.
From Watson’s Dodd the path rises slightly towards my final summit of the day, Stybarrow Dodd. As the path itself bypasses the summit you need to keep an eye on your map or GPS to know when to leave it otherwise you will bypass it yourself. Similarly to the other Dodds, the summit of Stybarrow Dodd is really just a pile of rocks On a wide flat summit.
Because the path does not lead to its summit, Stybarrow Dodd is perhaps the least visited of the Dodds and has a slightly forgotten feel to it. From Stybarrow Dodd the high ground is kept for only a short while until it drops down into the Sticks Pass.
Although the Dodds summits themselves might be slightly disappointing in that they are devoid of much interest, the highlight of the day was undoubtedly the glorious walking along miles of high ground that gave hour after hour of magnificent views of the Lakeland fells. The weather also played its part, being dry and sunny (although baking hot) all day.
Once the sticks pass path is reached a left turn is made to follow it down through the mine workings at Greenside and then down the Greenside road into Glenridding. The sticks pass is shown as a bridleway and it’s evident that it is very popular with mountain bikers. I certainly missed my poles when descending as it’s very worn with small pebbly stones and in some places completely worn away to a smooth ice rink surface. I was glad to arrive at the Greenside road without having gone head over heels on the zig zags.
After twenty minutes or so walking down the Greenside road I arrive at a busy Glenridding, meet up with Mrs E and enjoy some ice cold refreshments.
For a map, route details and picture gallery of this walk click on ‘Learn more’ below
