free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Considering it was now mid-august our Wainwright bagging hadn't been quite as prolific as hoped this year. (so far we had only added 16 new fells) A Weekend in the Lakes at the end of the month should help matters but we decided to brave a slightly iffy forecast to get things going again.
We could see from the A66 that the Eastern Fells were getting a good soaking but the heavy shower had passed by the time we shoehorned the car into Cow Bridge car park at Brothers Water. Heavy overnight rain had swollen Brothers Water to bursting point and also soaked the paths but as the sun came out it was a pleasant stroll along to our first target of the day.
Dorothy Wordsworth once wrote of Brothers water in 1802, “..
.the boughs of the bare old trees, the simplicity of the mountains, and the exquisite beauty of the path...the gentle flowing of the stream, the glittering, lively lake, green fields without a living creature to be seen on them.”
Not a lot has changed since then apart from the addition of a few hundred sheep and the name, which was changed from Broad Water to Brothers Water later in the 19th century following the tragic drowning of two brothers. I've always thought of it as a very strangely shaped natural body of water with its straight edges and the fact that it so readily expands into nearby fields.
Angle Tarn Pikes from Brothers Water by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Hartsop Dodd and a very full Brothers Water by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Onwards we went with the magnificent Dovedale skyline looking particularly impressive. It was decided to get the hard work over with first and headed past High Hartsop Dodd and onto the equally steep but considerably higher Middle Dodd.
Dovedale by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Click on Link for larger version
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnkaysleftleg/9570827687/in/photostream/This route was described by Wainwright as "
only for pedestrians suffering from a surplus of energy" and it is certainly unrelentingly steep until the small summit cairn of the fell comes into view. As recompense of the steepness the views are fantastic and any excuse to stop and admire them was readily taken.
The weather was turning into Classic Lakeland conditions with a patchwork of sun and showers and a stiff breeze. We were treated to a rainbow over Brothers Water but the showers that threatened fortunately never amounted to much.
Just how did they build that? by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Rainbow on the way up Middle Dodd by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Looking towards Brothers Water by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Mountain Layers by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Middle Dodd with Red Screes beyond by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Grace apparently needing a wee on Middle Dodd by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
We lunched on the top of Middle Dodd, finding a place out of the wind before making our way up the steady slopes to the high point of the day, Red Screes. Unfortunately the Weather was looking like it was closing in at this point so the views to the West weren't quite what they could be. We had our coffee fearing that the gloom to the West would bring us rain and make sitting drinking a cuppa difficult.
Middle Dodd from the ascent of Red Screes by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Red Screes Summit by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Family Summit Shot on Red Screes by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Kirkstone Pass from Red Screes Summit by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Windermere from Red Screes by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
The descent from Red Screes is perhaps the only part of this walk that is somewhat disappointing as you make your way down bland slopes towards the Scandale pass. Once the pass is reached and you start the gentle climb to Little Hart Crag the interest gradually returns.
Little Hart Crag catches some light by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Scandale Pass by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
For whatever reason the wind was very strong on Little Hart Crag summit, so much so it was a little difficult to stand up. As a result we didn't linger long and made our way along the ridge to the final top of the day. This is a fine stroll with great views (complete with another rainbow) and soon enough we were at the final lump on the ridge, the recognized summit of High Hartsop Dodd. The "high" part of the name refers to the geography rather than the height as this is actually the lowest of the three Dodds in this part of the world.
Scandale from Little Hart Crag by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Red Screes and Middle Dodd by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Grace and Hughie on High Hartsop Dodd by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Somewhere over the Rainbow by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Brothers Water from High Hartsop Dodd by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
A relatively short and sharp descent with great views took us back to the pastures below. It was then a case of walking past the thankfully placid bull and Brothers Water to get back to the Car.
Looking back at High Hartsop Dodd by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
Old Farm Building in Dovedale by
johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr
This is a fine circuit with great views and it’s fairly quiet too (Red Screes summit apart we saw only a hand full of other walkers on the Hills). All in all a fine day out in excellent hill walking weather and another four ticked off.
