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First day walking in the Lakes this year, and needed something relatively small to get a gauge of where we are at fitness/health wise. Hartsop Dodd was right outside the door of the cottage we are staying at, and seemed like it would fit the bill. The ascent we selected is considered boring by Wainwright, but that was just fine for us - gentle gradients are good.
Caudale BeckA fine day as we left the cottage and headed up over the road to the fellside.
Hartsop Dodd from the cottageInitial paths were a little confusing as many seemed to want to go up to Caudale Moor or the quarry on its flanks. But all the paths were good - many furrowed into the ground - and the gradients fairly gentle
View back to Dove DaleAnother viewPath in a grooveThe first landmark was reached when we got to a corner of a broken-down wall that meant we were close to the end of the ascent phase of the walk, and into a ridge walk mostly downhill to the summit.
Reached the first wallThe summit itself is rather underwhelming, with no obvious "high point" but a decent cairn,
Underwhelming summitAnd some nice views towards Fairfield, and to the east towards Gray Crags.
Panorama from summitLorraine usually ends up conducting business from the summit, as it's the only place we get phone signal...
Summit phone callsLooking back at our starting pointSummit panoramaFrom the summit we set off downhill heading straight towards Dove Crag initially (as instructed by AW) and sure enough we soon came across one of the zigzags of the old path down the side. Probably wouldn't have wanted to come up that way but as a descent it was pleasant enough - not too steep (or at least the zigzags took the steepness out of it) and good underfoot.
Near the bottom of the descent we came across a group of trees clinging to rocks - in some cases growing stright out of the top of a rock. I suppose a tree needs to find a spot that the sheep can't reach to even get started...
Trees clinging to rocksAnd back to the cottage in plenty of time - enough time for a walk around Brothers Water to fill in time before dinner. A good first day and did not stretch our capabilities too far - enough in reserve to go for something a little bigger tomorrow.