Great Dodd, Watson's Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd, Raise, Hart Side
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 11:24 amMy birthday today. Robert back at work revising, so it's just Lorraine, Sarah, Thomas, me and the dogs. Forecast looks good as we set off from the cottage intending to tackle the north end of the Helvellyn ridge. We are not sure whether we will get as far as Raise (though we would like to, as it's not likely to be easy to include in any future walk otherwise).
Setting off from High Brow cottage
The cottage we have rented for the week is a few yards from the start of the Old Coach Road, near Dockray.
Up the road towards the Old Coach Road
We set off up the road in high spirits. It's always nice to be able to walk "from the door" without having to drive anywhere first.
Start of the Old Coach Road
Old Coach Road
Lovely blue skies as we set off up the Old Coach Road, as far as the ford
On the Old Coach Road
At the ford we make a left turn and head up beside Groove Beck towards Great Dodd. The signpost claims it's 2.5 miles to Great Dodd from here.
Heading up Groove Beck
Wainwright describes this route as one of the easiest climbs in Lakeland, with gentle gradients throughout, but otherwise without merit.
He's right about the gradient, but I'm not sure I agree with him about the rest - it was boggy in places, but apart from that I found it pretty enjoyable. A real feeling of wilderness, with no other walkers to be seen, and skylarks loudly proclaiming their territories ever few yards.
From summit of Great Dodd
After Randerside the bogs subsided and the views improved, and before long we were at the top of Great Dodd. Great views in all directions.
From summit of Great Dodd
We didn't linger too long before setting off down towards Watson's Dodd
Heading down to Watson's Dodd
The ascent of Watson's Dodd from Great Dodd can hardly be called an ascent at all, with the tiniest of uphill required at the end. But despite the ease of access, the summit of Watson's Dodd is a pleasant-enough spot and teh views lovely.
View from Watson's Dodd
View from Watson's Dodd
View from Watson's Dodd
View from Watson's Dodd
View from Watson's Dodd
We headed on to Stybarrow Dodd - a little confusion about exactly which cairn was the summit. The path from Watson's Dodd leads confidently to the southern cairn, but looking back the northern one looked higher. We visited both to be sure, and ate our lunch in the wind shelter near the northern cairn.
We had made good time, the weather looked good, and it was clear that we could bybass Stybarrow Dodd on the return, so we decided that we would include Raise in the walk after all. The character of the ridge seems to change quite markedly at Sticks Pass, and the ascent to Raise from there was the first time we had walked on stone (rather than grass) since leaving the Old Coach Road). There was also a tiny patch of snow to be crossed.
Helvellyn, from Raise
The summit of Raise appears very suddenly when ascending from Sticks Pass - I thought it was just another cairn along the path until I got close enough to see the ground drop away behind it. Very satisfying after being fooled the other way by many false summits in the past.
Summit of Raise
From Raise we took the path back down to Sticks Pass, then branched right across the flank of Stybarrow Dodd towards Green Side.
We headed up and over the hause between Stybarrow Dodd and Green Side to pick up the path to Hart Side.
Heading down towards Hart Side
Heading down towards Hart Side
All easy walking from this point, gradually heading downhill.
Heading down towards Hart Side
From Hart Side we descended via Birkett's Fell and a very wet path to Dowthwaitehead, then a half-mile up the road (and uphill - never welcome at the end of a long walk) back to the cottage.
A great way to celebrate my birthday, and to reach my half-way point towards completing my 214 Wainwrights