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Robert's birthday today, so he opted to have a day doing nothing (weird - on my birthday I opt to have a day walking the fells). The other kids decided to stay home too, so just Lorraine and me today.
We decided to do Clough Head today, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it's not going to be easy to include in a ridge walk with all the "Dodds" of the north Helvellyn ridge. Secondly, although it's a relatively long walk from our cottage, it should be an easy one (as it involves 2.5 miles each way on the Old Coach Road, which is fairly level), and so should continue our "breaking in".
The cottage we are staying at is right next to the start of the Dockray end of the Old Coach Road.
Near the start of the Old Coach RoadThe walk along the Old Coach road was long, but still very enjoyable with splendid scenery, not too many people, and very easy terrain.
Looking back along Old Coach Road
Cyclists at the ford
Clough Head in sight
Old shed, with Mell Fells in backgroundThis old shed looks like it was once a railway wagon, but not sure how it found its way up to the Old Coach Road if so. Certainly looks like it has seen better days,
Just after the old shed, we took a left turn up the side of Clough Head. The going was fairly steep but not excessive, and before too long we reached the ridge near White Pike. It was pretty windy on the ridge - we met a man who had decided to turn back because the wind was scaring his dog - but the new walking gear was coping well and we were soon at the top.
Summit of Clough HeadWe didn't stay long at the top, preferring to get out of the wind as soon as we could. The plan was to descend to Calfhow Pike and then make the decision whether to return via the top of Great Dodd and down its ridge, or via the stream and back to the Old Coach Road - in the end we decided on the latter, knowing that we would be doing Great Dodd later in the week anyway, and with the weather looking like it might deteriorate.
Looking back at Clough HeadWe stopped for lunch at a lovely peaceful spot just before crossing the stream, then followed it along a very boggy (and slippery) path back to the Old Coach Road. The return leg along the road seemed shorter than it had on the outward trip, and we were soon back at the cottage.
An enjoyable walk, not too hard (but not too easy either, and the scenery along the Old Coach Road means that even though it's technically a road (we did see a couple of vehicles on it), it's a very pleasant path to walk too.
