The route I chose started with a short walk along the B5322 to the gate that leads up to Castle Rock then turn left along the leat marked on the map, along the wall as far as Fornside, then pick up the old peat track that zig zags up the fell side and, again, is marked on the map. This peat track was used to transport cut peat from higher on the fell and the bottom of it starts around NY3230 2075 and terminates at a sheepfold type construction at around NY3270 2125.
From the sheepfold we took a raising traverse towards Clough Head and picked up the path leading to it. From that point on it was plain sailing. We arrived at Clough Head with nice views north, but towards Great Dodd, Watsons Dodd and the rest of our route was all obscured with cloud.
The walk over to Calfhow Pike was o.k albeit a bit soggy and was clear of clag but we were soon heading into it, ah well, we're familiar with that theme.
Once in the cloud, we stayed in it all the way to White Side, made one or two variations to the route when looking for the cairns on Watsons Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd, as was a mountain biker who we met on three occasions looking for the way to Calfhow Pike, we put him right in the end so off he went into the gloom, hope he found his way.
We did meet a few people on our way and had a natter with a few, the general feeling was one of "at least it's warm" and "it's not raining yet" and really, it was'nt too bad, just the cloud was a bit of a downer, so that explains the lack of interesting photo's on this report, it wasn't until we were coming off White Side when the cloud started breaking and we had some views, ain't that the case for all of us.
From Sticks Pass up to Raise the ground changes from grassy slopes to more rugged underfoot, here we were passed by a large group of moutainbikers who seemed to have no fear at all, they came off the top of Raise at full pelt, how they stayed upright I'll never know but they seemed to glide over the boulders and rocks as if spurned on by divine intervention or was it they just knew what they were doing, quite impressive all the same.
Next up was White Side and, as mentioned, just as we were leaving the cairn the clouds parted and we were treated to some good views at last.
We had a good day out and were lucky with the weather to a degree, the cloud is just one of those things in the hills, we'd never get out if we waited for decent weather and good visability.
- On the way up the peat track, over to Great How
- Skiddaw in the clouds, the light seemed a bit subdued and as a consequence my little point and shoot didn't deal with it so well
- Bram Crag looking steep and quite impressive
- Denise on Clough Head, the views from here on a good clear day must be something special most of Lakeland can be seen from here.
- Clouds rolling in
- Great Dodd in the cloud, Calfhow Pike is the little lump on the right of the main hillside, it's described as being similar in looks to a Dartmoor tor, closer up it does, from a distance it's quite indistinct
- Denise on Calfhow Pike, Clough head behind.
- Great Dodd, no views then?
- Watsons Dodd, took a bit of finding in the mist or we just missed the path leading to it
- Stybarrow Dodd, same old view, ah well
- Raise, there was a group of moutainbikers up here most of which were Americans with a guide, they seemed to be quite impressed with the terrain.
- Impressive Views
- White Side, just before the big revelation.
- Cloud getting Thinner.
- As if by magic wonderful views appear
- Better and better
- Thirlmere appearing, not the best but I wanted to get a shot while I could.
- Now we were getting a sence of scale.
- Skiddaw in the distance looking brooding amongst the cloud.
- Looking back, Watsons Dodd still in cloud.
- Down towards Legburthwaite and High Rigg
- Same View slightly zoomed
- What's that bright light?
- A bit better view of Thirlmere Autumn colours abound.
- A shot of the leat, I'm not sure what this provided the power for but there was (or still is) a sawmill around here and I wonder if the leat drove a waterwheel to power the saws, I'm probably wrong, if anybody know's I'd like to hear what it was for.
