free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
I've posted nearly a hundred Scottish walk reports but this is my first for walks outside Scotland. My user name comes from fact I usually walk with my dogs and am not going to win any prizes for speed! The dogs are both 10 now so their Munro-bagging days are numbered, the male in particular slowing down and having issues with his joints poor chap. But it's fitting they climbed a hill in the northwest of England as they're both rescue labradors and came from Labrador Rescue NW near Chorley.
We drove to Hawes End and followed signs for parking which led to a farmer's field already well filled with cars and an honesty box asking for £3 per car. Not sure if everyone parked there put money in but if they did the farmer would be doing quite well if this was a typical day!
Start of walk up Catbells
Derwentwater
Clouds
Hot day for a climb
Newlands Valley
We stopped for a drink and a rest on a grassy slope on Skelgill Bank with lovely views of the lake. This was Pete's first hill since major surgery so we both agreed he shouldn't push himself but wait there while I went on to the summit with the dogs. At this point we gave most of our precious drinking water (bought in Booths in Keswick) to the dogs because unlike most Scottish hills there appeared to be no natural water on Catbells.
Catbells from Skelgill Bank
South end of Derwentwater
Steep rocky section at top
Tess looking back for Pete
Jack feeling the heat
The final rocky part looked fun but for the sake of the dogs I took a line to the left up steep grass which is easier on their paws. I did however come down the rocky path and the dogs managed fine. It was a very busy hill but when I reached the top there was just a couple there - the man taking a photo of the woman at the summit (though with no cairn or trig it's difficult to know the exact point that counts as summit!). I asked if they'd like me to take a photo of them together and the man said I could if I liked..... but they weren't actually together!
Tess at top
On the way up someone told me there were pools of water at the top. It had rained the day before but in the heat these pools had shrunk to puddles - but it was enough for the dogs to have another good drink.
Skiddaw
Continuation of path south
Derwent Fells
Keswick from Catbells
I headed down as quickly as I could to find Pete reading his book on his grassy bank and we finished the walk together. Lower down there were sheep about so I put Jack back on the lead - although to be honest he was too exhausted with the heat to even consider any illegal moves! It was probably too hot for him and I found a few shady spots beside high bracken for him to lie down and rest.
After we got back to the car and put our £3 in the honesty box I found the large bottle of fizzy water I'd bought in Booths to await our return had exploded in the heat and only had an inch of liquid left in it and not even a hint of dampness on the car floor. Then we headed for the lake where the dogs had a refreshing swim - bliss!
Two days later I left the dogs to go for a walk by the lake with Pete and set off with Moira and Sandra to climb Dodd. We parked in the large Dodd Woods car park which you pass on the road to Bassenthwaite from where good paths radiate out in various directions. We were heading for the top of Dodd which had us climbing steadily through trees up the side of a river with no views until we were out of the woods.
Moira and Sandra coming up the path - not quite out of the woods yet!
The track swung west and we got our first view of Keswick and Derwentwater
View south to Catbells where I'd been two days earlier
Keswick - memorable for its welcoming attitude to dogs in shops and pubs!
The good path leads at a steady but gentle gradient to the top of Dodd where a headstone of local rock marks the summit.
The girls at Dodd summit
View south from Dodd
Lake Bassenthwaite and distant Galloway hills from Dodd
South end of Lake Bassenthwaite from the return path (more scenic than the outward one)
Two stunning lakeland walks which showed off the beauty of the Lake District at its best!
But my final photo goes to the day between the walks when we celebrated my son's birthday in the Sun Inn, Bassenthwaite - one of many eating places in the area which welcomes dogs.
Birthday meal with son, daughter in law, four grandsons - and the dogs!
