Route: Clough Head and the Dodds
Area: Eastern Lake District
Date of walk: 1st June 2014
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 8.7 miles
Weather: sunny at times but very hazy on the tops
Gilly dropped me off near Stanah and would pick me up at the end of the walk in order to make this linear walk possible. I made my way up to Sticks Pass and as I did so kept turning around to admire the lovely views back. Sadly the higher I climbed the hazier it got and by the time I reached the first summit, Stybarrow Dodd, the views were very poor – a real shame, as the fells themselves lack dramatic mountain features
Once at the top of one Dodd, it’s a doddle getting to the others and I followed easy paths over the undulating grassy tops over to Watson’s Dodd and then to Great Dodd
The final summit, Clough Head, was some distance away but the same grassy terrain made it quite easy going. After reaching the top I made my way down to Wanthwaite, where Gilly was waiting for me
The photos that follow reflect the poor conditions once I’d reached higher ground, but despite this I’d had a wonderful time walking at high level with background music supplied by skylarks. I only passed one other person during the entire walk
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
From Stanah, where Gilly dropped me off
Walking up the lane towards the fellside
I follow the sign to Sticks Pass
Stanah Gill
There were good views back from the early part of the climb
Thirlmere comes into view
Looking back down to the start
Thirlmere
Looking towards Skiddaw and Bassenthwaite in the distance
I finally reach the crossroads that is Sticks Pass, here looking towards Raise and the ski lift left of picture
From Sticks Pass, looking in the direction of Ullswater
And again from the Pass, this is the path I follow up to Stybarrow Dodd
Looking back to Sticks Pasa and Raise
At the top of Stybarrow Dodd
The path to Watson’s Dodd
Summit of Watson’s Dodd, looking toward the next fell - Great Dodd
Looking towards the North West fells
Great Dodd summit shelter, lower than the actual summit
Calfhow Pike on the left on the way to the last fell, Clough Head
It’s good to see a few rocks at last - Calfhow Pike looking towards Clough Head
The OS column at the summit of Clough Head, looking towards Blencathra
Blencathra, currently for sale!
On the way down now, Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell are to the right
On the old coach road
High Rigg and Low Rigg
What a welcome sight - Gilly!
Wanthwaite - journey’s end
