Route: Great Borne and Starling Dodd
Area: Western Lake District
Date of walk: 2nd July 2013
Walkers: Andrew Gilly and James
Distance: 7.9 miles
Ascent: 2,200 feet
We set off with low expectations of the weather conditions, so were not surprised to be accompanied by grey skies and plenty of drizzle along the way – but at least the predicted rain held back and the cloud base was above these two fells
We parked at Bowness Knott and walked back along the road for a short distance before turning off to ascend Great Borne via Rake Beck. Higher up this became quite interesting with some mild scrambling and a couple of sections where the path had disappeared into the gully below
Once out of the gully it was easy going to the summit of Great Borne (2,019 feet) and then across and up to Starling Dodd (2,085 feet). It was very windy on the tops and a struggle to stay upright at times
We descended from Starling Dodd back to valley level and along the well made forest track by the side of Ennerdale Water
Despite the dull weather we enjoyed our time time on these remote fells, and rewarded ourselves on the way back with lunch at our favourite pub – the Kirkstile Inn at Loweswater
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
James and Gilly at the start of the walk. Herdus is ahead, and our route is to the right of it
A view back from the start of the climb alongside Rake Beck
Looking back over Ennerdale Water
Bonnie
The steep section near the top - it can’t be done with hands in pockets
The waterfall was being blown back uphill at times!
The path has fallen away here - be careful James
The path starts to level out……
……and we’re soon at the summit of Great Borne
The next objective is Starling Dodd, an easy down and up
Looking back to Great Borne
The summit cairn of Starling Dodd is a tangle of old iron fence posts and a few stones
Hang onto your hats!
Red Pike with its head in the clouds. We shall be turning right just after the small hill ahead known as Little Dodd
Heading back down into Ennerdale valley
Looking further down Ennerdale, with Pillar on the right
Back to valley level now, and it’s an easy (though long) stroll back to Bowness Knott
Bonnie is rewarded with a swim before we get back to the car…
….and this is my reward, cheers!
