Saturday 10th January — Clough Head and Great Dodd

Meet time: 9.15am

Start time: 9.30am

Estimated finish time: 2pm to 2.30 pm.

Distance: About 8.41 miles (13.53 kilometres).

Ascent: About 2000 feet (610 meters).

Ramblers walk grading: B (Moderate).

Start point: High Row (Google Map coordinates: 54°35’18.7″N 2°57’39.8″W)

Postcode: CA11 0LG

Car parking: There are a few car parks, lay-bys and flat grassy areas adjacent to the T-junction on the road. One way getting there is to enter the village of Dockray (close to Aira Force) and follow Crag Side road. Another way is coming over the top of the A5091 and following the New Road / Regional Route 71 that goes along the border of a forest.

It is the responsibility of each walker to make sure they understand where to park. If you are not sure where the car parking/meeting point is, you must contact the walk leader at the latest the day before the walk. You should not rely on mobile phones or postcodes. There is often no mobile reception near walk meeting points and postcodes are for the nearest place nearby but should only serve as a guideline. Please allow plenty of time to find a parking space so that walks can start promptly.

Description: This is a first in a series of walks this year that will cover the obscure Wainwrights, the unloved ones, the hard-to-get ones, and parts of the Lake District that few go to. Clough Head and Great Dodd fall under this category though thankfully they are not hard to get to (Sca Fell for instance is) and this route I’ve devised is the gentlest way to tackle them. For this reason this walk has been given a walk grading of B (moderate).

The beginning of the walk follows the Old Coach Road, which eventually leads to St John’s in the Vale. We go around Great Dodd and Clough Head along the coach road which is a sturdy track. After passing Mariel Bridge we will come across a path/trod which leads straight to Clough Head which is the first Wainwright of the day. This is a moderate ascent and the path heads for White Pike before bending a bit leftwards to head for the summit of Clough Head.

At the top of Clough Head, 726 meters, there are clear views of Keswick, northwestern fells, Skiddaw, Blencathra, Eden Valley and St John’s in the Vale. Ahead is Great Dodd looming over though the ascent is not as long or as tough as it first appears.

We then gradually dip down and then, as we start going up, go past Calfhow Pike, and began another moderate ascent though this somewhat shorter. The path devolves into muddy trods and is swampy in places, but when it bends into the head of Great Dodd the terrain becomes firmer.

Great Dodd, 857 meters, is the second Wainwright of the day and from here there can be seen a clear line of summits reaching all the way to Helvellyn; and that itself is quite the view. It has perhaps one of the best and uncluttered views, from the Lake District, of the Eden Valley and there’s a direct line of sight to Cross Fell. The Langdales, Coniston Fells, Scafells, Great Gable and Pillar can all be seen. For such a tall mountain, in the Lake District, it can be very quiet and easy to walk around because of its grassy top.

Now the way down follows this eastern grassy ridgeline which gradually descends. The lower we get the swampier it could get, but the path heads straight for the coach road and towards the car park.

This walk is probably the gentlest route possible of part of the Helvellyn Range since the starting elevation is 400 meters. Also, if you are Wainwright collecting, Clough Head and Great Dodd are a somewhat obscure pair and this route is the easiest way to “bag” them.

Please fill out the Registration Form to join by 10pm on Friday 9 January if you are coming on this walk. If this doesn’t work then please contact the walk leader, Miles, on 07842 783319 (text or phone, WhatsApp, or message on Facebook (Miles Saunders-Priem)). However you contact me I will reply within 24 hours.

Please check the weather and bring appropriate clothing (waterproofs and spare warm clothing), footwear and enough food and water. The leader reserves the right to turn away any walker not suitably equipped. The leader may cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.

Car sharing may be possible – please contact the walk leader to arrange.

New members: please note the walk leader may ask for more information about your walking experience. This is to ensure you have the fitness required to complete the walk that is planned safely.

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