Thursday 8th July 2004

Start point: New Road, Dockray (NY 380 218)

New Road, Dockray - Low How (88) - High Brow (89) - Randerside (90) - Great Dodd (91) - Watson's Dodd (92) - Stybarrow Dodd (93) - White Stones on Green Side (94) - Hart Side (95) - Birkett Fell (96) - Brown Hills (97) - Swineside Knott (98) - Common Fell (99) - New Road, Dockray

Route Map

Weather: Rain and mist. Strong winds on The Dodds

Today's walk was The Dodds from the end of the Old Coach Road joining Dockray and St. John's in The Vale. The day started off dull and grew much worse as height was gained.

Entrance to Matterdale Common is through a gate and onto the coach road, then it's an immediate left to ascend the grassy shoulder to Low How.

The start of the walk and the entrance to Matterdale Common.

Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell from the top of Low How.

From Low How, there is a descent into a dip and then a climb alongside the wall, past an old mine level to the broad, grassy top of High Brow.

Stybarrow Dodd, Great Dodd and Randerside from the summit of High Brow.

Immediately after this picture was taken, the heavens opened and the cloud set in on the tops for the day. From here it was a slight descent and then a climb up to Randerside after joining the main path. The main path continues, steepening until the summit of Great Dodd is reached.

Randerside summit cairn, left, and 'dog not impressed by the wind and rain' on Great Dodd, right.

From Great Dodd summit, I took the path south east to the wind shelter; from here it's an easy traverse to Watson's Dodd. A simple climb follows to reach the summit of Stybarrow Dodd.

Watson's Dodd, left and Stybarrow Dodd, right.

It was an easy descent west which took me to a grassy col, from there an ascent to the bouldery top of White Stones on Green Side.

White Stones, left and Hart Side, right complete with ditch mentioned in detail by AW.

Another rise to the top of Hart Side, still in the mist. From Hart Side it was another grassy traverse to Birkett Fell, named after Lord Birkett who did much to preserve the environment of Ullswater from the demands of the Water Authority.

Birkett Fell complete with name plaque.

The descent from Birkett Fell followed the line of a recently renovated wall. Through the clearing mist I caught sight of Ullswater. Over the new stile and onward to Brown Hills, a grassy, indistinct top.

A magnificent view of Ullswater from Brown Hills.

The southern end of Ullswater from Swineside Knott looking to Hartsop Dodd and Thornthwaite Crag.

From Brown Hills, it's another grassy traverse to Swineside Knott and then across the boggy expanse of Watermillock Common to ascend Common Fell.

Blencathra, Bannerdale Crags and Souther Fell from Common Fell summit.

Following Blake Sike from the summit of Common Fell, head over the Aira Beck and onto the tarmac at Crookwath which leads directly back to the starting point at The Old Coach Road end.

Aira Beck and the signposted way at the foot of Common Fell.

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