Start point: Dockray, adjacent to the bridge. (NY 393 215)
Dockray – Bracken How (492) – Round How (493) – Common Fell – Watermillock Common –Swineside Knott – Brown Hills – Birkett Fell – Hart Side – White Stones on Green Side – Stybarrow Dodd – Watson’s Dodd – Great Dodd – Little Dodd (St John’s Common) (494) – Calfhow Pike (495) –Clough Head (496) – Dockray
Distance: 13.4 miles Total Ascent: 1156 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 45 minutes
Weather: Overcast, rain later. 14oC.
Another grey day today with just the odd glimmer of sunshine and heavy rain at the end. This is quite a long circuit but relatively easy going across boggy grass. I visited a couple of small tops at the beginning of the walk that I had never been to before which offered great views over Ullswater with little effort. It was very quiet up there though, and we never saw a single soul all day.
About the only blue sky of the day over Great Mell Fell, from Bracken How.
Common Fell from Round How. The bracken is turning brown now.
Sunrays over Ullswater looking to Place Fell.
Great Dodd from Common Fell.
Casper having a rest on Swineside Knott.
Looking to the head of Ullswater.
Brown Hills from Watermillock Common.
Ullswater.
Angus and Casper above Ullswater.
Looking over to Place Fell.
Sheffield Pike.
Catstycam appears from the mist.
You can't miss Birkett Fell with its name plaque set in the cairn. Named after Baron Birkett, KC MP, an early advocate of National Parks and a fierce opposer to Manchester Corporation's attempts to take water from Ullswater. He also went to the same school as me (though he wasn't in my class, I hasten to add!).
Angus on Hart Side, Stybarrow Dodd behind.
Looking down Stanah Gill on Stybarrow Dodd to Thirlmere.
Great Dodd from Stybarrow Dodd.
High Rigg and St John's in the Vale from Watson's Dodd. Beyond is Keswick, Bassenthwaite Lake, Dodd and Skiddaw (in mist).
Thirlmere from Watson's Dodd.
The wind was howling across Watson's Dodd.
A retrospective view from Great Dodd - in the distance is the pointed Catstycam with Helvellyn in cloud. Centre left is Stybarrow Dodd with Watson's Dodd to the right.
Skiddaw from Little Dodd. Below is the next objective, the spur of Calfhow Pike.
Angus has spotted the rain coming on our final summit, Clough Head - the end of the Helvellyn massif.
Blencathra from Clough Head. Now it was time to put on the jacket and put the camera away for a very damp descent to the Old Coach Road and a wet trudge back to Dockray.