Great Dodd, Watsons Dodd, Clough Head walk

Walk : Great Dodd (2,807ft), Watsons Dodd (2,584ft), Clough Head (2,381ft) from High Row, Matterdale

Date : 8^th October 2016

Weather : Sunny, clear skies @ 14 °C

Distance : @ 12 miles round trip

Difficulty : 1 to 2 – A gentle start, a bit of boggy ground to negotiate but great ridge walking

(1=easy 5=hard)

Which area of Lakeland is this walk situated?

Terrain Overview

A 3D view of the walk to Great Dodd from Matterdale

Walk Overview

A gentle start from just near Dockray with a bit of boggy ground to negotiate before you get on the ridge line but after

that fine walking on good paths with great views

I took the Kirkstone Pass route from Windermere and en route passed by what are becoming the most photographed
sheep in the world. The Farmer, fed up of having his livestock stolen decide to make them easily identifiable. The interest
that this generated on news feeds etc was unbelievable. At the time I was there a film crew from CNN were covering this

I took the Kirkstone Pass route from Windermere and en route passed by what are becoming the most photographed

sheep in the world. The Farmer, fed up of having his livestock stolen decide to make them easily identifiable. The interest

that this generated on news feeds etc was unbelievable. At the time I was there a film crew from CNN were covering this

Following the signs for Dockray, the walk starts at a small free car park at High Row

At the bottom end of the car park a stile gate gives access to the Old Coach Road that leads past the Cockley Moor
plantation over Matterdale Common

At the bottom end of the car park a stile gate gives access to the Old Coach Road that leads past the Cockley Moor

plantation over Matterdale Common

After about a third of a mile, turn right initially at Groove Beck to pick up the footpath to Great Dodd

The route is clearly sign posted

An early view of Great Dodd from the start of the path towering over Randerside

The path crosses some very heavy and boggy ground (see later on)

The path skirts the right-hand side of Rannerdale where the route dries out somewhat and the track to the summit
is very easy to follow

The path skirts the right-hand side of Rannerdale where the route dries out somewhat and the track to the summit

is very easy to follow

Looking back down the path towards Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell

Starting the steep pull up to the summit

Watch out for a series of marker cairns nearer to the summit that swing round left. From this point there is a short
journey over stony ground

Watch out for a series of marker cairns nearer to the summit that swing round left. From this point there is a short

journey over stony ground

Looking north towards Bassenthwaite from near the summit

At the summit shelter cairn on Great Dodd and it was teaming with competitors running the “Lakes in the Day” 55 mile
challenge starting from Threlkeld and taking in the likes of Clough Head, Great Dodd, Helvellyn and Dale Head
finishing up in Cartmell – a remarkable feat of endurance

At the summit shelter cairn on Great Dodd and it was teaming with competitors running the “Lakes in the Day” 55 mile

challenge starting from Threlkeld and taking in the likes of Clough Head, Great Dodd, Helvellyn and Dale Head

finishing up in Cartmell – a remarkable feat of endurance

Looking over to the Western Fells from the summit

These guys and their dog followed up behind me at Bruts Moss and the depths of the bogs you can possibly fall
in to are all too apparent

These guys and their dog followed up behind me at Bruts Moss and the depths of the bogs you can possibly fall

in to are all too apparent

Looking over to Helvellyn from the summit

A 360-degree view from the summit

Looking over towards Skiddaw from the summit

From the summit of Great Dodd the ridge path to Watsons Dodd swings round to the right just over three quarters
of a mile away

From the summit of Great Dodd the ridge path to Watsons Dodd swings round to the right just over three quarters

of a mile away

The summit of Watsons Dodd

From Watsons Dodd I tracked back to Great Dodd to pick up the path to Clough Head

Following the path to Clough Head

Looking over to the North Western Fells from the path to Clough Head

Looking towards Blencathra from the summit of Clough Head

A 360-degree view from the summit

Close up on Blencathra

The fells around Derwent Water and Keswick

Early evening rays over Thirlmere on the way back down