Walk : High Hartsop Dodd (1,702 feet) & Little Hart Crag (2,091
feet) from
Date : 25th
March 2017
Weather : Sunny, Clear skies @ 15°C snow on tops
Distance : 6 mile round trip
Time Taken : 1 hour to summit, 5 hours in total
Which
part of Lakeland is this walk situated
Terrain Overview
Overview
After
an aborted attempt to do this walk 2 weeks prior due to torrential rain, we
could not have asked for a more perfect day than today. Temperatures
on the
rise from the previous snow and cold snap that we had with a cooling breeze up
top made it ideal walking conditions. At just around 1700 feet
High
Hartsop Dodd is only small compared to some of its
near neighbours, but what it lacks in height it makes up for with steepness !!!. The ridge walk
to
Little Hart Crag is a delight even if in parts there was calf deep snow. Fine
views to be had in every direction
The
walk starts from the NT Car Park at
area
around the back that cost nothing
A
gate at the north end of the car park gives access to a trail that skirts the
bottom edge of Low Wood and the shores of Brothers Water
Middle
Dodd and Red Screes from across Brothers Water
Looking across to Caudale Moor
and the sweeping drop to Hartsop Dodd. You can see the
High
Hartsop Dodd seen clearly for the first time from the
track as we approach the Farm Buildings
Through
the gate, turn left to cross the farm yard and access to the fields leading to
the start of the climb
A
signpost indicates the path to take, just be careful as you go through the wall
gate that you don’t disturb the locals
Cross
the pasture past some giant boulders towards an old Barn
Looking
across to Dove Crag and Hart Crag from the pasture
How
did they get there ???
Approaching the old barn. In his Eastern Fells Guide book description of this
walk, Alfred Wainwright noted the symmetry between the barn roof
and the
slopes of High Hartsop Dodd, so looks like nothing
has changed over all the passing years
The
climb starts immediately from the barn. Prepare yourself for some hard work !! – Navigation is simple, no maps required
Looking
back towards Brothers Water from the start of the climb
Half
way up the climb and a wooden fence cuts straight across the route. A
convenient place for a breather before things start to get even steeper
Sue
pauses a while to take in the views
Now
that is one way to see the views – several para
gliders sail gently over the top of Caudale Moor
A
stylish way to catch the views
Just
make sure you don’t end up tangled in a tree !!!
Back
to the climb, and as we start on the final steep push –
glorious views out west towards St Sunday Crag, Catstye
Cam and
Thankfully
a zig zag path is cut into
the slope to assist with the steepness. This leads all the way to the top
He`s
beat us to the top again the lad has, and nearly walloped all his butty`s by the time we get there !!!
Sue
and Ste on the summit of High Hartsop Dodd
Click
here for a 360 degree panoramic view from the summit … https://youtu.be/51nhzGh8gAI
Magnificent
views north looking towards Place Fell and beyond
The
connecting ridge to Little Hart Crag not too far to walk and a good track even
if in some places it was calf deep in snow
I
journey on to Little Hart Crag – here looking back along the track to High Hartsop Dodd
One
of the may rock outcrops on the summit
Click
here for a 360 degree panoramic view from the summit of Little Hart Crag … https://youtu.be/9sZcpvJpdtk
About
an hour or so later as we journey back to
Who
are you lookin at ???
Back down and one last look back to our climb in the
shadows now from the setting sun.
A fantastic day out in
in Ambleside to replace all the lost fluid !!!
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