Walk

Walk : Hart Side (2,481 ft), Stybarrow Dodd (2,770 ft), Great Dodd (2,807 ft), Watsons Dodd (2,584 ft) from Glencoyne

Date : 20^th September 2019

Weather : Dry, sunny @ 21°C – perfect climbing conditions

Distance : 11 miles round trip

Time Taken : 1 hour 25 mins to summit

Which part of Lakeland is this walk situated

Terrain Overview

Overview

A glorious day to walk out on Lakelands Fells. The significance of this walk would be that apart from reaching 171 Wainwright summits I would actually be

completing Book 1 – The Eastern Fells and Sue would be adding 4 more summits to her count now standing at 116. The route I chose to get to Hart Side is not

detailed in the Wainwright Guide book, but is more one that I sussed out a few weeks previous whilst walking up to Sheffield Pike. The track from Glencoyne

is excellent and allows you to gain height gently as you head towards the Sticks Pass near Nick Head. This route opens up access to a multitude of lofty fells

From the A592 just out of Glenridding take the path just adjacent to a Bus stop that leads into Glencoyne Woods

The track leads past a farm building and crosses over a cattle grid

The views very quickly open out looking over Ullswater as the path leads to a row of old Miners cottages at Seldom Seen

Approaching the cottages. The steep western flank of Sheffield Pike comes in to view – this path follows a stone wall that passes the cottages and runs along the base of the Pike

The Miners cottages at Seldom Seen from the path

The track now follows the line of the stone wall as it climbs gently towards the Sticks Pass

First view of Hart Side from the track

Through the gate heading towards Nick Head

The path turns left around the southern end of Sheffield Pike. At this point the views start to open up more of the Helvellyn range. Stybarrow Dodd in the centre of shot

Having turned the corner keep a look out for a small stone track that leads onto a grass path that will skirt the base of Nick Head as it swings right towards Hart Side

Looking back to Sheffield Pike from the path over to Hart Side

The track across grass is faint but discernable the aim being to keep right as it swings around to the ridge line of Hart Side

Looking down the valley and Glencoyne Beck snaking its way towards Ullswater

The track now becomes more abundantly clear as it swings further right leading towards Hart Side summit

The summit approach to Hart Side

At last Book 1 complete !!!! – me on the summit of Hart Side

Click here for a 360 degree view from the summit of Hart Side … https://youtu.be/wJqx6ywS09Q

Sue, Me & JtB on the summit of Hart Side

We lunched on the summit during which we had the very great pleasure of meeting and talking to Ken from Derbyshire for quite some while. Ken, up here for the week staying near Troutbeck / Dockray

had been on some very lengthy walks during the week, this being no exception. Having been retired for 15 odd years and “loving it” we discussed at length on the merits of “escaping” if the opportunity

presents itself, and for me that is something on the near horizon that I have think through. It was fascinating and enlightening to listen to Ken’s insight and has certainly given me some massive food

for thought. Ken, it was a real pleasure meeting and talking to you – its obvious that retirement is suiting you well Sir !!!

After lunch – we set off for Stybarrow Dodd, the path is unmistakable and is easy walking as it swings gently right and gradual up to the ridge line

Approaching Stybarrow Dodd summit

Sue on the summit of Stybarrow Dodd. The path to Great Dodd can be seen in the background

Click here for a 360 degree view from the summit of Stybarrow Dodd … https://youtu.be/yz3K2QEiZ7s

On the track to Great Dodd

Approaching the summit of Great Dodd

The NorthWest Air Ambulance – hopefully just on a training exercise and not a real call out

Sue and a fairly wind swept Jones the Bastard on the summit of Great Dodd. Skiddaw and Blencathra in the background

Click here for a 360 degree view from the summit of Great Dodd … https://youtu.be/vaoWLUfWlfo

The summit cairn on Great Dodd just a few yards further on from the wind shelter

Close up on Blencathra

Skiddaw towering over Keswick and Derwent Water

We now set off for Watsons Dodd – the summit cairn can be just seen (not the cairn in the front of the shot !!)

Close up on the Skiddaw range

Sue on the summit of Watsons Dodd

Click here for a 360 degree view from the summit of Watsons Dodd … https://youtu.be/4RSYfOJvZE4

Thirlmere from the summit of Watsons Dodd

We journey back via Stybarrow Dodd to pick up the path that we originally took to Hart Side. Here a shot looking towards Catstye Cam and Helvellyn

Following the path back towards Sheffield Pike

On the track back down to Seldom Seen

Back down now to the side of the A592 at Glenridding and the end of a fantastic day out on the Lakeland Fells