Walk : Sheffield Pike (2,232 ft) and Glenridding Dodd (1,425 ft) from Glencoyne
Date : 7th September 2019
Weather : Dry,
sunny @ 14°C – perfect climbing conditions
Distance : 5 miles round trip
Time
Taken : 1 hour 45 mins to
summit
Which
part of Lakeland is this walk situated
Terrain
Overview
Overview
A perfect day weather wise
for fell climbing was forecasted and didn’t disappoint. This walk from the foot
of the Glencoyne Woods near Glenridding
is an absolute belter, however be aware that the so
called ridge walk between Sheffield Pike down to Glenridding
Dodd is a tad adventurous and
its vital to find
the correct way off the Pike. Wainwright described the walk as “A rough but pleasant walk with fine views”
– the first part of the journey
towards Heron Pike is
good enough if a little boggy, however getting down safely off Heron Pike
requires care
From the A592 just a short distance out from Glenridding travelling North there
are numerous lay-bys in which to park. The walk starts by the bus stop at the
entrance of a
cart track that leads
towards Seldom Seen
At the start of the track take the central path towards
a farm building
The path crosses over a a
Cattle Grid within a couple of hundred yards
Ignore the sign pointing to
A bench with a view !! at the side of the track towards Seldom Seen
The path approaches a row of terraced cottages. From
here swing left behind the trees to pick up a path that runs parallel with the
wall
Seldom Seen originally a row
of Miners Cottages from the path
First view of Sheffield Pike from the path
The path skirts the edge of Glencoyne
Wood
The path leads to a gate through which at this point
you have the option to carry on and climb gently towards the col at Nick Head or you can turn immediately sharp left
and climb steeply on
at times a pathless journey towards the base of Heron Pike. It all depends on
what your preference is but for me the gentle slope up to Nick Head
is a complete no
brainer
Looking back to Ullswater
from the track up to Nick Head
Higher on up the path and there are 2 gates in the
wall. Take the upper one (on your left)
Through the gate and the path rises very gently
towards Nick Head. Jones the Bastard waits patiently for us to catch up
Too busy admiring the view back towards Ullswater
Approaching the col at Nick
Head where the path will swing round to the left allowing for an easy summit of
Sheffield Pike from the southern end
Shortly after the path has swung left it splits. Take
the left fork for an easy climb to the summit approach ridge
The huge whale back ridge connecting Stybarrow Dodd, Great Dodd and Hart Side from the ridge path
Catstye Cam in the
centre of the shot with Helvellyn in the background
from the approach ridge to Sheffield Pike
The summit approach path
Phew !! – made it – Sue and Ste on the summit of Sheffield Pike
Click here for a 360 degree view from the summit of
Sheffield Pike … https://youtu.be/qlbX1x2BzyY
Team shot on Sheffield Pike summit
This top really does have a wealth of fantastic views …
here looking North up Ullswater
Jones is more bothered about who’s food he will end up
with !!
Ullswater close up
Looking over to the Far Eastern fells … High Raise, Rampsgill Head, High Street, Caudale
Moor and Middle Dodd as we follow the track towards Glenridding
Dodd, which
initially aims towards
Heron Pike
So Glenridding Dodd is
pictured in the centre, however there is the small matter of negotiating safely
down off Heron Pike. If you get to this marker post, then you have come
too far along the
path as after that it is almost a sheer vertical drop. So from this point back
up a little and take a very faint grassy path to the right of shot that leads
to the Eastern
slope of the Pike.This is still a tad precarious and care is needed to
get onto a better path below
After some steep sided scrambling on grass, we
eventually reach a better foot path that can be seen meandering down the rake
This probably gives a good idea of the steep sidedness
of the track – it is however pretty good once the upper reaches have been
negotiated
Yes Wiff …. That’s just what
you have come down !!!
Looking down to Glenridding
Dodd. The white stone track seen leading down left toward Glencoyne Wood will be not only our route to the summit but
also the way back down
to the roadside
Looking East towards over the ridge of Birkhouse Moor over towards St Sunday Crag
Looking south towards Whiteside, Helvellyn
Lesser man and Catstye Cam
Nearly down now from the decent of Heron Pike and a
break in the boundary wall gives access to the approach path to Glenridding Dodd
The way to the summit of Glenridding
Dodd is to aim for the start of the stone track just slightly right of centre
in this shot
Approaching the summit of Glenridding
Dodd
The summit of Glenridding
Dodd
Click here for a 360 degree view from the summit of Glenridding Dodd … https://youtu.be/LA2Rt2cOYw4
Looking back towards Heron Pike
The beauty that is Patterdale
Coming down off Glenridding
Dodd we follow the path that swings round right and follows the line of Mosedale Beck
The path drops down gradually and the final part down
to the A592 roadside journeys through the dense
prepare yourself for a
few awkward twists and turns through fallen trees and quick thick foliage,
nothing too serious
After a fab day out on the fells .. and what better way to end
it by a post walk debrief in The Lily at Ambleside
Copyright © aloveofthelakes.co.uk 2011 - 2019