Great Dodd

It is always windy on Great Dodd. I've climbed it many times and I can't remember a day when I wasn't battered by a westerly. I remember on one particular occasion, when I was climbing to the top on this very same path, I had to drop to my knees so that I didn't get blown over. It wasn't quite that bad today though, although there was still a brisk wind. The sky looked very grey over to the west and clouds of misty rain could be seen drifting over Keswick towards Skiddaw. We headed for the stone shelter on the summit plateau and were relieved that nobody else had commandeered it. We plonked ourselves down into its recesses and enjoyed a few minutes respite from the wind.

Watson's Dodd And Stybarrow Dodd

On our way down Great Dodd's southern flank, we met a man walking up to the top. He was wearing shorts and looked dressed for a summer's day. A few minutes later, he came jogging past us, as he headed off towards Stybarrow Dodd. We headed off on the short diversion to Watson's Dodd. It is possible to walk on a direct path between Great Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd, but I find that the lower Watson's Dodd provides the best views of the three Dodds. It's steeper western side allows great views into the Thirlmere valley and over towards Keswick. 

The wind was coming from the side now and we tacked our way over towards Stybarrow Dodd. Another runner past us as we climbed up to the summit. At its summit cairn, looking southwards, we could see that some snow still clung to the top of the eastern face of Helvellyn. There isn't much else to see from its flat summit and so we didn't hang about. Our next objective was to drop off the summit and contour around the rim of the Deepdale valley, north eastwards towards Hart Side.

Hart Side 

A couple of walkers popped their head up above the horizon, as we approached Hart Side's summit. They then disappeared towards White Stones. That was a stroke of luck since they'd just vacated the only shelter in about a mile's radius. It wasn't much of a shelter (in a former life it was a trench), but it provided us with enough cover for us to hunker down for our lunch.

After sandwiches and coffee we headed downhill towards Brown Hills. A couple of jet fighters flew down the Kirkstone valley, and then revealed their undercarriage, as they banked sideways to continue their journey down Ullswater. They were too far away to get a decent photo. We followed a track that meandered across the tops of Watermillock Common. The sun made an intermittent appearence, and then eventually decided to make it permanent as we descended across the boggy fell towards Dockray. 

Return

We made a fleeting appearance in the small village of Dockray. We entered, crossed the road bridge, and then headed off up the single track road to Dowthwaitehead. Just outside of the village we came across a field with a magnificent heavy horse. It trotted over towards us and hung its head over the field gate. I stroked its forehead and it seemed to enjoy having a bit of company. The last part of the walk was uphill and on tarmac, but we took it at a leisurely pace and it provided an enjoyable end to the walk.

The Dodd's 'Back Yard' is probably less frequented than other Lakeland areas. It does tend to be flatter, but this does have the advantage of easier walking. It doesn't skimp on the scenery though, with exceptional views from Watson's Dodd and Brown Hills. An excellent walk.