Great Dodd - Thursday 10th September

Great Dodd, Watsons Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd

Thursday 10th September 2009

Start 9am, Finish 1.30pm

Total Ascent 2800ft

Weather - Sunny and Clear, very warm

Having not been up on Great Dodd, and having done the other Dodds on a miserable viewless day last year, I decided to take advantage of the glorious early autumn weather and get back onto the Dodds, and also knock off Great Dodd that I hadn't done. An early start from Preston meant I was parked up in Glenridding and ready for the off at 9am. And after setting off along the side of Sicks Gill it was obviously going to be a warm walk, and as I climbed beyond the Youth Hostel passed the disused mine I was soon peeling off the layers and the rest of the walk was in just a T shirt. My route took me along Sticks Gill up onto Sticks Pass, right onto the col between Raise and Stybarrow Dodd, then across to Watsons Dodd, then across to Great Dodd. The return being the same in reverse, on the way down I got some great close up views of the helicopter bringing bags of rock up onto Sticks pass for erosion repairs on the path.

Sticks Gill at the start of the walk at Glenridding

Looking back down the valley over the disused mine and Youth Hostel back to Glenridding

Looking ahead to the head of the valley at the top of Sticks Pass, Raise to the left

Once up onto the ridge todays target came into view, Stybarrow to the right out of shot then Watsons Dodd to the left and Great Dodd far right.

A lovely clear view over the Vale of Keswick, Skiddaw almost clear of cloud

The North Western fells clearing of cloud

Blencathra looking moody and dark in the distance

Looking back along the ridge to Helvellyn

Now on the way back at the top of Sticks Pass looking right the way back to Glenridding and Ullswater

Today I was lucky enough to get some great close up shots of the Helicopter taking up bags of stone up onto Sticks Pass for footpath repairs.

And a zoomed in shot

On the way home I couldnt resist stopping off to get some great pictures looking across to the Southern fells from the windermere - kirkstone road.

Coniston Old Man and Weatherlam

This passing Tornado frightened the life out of me as it appeared from nowhere

Classic shot of the Langdales and Bowfell

Crinkle crags and Bowfell

A wider shot

And finally a panoramic shot of todays walk along the Dodds Ridge, a lovely day but a lot warmer than expected.