Dodd Fell Hill & Drumaldrace - Sunday 9 October 2016
Route
Hawes - Gayle - Gaudy Lane - Rottenstone Hill - Ten End - Dodd Fell Hill - North Gate - Cam High Road - Drumaldrace - Cam High Road - Burtersett - Hawes
Parking
Plenty of parking in Hawes. The main Pay & Display Car Park is located at the Western end of the village - Grid Ref SD871898.
Mileage
13.4 miles
Terrain
Mountain paths and tracks with some tarmac walking at the start and along the Cam High Road. The ascent and descent of Dodd Fell Hill is pathless and boggy in places - particularly the descent.
Weather
Sunny for the most part with one rain shower.
Time Taken
5hrs 50mins
Total Ascent
2395ft (728m)
Map
OL30 - Yorkshire Dales (Northern & Central Areas)
Hawes - Gayle - Gaudy Lane - Rottenstone Hill - Ten End - Dodd Fell Hill - North Gate - Cam High Road - Drumaldrace - Cam High Road - Burtersett - Hawes
Parking
Plenty of parking in Hawes. The main Pay & Display Car Park is located at the Western end of the village - Grid Ref SD871898.
Mileage
13.4 miles
Terrain
Mountain paths and tracks with some tarmac walking at the start and along the Cam High Road. The ascent and descent of Dodd Fell Hill is pathless and boggy in places - particularly the descent.
Weather
Sunny for the most part with one rain shower.
Time Taken
5hrs 50mins
Total Ascent
2395ft (728m)
Map
OL30 - Yorkshire Dales (Northern & Central Areas)
GPX File
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Walk Description
Walking from Hawes in any direction is pure joy. Today was to be no exception and we would be treading over some old ground - whilst we had never visited either Drumaldrace or Dodd Fell Hill before we had walked (in reverse) the section from Hawes to the west of Dodd Fell Hill as part of The Pennine Way in 2015. Bearing in mind this was a good weather Sunday we saw only 1 other walker all day. Sleddale is a delightful part of the Yorkshire Dales and we would hopefully see it at its best today.
Leaving the busy streets of Hawes, we resisted all urges to stop and have a Scone at the Wensleydale Creamery Cafe and ploughed on. The route heads up through the village of Gayle to meet the road/track of Gaudy Lane before passing over Rottenstone Hill to eventually reach the boggy & peaty area at Ten End. With the bog safely negotiated the track becomes the West Cam Road as it heads south west high above the Snaizeholme Valley. Near West High Side there is the option to leave the track and head due south to make a beeline direct for the summit of Dodd Fell Hill however we decided to continue along the West Cam Road until roughly due west of the summit.
Leaving the track we started to head up the fell side, quite steeply at first and as we gained in height so the views below us really opened out - particularly over to Ingleborough and the distant Lakeland fells. Eventually the gradient eased and whilst the ground became a tad boggy this did not hinder our progress as we made our way to the summit. From the Trig Point on Dodd Fell Hill there are views of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks (Ingleborough, Pen-y-Ghent & Whernside) this time looking at their profile from the north where they take on a different perspective from that normally seen. In addition we could see over to Wild Boar Fell and also the next peak we were to visit today - that of Drumaldrace.
From Dodd Fell Hill we planned to drop down as best we could to reach the Cam High Road that would lead us to just below Drumaldrace. From the summit there is no obvious path and it was just a question of making our way down as best we could, dodging the worst of the boggy terrain. Eventually we reached a fence just above the Cam High Road that led around to North Gate. From here the terrain turned to tarmac for a few miles as we made our way to the junction with the Beggarmans Road coming out from Hawes. The tarmac was over now and we headed along a track before turning off after about a mile to make the short climb up to Drumaldrace. A large cairn adorns the summit which gives superb views down to Hawes and Burtersett plus a panorama into Wensleydale & Semer Water.
Dropping back down to the Cam High Road, we soon left the track to make our gentle descent on a good path to the small village of Burtersett. The return to Hawes was a delightful stretch over green fields that delivered us near the old Railway Station which has a very good cafe. This walk was a true delight and has a lot to offer on mixed terrain and views that are quite simply superb. If it is solitude and good walking you are after then this is one for you.
Leaving the busy streets of Hawes, we resisted all urges to stop and have a Scone at the Wensleydale Creamery Cafe and ploughed on. The route heads up through the village of Gayle to meet the road/track of Gaudy Lane before passing over Rottenstone Hill to eventually reach the boggy & peaty area at Ten End. With the bog safely negotiated the track becomes the West Cam Road as it heads south west high above the Snaizeholme Valley. Near West High Side there is the option to leave the track and head due south to make a beeline direct for the summit of Dodd Fell Hill however we decided to continue along the West Cam Road until roughly due west of the summit.
Leaving the track we started to head up the fell side, quite steeply at first and as we gained in height so the views below us really opened out - particularly over to Ingleborough and the distant Lakeland fells. Eventually the gradient eased and whilst the ground became a tad boggy this did not hinder our progress as we made our way to the summit. From the Trig Point on Dodd Fell Hill there are views of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks (Ingleborough, Pen-y-Ghent & Whernside) this time looking at their profile from the north where they take on a different perspective from that normally seen. In addition we could see over to Wild Boar Fell and also the next peak we were to visit today - that of Drumaldrace.
From Dodd Fell Hill we planned to drop down as best we could to reach the Cam High Road that would lead us to just below Drumaldrace. From the summit there is no obvious path and it was just a question of making our way down as best we could, dodging the worst of the boggy terrain. Eventually we reached a fence just above the Cam High Road that led around to North Gate. From here the terrain turned to tarmac for a few miles as we made our way to the junction with the Beggarmans Road coming out from Hawes. The tarmac was over now and we headed along a track before turning off after about a mile to make the short climb up to Drumaldrace. A large cairn adorns the summit which gives superb views down to Hawes and Burtersett plus a panorama into Wensleydale & Semer Water.
Dropping back down to the Cam High Road, we soon left the track to make our gentle descent on a good path to the small village of Burtersett. The return to Hawes was a delightful stretch over green fields that delivered us near the old Railway Station which has a very good cafe. This walk was a true delight and has a lot to offer on mixed terrain and views that are quite simply superb. If it is solitude and good walking you are after then this is one for you.
Drumaldrace from Hawes
The route heads through the village of Gayle - we headed right at this junction
Not a looker
Looking back to Hawes from Gaudy Lane
At the top of Gaudy Lane the path continues along the Pennine Way towards Ten End
Looking over to Buttertubs, Great Shunner Fell & Lovely Seat
Continuing along the Pennine Way to Rottenstone Hill
Up on the West Cam Road - Ingleborough can just be seen to the right
A panorama from West Cam Road
The pathless ascent up to Dodd Fell Hill
Another great view from the ascent of Dodd Fell Hill
Cracking view over to Snaizeholme Fell and the distant fells
Another view of Ingleborough from the ascent of Dodd Fell Hill
Approaching the summit of Dodd Fell Hill
Not too boggy up here on the summit of Dodd Fell Hill
Zooming in on Ingleborough
The summit of Dodd Fell Hill looking to Drumaldrace
A Dodd Fell Hill panoramic
Just glorious here today as we leave Dodd Fell Hill - Fudge for once is trailing in my wake!
The descent of Dodd Fell Hill to North Gate is pathless - just a question of making your way down as best you can
Reaching the Cam High Road at North Gate
Drumaldrace
Looking back to Dodd Fell Hill
Those skies look ominous as we head along the Cam High Road
Semer Water
The delightful summit of Drumaldrace
Drumaldrace looking to Great Shunner Fell
Just a question of dropping back down to the Cam High Road from Drumaldrace
Heading down to Burtersett
Not far now as we reach the small village of Burtersett
After the rain shower it was turning into a lovely late afternoon as we head across the fields from Burtersett to Hawes
This gap was a challenge!
Reaching the road on the outskirts of Hawes - time for a drink at the Cafe in the Old Railway Station