Dodd - Wednesday 26 January 2022
Route
Dodd Wood - Longside Wood - Long Doors - Dodd - Thornthwaite Forest - Dodd Wood
Parking
Verge parking (free) on the A591 200 yards north of the Forestry Commission Car Park at Dodd Wood. The Grid Reference is NY 285 283 and the nearest postcode is CA12 4QE. The Forestry Commission Car Park incurs a charge if you are unable to park in the free spaces.
Mileage
4 miles
Terrain
Forest paths throughout.
Weather
Overcast with light breezes.
Time Taken
2hrs
Total Ascent
1404ft (428m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
Dodd Wood - Longside Wood - Long Doors - Dodd - Thornthwaite Forest - Dodd Wood
Parking
Verge parking (free) on the A591 200 yards north of the Forestry Commission Car Park at Dodd Wood. The Grid Reference is NY 285 283 and the nearest postcode is CA12 4QE. The Forestry Commission Car Park incurs a charge if you are unable to park in the free spaces.
Mileage
4 miles
Terrain
Forest paths throughout.
Weather
Overcast with light breezes.
Time Taken
2hrs
Total Ascent
1404ft (428m)
Wainwrights
1
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Fudge
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GPX File
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Route Map
The walk start point just north along the A591 from Dodd Wood Forestry Commission Car Park - please ensure you do not block the access track.
Fudge does a bit of doggy multi-tasking in both sniff & bimble mode as we head uphill alongside Skill Beck
Fed up of the track already, Fudge points the way to the Douglas Fir Trail however we were continuing on ahead unfortunately. The trail is one of many that weave their way in and around the woodland here. The magnificient Douglas Fir trees on the lower slopes of Dodd Wodd are the prominent feature of this trail. The trees are selectively thinned to create gaps on the forest floor so that natural regeneration of Douglas Fir takes place. This way of managing the forest is called "continuous cover" which means there is no clear felling required.
Fudge stands at the top of the path down to Skill Beck hoping that we are turning off here in order that he can arse about in the water - sorry Fudge, straight on we go in the direction of Long Doors.
Fudge still hoping that I have made a navigational mishap and that we can return back down to take the Skill Beck turning. Little did he know that we would walk alongside the beck on our return route.
At Grid Reference NY 250 273 (Long Doors) the path splits at a way mark for the Dodd Summit Trail. For once Fudge had picked the right path.
A seat with a view - of Keswick & Derwent Water
The view - this time without the seat in the way. It was a tad murky today but at least we could see something.
Looking to the Dodd ascent. The path to the left would be our return route.
As height is gained Long Side & Carl Side come into view with Skiddaw to the rear in cloud.
Dodd's summit now comes into view
Ullock Pike & Long Side from the summit of Dodd
The small monument on the summit of Dodd with Bassenthwaite Lake to the rear
The summit of Dodd looking to Doups on Carl Side
Fudge on Dodd's summit looking to Bassenthwaite Lake
The sun makes a vain attempt to break through the cloud over the North Western Fells
With Fudge on the summit of Dodd
Thinking about his next meal no doubt
Having a bit of a pose eh Fudge - it's amazing that our normally private pooch is actually looking at the camera.
A family selfie on the summit of Dodd
Retracing our steps to the path junction near Long Doors
Our return route turns to the right at this path junction. Up ahead is a low seat with a fantastic view.
Still a great view even on a murky day like today
Grisedale Pike over to the left with Whinlatter centre and Barf to the right
The path descends steeply to reach the valley floor
The view through the trees over Bassenthwaite Lake
Fudge looks quizzically at us as if to say "Are you sure it is this way?"
Whinlatter and Barf across Bassenthwaite Lake
The final descent to the start handrails Skill Beck - a fact that Fudge was looking forward to
The Old Sawmill Tea Room which is sited at the Forestry Commission Car Park - as can be seen from Fudge's gob it was definitely shut!!
From the Tea Room it was just a question of crossing Skill Beck via the footbridge and taking the path to the left back to the parking area