Dodd Wood and Summit



I parked the car on Monday, 29th September 2014 at 12:45 in the most northerly of the Dodd Wood deep lay-by's, not very far from the Ravenstone Hotel. This both avoided the extortionate parking charges at the main car park and also provided a longer and more interesting walk.

Walking about 30 yards along a forest trail to the south brought me to a junction of paths and a yellow trail marker. I did an about turn and started climbing on a path with dense trees to the right and open ground to the left. For the next few hundred yards my heading was roughly northwards. 		  Car parked in the lay-by at the start of the walk Car parked in the lay-by at the start of the walk



The rounded summit of Binsey The rounded summit of Binsey   Sale Fell and Bassenthwaite Lake Sale Fell and Bassenthwaite Lake



At the top of the steady climb in the open we come to another junction of paths, where we turn hard right and into dense woodland and start to climb more seriously. My course is now southerly, more or less.

After 15 minutes of walking the path made a long descent through a more lightly wooded area with deciduous trees and the fellside visible on the left. This section is marked on the map as Old Plantation.

The path then climbed again, more steeply than ever, giving a first view of the Dodd itself. 		  A shaft of sunlight in dense forest A shaft of sunlight in dense forest



Descent through Old Plantation Descent through Old Plantation   Dodd summit visible ahead Dodd summit visible ahead



Plank bridge near main ravine Plank bridge near main ravine   As I approach the main ravine, I go back into dense woodland and the path continues to climb steeply.

The main ravine has a steep forest track up and down either side and Skill Beck running down the centre and on down to the visitor's centre a long way below.

Once at the top of the ravine, the remaining forest has been cleared and my objective becomes more clearly visible. I reached this point at 13:38, about 55 minutes after starting the walk.



Looking down the main ravine Looking down the main ravine   Dodd Summit Trail this way Dodd Summit Trail this way



It does not look like a mushroom It does not look like a mushroom   The way ahead The way ahead



Dodd Summit with Bassenthwaite Lake beyond Dodd Summit with Bassenthwaite Lake beyond



Derwentwater viewed from The Dodd Derwentwater viewed from The Dodd   In the other direction, Derwentwater is visible but slightly hazy.

Starting on the way down you have to retrace your steps for a few hundred yards before coming to path that branches off to the right. Ahead there is a bench with a better view of Keswick but before reaching that a small path turns off to the right and that will lead you down by a quite different route. The next two photographs show the main right turn and that bench.



The downhill path starts upwards? The downhill path starts upwards?   The bench that overlooks Keswick The bench that overlooks Keswick



Our route to the top of the Dodd took us around the back of the Dodd, that is between the Dodd and the higher fellside of Skiddaw. The narrow path we are using for the descent goes around the front of the Dodd with views over Bassenthwaite Lake. This is a more pleasant route and tends to be more in the sunshine.

Lower down, the path goes through some dark and gloomy areas of dense forest and eventually joins a forest track that leads down the side of the ravine to the main car park and tearoom.

The walk back to my car is close to the road and not very interesting. I was back at the car at 15:05. The complete walk took me 2 hours and 20 minutes. 		A narrow path descends on the lake side of the Dodd A narrow path descends on the lake side of the Dodd



Woodland Path Woodland Path   Back at the car Back at the car



Editor: Peter J. Cosker   peter@the2coskers.com   top of page   Updated: 07/10/2014