Great Dodd
Encyclopedia
Great Dodd is a fell
in the English
Lake District
. It stands on the main spine of the Helvellyn range
in the Eastern Fells
, between the Vale of St John and Dockray.
to the north and Watson's Dodd
to the south. The fell is a typical "Dodd" with a smoothly rounded profile, clad primarily in grass and bracken. Great Dodd lays claim to a wide tract of land to the north east, descending gradually over five miles to the vicinity of Troutbeck.
Great Dodd stands at an acute angle in the Helvellyn range, with the "northward" continuation to Clough Head actually starting off westerly, before swinging around the head of Mosedale. Before the unnamed col is reached, the ridge throws up the small rock tor of Calfhow Pike (2,165 ft). In more rugged areas of the District this would have little significance, but here amid the wide vista of smooth green slopes, Calfhow Pike is a landmark visible for miles around. It has little prominence although some guidebooks list it as a top. The connection to Watson's Dodd is a short grassy promenade running south westerly with little reascent at the far end. The ridge path in either direction is broad and clear, with a shortcut contouring to the west of Great Dodd's summit for those in a hurry.
The long north eastern ridge drops first to Randerside (2,375 ft), a subsidiary top bearing a rash of stones. From here it broadens into Matterdale Common, becoming steadily wetter underfoot, before splitting into two on either side of Groove Beck. The more southerly ridge heads over High Brow (1,885 ft), fringed by Dowthwaite Crag which broods over the road-end settlement of Dowthwaitehead. The further tops of Low How (1,630 ft) and Cockley Moor (1,492 ft) are passed before this branch of the ridge peters out in extensive conifer plantations, and then the ground climbs again to Great Mell Fell
. The northern branch of the ridge is edged by Wolf Crags above the Old Coach Road, beyond which a wide prairie sweeps north across Sandbeds Moss and Flaska to the A66
and the dismantled Penrith
to Keswick
railway.
Between the north east ridge and Clough Head is the head of Mosedale, one of many valleys in the district bearing that name. Groove Beck, which divides the north east ridge into two, becomes Thornsgill Beck and then Trout Beck, before finally uniting with the waters of Mosedale to head west for Keswick as the River Glenderamackin. The dale separating Randerside from Stybarrow Dood and Hart Side
also undergoes a bewildering sequence of name changes as it flows to Ullswater
. Beginning as Browndale Beck it flows through the hanging valley of Deepdale, becomes Rush Gill and finally at Dowthwaitehead is renamed Aira Beck. This is the head stream for the famous waterfall of Aira Force
, a popular destination for tourists.
The western flanks of Great Dodd are drained by the short streams of Beckthorns, Ladknott and Mill Gills, all of which once fed St John's Beck. As part of the Thirlmere
reservoir scheme, completed in 1894, a water race was constructed to divert the latter two becks southward to the lake. There is some outcropping rock here at the bottom of the slope, Lad Knott being the principal feature.
. At the base of Wolf Crags on the north east ridge there are the remains of a 90 ft level on a quartz vein. Little is known of either venture and it must be assumed that they were commercial failures. Geologically the fell forms part of the Thirlmere Member of the Lincomb Tarns Formation. Part of the Borrowdale Volcanic series, this consists of parataxitic lapilli-tuff.
. A larger wind shelter lies to the south east. Another cairn lies part way down the western slope on the path to Clough Head, marking the minor top of Little Dodd. The view is good, with much of the Lake District and a portion of the northern Pennines in sight.
provides the best access to the west, and from here any preferred route can be followed up the pathless grassy slopes.
Fell
“Fell” is a word used to refer to mountains, or certain types of mountainous landscape, in Scandinavia, the Isle of Man, and parts of northern England.- Etymology :...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
. It stands on the main spine of the Helvellyn range
Helvellyn range
Helvellyn range is the name given to a part of the Eastern Fells in the English Lake District, fell being the local word for hill. The name comes from Helvellyn, the highest point of the group....
in the Eastern Fells
Eastern Fells
The Eastern Fells are a group of hills in the English Lake District. Centred on Helvellyn they primarily comprise a north south ridge running between Ullswater and Lakeland's Central Valley.-Partition of the Lakeland Fells:...
, between the Vale of St John and Dockray.
Topography
The Helvellyn range runs broadly north-south for about 7 miles, remaining above 2,000 ft (600 m) throughout its length. Great Dodd is near to the northern end of this ridge, with Clough HeadClough Head
Clough Head is a fell in the English Lake District. It is the northernmost top of the Helvellyn range in the Eastern Fells, standing to the south of Threlkeld and the A66.-Topography:...
to the north and Watson's Dodd
Watson's Dodd
Watson's Dodd is a fell in the English Lake District. It forms part of the Helvellyn range in the Eastern Fells. This chain of hills runs north-south and, in the vicinity of Watson's Dodd, forms the watershed between the Thirlmere and Ullswater catchments....
to the south. The fell is a typical "Dodd" with a smoothly rounded profile, clad primarily in grass and bracken. Great Dodd lays claim to a wide tract of land to the north east, descending gradually over five miles to the vicinity of Troutbeck.
Great Dodd stands at an acute angle in the Helvellyn range, with the "northward" continuation to Clough Head actually starting off westerly, before swinging around the head of Mosedale. Before the unnamed col is reached, the ridge throws up the small rock tor of Calfhow Pike (2,165 ft). In more rugged areas of the District this would have little significance, but here amid the wide vista of smooth green slopes, Calfhow Pike is a landmark visible for miles around. It has little prominence although some guidebooks list it as a top. The connection to Watson's Dodd is a short grassy promenade running south westerly with little reascent at the far end. The ridge path in either direction is broad and clear, with a shortcut contouring to the west of Great Dodd's summit for those in a hurry.
The long north eastern ridge drops first to Randerside (2,375 ft), a subsidiary top bearing a rash of stones. From here it broadens into Matterdale Common, becoming steadily wetter underfoot, before splitting into two on either side of Groove Beck. The more southerly ridge heads over High Brow (1,885 ft), fringed by Dowthwaite Crag which broods over the road-end settlement of Dowthwaitehead. The further tops of Low How (1,630 ft) and Cockley Moor (1,492 ft) are passed before this branch of the ridge peters out in extensive conifer plantations, and then the ground climbs again to Great Mell Fell
Great Mell Fell
Great Mell Fell is a hill in the Eastern Fells of the English Lake District. It is a north-eastern outlier of the Helvellyn range, but, like its twin Little Mell Fell, is isolated from its fellows, standing in the middle of a flat plain...
. The northern branch of the ridge is edged by Wolf Crags above the Old Coach Road, beyond which a wide prairie sweeps north across Sandbeds Moss and Flaska to the A66
A66 road
The A66 is a major road in northern England which in part follows the course of the Roman road from Scotch Corner to Penrith. It runs from east of Middlesbrough in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire to Workington in Cumbria...
and the dismantled Penrith
Penrith, Cumbria
Penrith was an urban district between 1894 and 1974, when it was merged into Eden District.The authority's area was coterminous with the civil parish of Penrith although when the council was abolished Penrith became an unparished area....
to Keswick
Keswick, Cumbria
Keswick is a market town and civil parish within the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England. It had a population of 4,984, according to the 2001 census, and is situated just north of Derwent Water, and a short distance from Bassenthwaite Lake, both in the Lake District National Park...
railway.
Between the north east ridge and Clough Head is the head of Mosedale, one of many valleys in the district bearing that name. Groove Beck, which divides the north east ridge into two, becomes Thornsgill Beck and then Trout Beck, before finally uniting with the waters of Mosedale to head west for Keswick as the River Glenderamackin. The dale separating Randerside from Stybarrow Dood and Hart Side
Hart Side
Hart Side is a fell in the English Lake District, being an outlier of the Helvellyn range in the Eastern Fells. The Ordnance Survey maps give the name to a broad saddle dropping from White Stones on Stybarrow Dodd, but Wainwright in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells gave the name to the...
also undergoes a bewildering sequence of name changes as it flows to Ullswater
Ullswater
Ullswater is the second largest lake in the English Lake District, being approximately nine miles long and 0.75 miles wide with a maximum depth of slightly more than ....
. Beginning as Browndale Beck it flows through the hanging valley of Deepdale, becomes Rush Gill and finally at Dowthwaitehead is renamed Aira Beck. This is the head stream for the famous waterfall of Aira Force
Aira Force
Aira Force is a waterfall in the English Lake District, in the county of Cumbria. The word force is used in many parts of northern England as a synonym for waterfall it comes from the Old Norse language old Norse word fors....
, a popular destination for tourists.
The western flanks of Great Dodd are drained by the short streams of Beckthorns, Ladknott and Mill Gills, all of which once fed St John's Beck. As part of the Thirlmere
Thirlmere
Thirlmere is a reservoir in the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria and the English Lake District. It runs roughly south to north, with a dam at the northern end, and is bordered on the eastern side by the A591 road and on the western side by a minor road....
reservoir scheme, completed in 1894, a water race was constructed to divert the latter two becks southward to the lake. There is some outcropping rock here at the bottom of the slope, Lad Knott being the principal feature.
Old Coach Road
The Old Coach Road referred to above was the main throughroute from east to west before the coming of the railways. It still provides a fine walking route from Dockray around the northern end of the Helvellyn range to the Vale of St John. The close up view of Wolf Crags is particularly good. Recent damaging overuse by off-road vehicles should now cease following changes in legislation.Geology and Mining
There is evidence of historic mining activity in two locations on Great Dodd. Fornside Mine on the western slopes has the remains of two levels driven for copperCopper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
. At the base of Wolf Crags on the north east ridge there are the remains of a 90 ft level on a quartz vein. Little is known of either venture and it must be assumed that they were commercial failures. Geologically the fell forms part of the Thirlmere Member of the Lincomb Tarns Formation. Part of the Borrowdale Volcanic series, this consists of parataxitic lapilli-tuff.
Summit and view
The summit area of Great Dodd is a short ridge with the highest point at the north west end, marked by a small cairnCairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
. A larger wind shelter lies to the south east. Another cairn lies part way down the western slope on the path to Clough Head, marking the minor top of Little Dodd. The view is good, with much of the Lake District and a portion of the northern Pennines in sight.
Ascents
Great Dodd can be climbed from Dockray, or from further up Aira Beck at High Row or Dowthwaitehead, although parking here is limited. Either branch of the north east ridge can be ascended directly, or Mosedale can be followed up to Calfhow Pike at its head. All of these routes are abominably wet underfoot until Randerside or Calfhow Pike is reached. The car park at LegburthwaiteLegburthwaite
Legburthwaite is a village in the Allerdale District, in the county of Cumbria. It is located on the A591 road and the B5322 road. Legburthwaite has a place of worship and a youth hostel. It is just north of Thirlmere.- References :...
provides the best access to the west, and from here any preferred route can be followed up the pathless grassy slopes.