Clough Head, the 'Dodds' and a Wild Camp

Dates: 15th & 16th November 2013
Route: From Wanthwaite to Clough Head, along the Dodd's ridge route & back via Sticks Pass 
Wild Camp : Birkett Fell
Wainwright's: Clough Head, Great Dodd, Watson's Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd, Hart Side
Distance:15.6 miles (25.1 km)
Height Gained: 4300 feet (1310 meters)

The Route anticlockwise from Wanthwaite

 So I had a Friday booked off work and intended a 2 day jaunt to tackle the northern branch of Wainwright's Eastern fells. As is usual I watched the weather forecast intently over the preceding days and as is also usual I went anyway despite it looking fairly grim with lots of low cloud expected. I am always very envious of folk who can pick and choose the best days to head off to the fells but for me I have to book a week day off and then pray to the weather gods.

 I parked at Wanthwaite and headed off along the old coach road. After a short while a style appears over the dry stone wall on the right and a slightly obscure path meanders steeply up through the old quarry to emerge on the western flanks of Threlkeld Knotts.

The Old Coach Road

The path climbs up through the old quarry

Views back over Wanthwaite towards High Rigg and Low Rigg

 The summit of Threlkeld Knotts is well worth the short diversion from the main objective of Clough Head. There are fine views over to Blencathra and along the Keswick-Penrith valley. This is also a good vantage point to survey Clough Head which appears steep and impenetrable from this side but closer inspection reveals an indistinct path tracking diagonally upwards from left to right before emerging onto Bennesty Knott and the summit ridge. 

One of the large Cairns at Threlkeld Kotts looking West

Views over Threlkeld towards a shrouded Blencathra ...

.. and looking towards the steep north side of Clough Head, the diagonal ascent path is just visible on the right

Views from that diagonal path at Bennesty Knott

 From the top of Bennesty Knott its a short walk along the ridge to the summit of Clough Head. By the time I got there the cloud had descended and visibility was poor. Unfortunately it stayed that way for the rest of the day. 

Clough Head summit

 From Clough Head a good path leads south to Calfhow Pike before plodding steadily upwards to Great Dodd. I would imagine the panorama from here is excellent but I had use my imagination today.

Calfhow Pike

looking back northwards from Calfhow Pike summit

Great Dodd summit and a Raven

Watson's Dodd summit - the clag continues

 The path then continues to snake its way southwards taking in Watson's Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd. I then descended eastwards towards Hart Side and then Birkett Fell before looking for a suitable spot to make camp. By this time the wind had got up and I was thankful to find a dry stone wall on the east side of Birkett Fell which looked like a great wind break. It was only after following the wall downhill looking for a suitably flat area that I got back below the cloud level again.

 Initially the tent was sheltered from the wind but in the early hours it must have changed direction and increased in strength. The noise levels got up and despite ear plugs I got very little sleep afterwards. Next time I really must remember the Whiskey! 

 The twitter chatter that evening suggested that there might be the chance of a cloud inversion the following morning and so it was with some excitement that I unzipped the tent door at 6am to see what awaited. Alas, no inversion but I could see the silhouette of surrounding fells and as the sky lightened I could see that the cloud base was well above the summits. Even Helvellyn was visible. The wind was still gusting strongly though despite being on the lee side of Birkett Fell. A change of plan was in order. I had initially intended to walk along to Sheffield Pike and then return via Dowthwaitehead and the old coach road but feeling somewhat robbed of summit views yesterday I decided to retrace my steps to Great Dodd and then take a longer route back via Matterdale Common.

A reddening sky the next morning

Sunrise

views from the wall near my camp site towards Ullswater

Birkett Fell summit

Birkett Fell looking towards Ullswater

 By the time I walked back up to Birkett Fell summit it became evident that the wind was going to be a torment. I battled against a fierce headwind back up to Hart Side and then along to White Stones.

Hart Side summit at sunrise

Hart Side summit looking towards White Stones and Strybarrow Dodd

White Stones summit looking over Sheffield Pike towards Place Fell and beyond

White Stones summit looking towards Raise and Catstye Cam

White Stones summit looking towards Stybarrow Dodd and Great Dodd

 By the time I got up to Stybarrow Dodd I was struggling to keep balance due to the constant buffeting. I therefore beat a hasty retreat down to Sticks Pass and descended to Legburthwaite before walking the last few miles along the road to the car at Wanthwaite.

Stybarrow Dodd summit looking south towards Raise

Stybarrow Dodd summit plateau looking north towards Watson's Dodd & Great Dodd

Descending Sticks Pass

Looking back up Stanah Gill to Stybarrow and Watson's Dodds

Looking down over Great How and Thirlmere

Views towards Skiddaw from Sticks Pass

Wanthwaite Crags on Clough Head

 So a challenging 2 days in the fells. Following the all day clag on Friday at least I managed some good views from Stybarrow Dodd and a great sunrise on Saturday. Not many eastern fells left now and I reckon I can polish them off over 2 further day hikes which I will hopefully do before the end of the year.


Kit List
Shelter : Tarptent Scarp 1 (1.3kgs)
Mat : Exped SynMat7 UL LW (595g)   
Sleeping Bag : Rab Alpine 400 (970g)    
Stove : High Gear Blaze titanium stove (48g)  + Primus 100g Gas Cart   
Pans : Evernew Solo-set (250g)
Rucksack : Osprey Talon 44 (1.18kg) 
Trekking Poles : Black Diamond trail compact (488g pair)
Fluid : Deuter Streamer 2lt Bladder (185g) and 600ml Sigg bottle (100g empty) + Sawyer Squeeze filter (84g), 100 mls milk, coffee  
Food : Wayfayrer Tai Green Curry, Buttered Bread, Supernoodles,various sugary snacks.
Bits & Bobs : headtorch and spare batteries, Iphone + Anker 5800mHh battery,  victorinox knife, map & compass, basic first aid kit and Petzl e-lite, spork, various fold dry bags, flint & steel, plastic trowel.    
Camera : Panasonic DMC-LX7 & lowepro case.  
Clothes : Ron Hill wicking T-Shirt, Rab 100 wt fleece (250g), Montane Lightspeed windproof jacket (160g), Montane Prism 2 insulated jacket (423g), ME beany, TNF 'E Tip' gloves, sunglasses, Buff, Bridgedale socks & spare Sealskinz socks.  Hard Shell = Mountain Equipment Firefox jacket (320g) and trousers (259g) not used.
Trail Shoes : Meindl Respond GTX (820g pair) .


 Stand out pieces of kit (apart from the brilliant Scarp tent) were the Montane Prism 2 jacket which kept me warm and comfortable in the cold winds and also the TNF 'E Tip' gloves which won't win any awards for durability but kept my hands warm without having to continually take them off to use the touch screen phone. In the future, all gloves will be like this !

A Newlands Round & Solo Wild Camp

Date : 20th -21st Sept 2013
Route : from Little Town, a clockwise circuit of the Newlands valley.
Wild Camp : Hindscarth
Wainwrights : (8) Cat Bells, Maiden Moor, High Spy, Dale Head, Hindscarth, Robinson, Knott Rigg & Ard Crags.
Distance : 13.7 miles (22km)
Height Gained : 4813 feet (1467m)

The route - clockwise from Little Town

 This was route long pondered but always declined in favour of other, more craggy fells. Reading a blog by fellbound, who trod a similar route recently, brought it back into focus. This, along with the prospect of bagging a further 8 Wainwright fells in my quest, cemented the plan. I set off from Little Town at the foot of the Newlands valley at 1pm and followed the path along the western side of Cat Bells, the first of the days objectives. 

Newlands with Cat Bells (left), Hindscarth (centre) and Robinson (right)

 I had intended to walk right around to the north side of Cat Bells and then follow the tourist route to the summit but as I passed the half way point I spotted an obvious path through the bracken which made its way steeply up the west side to the ridge above. I headed upwards, pleased to shave an hour off the planned route at the expense of a short but thigh burning climb.

Derwent Water from Skelgill Bank on the Cat Bells ridge

 Once on the ridge, Derwent water comes suddenly into view and also so do the crowds. From passing just a handful of walkers to this point I was now suddenly part of a procession meandering along the ridge to the summit. Wainwright describes Cat Bells as a family fell and it was certainly occupied by folk of all ages today.

The final push to Cat Bells summit

The final push to the top is quite craggy and steep in places which was pleasantly unexpected. Unsurprisingly the summit was full of folk mooching around or sat eating their lunches while enjoying the views over Derwent Water & Keswick, which really are 'quite nice'. This is not a scene which inspires the solo hiker though and so I headed off along the ridge towards Maiden Moor, hopeful that the crowds would dwindle with distance from Keswick.

Cat Bells summit view over Keswick towards Skiddaw and Blencathra

Cat Bells summit panorama west showing the whole route ahead

Cat Bells summit panorama east over Derwent Water

The onwards route to Maiden Moor

 The path from Cat Bells continues along the ridge following Derwent Water for about a mile before turning westwards on a gradual climb towards the large grassy plateau that is Maiden Moor. The actual summit Cairn is off the main path on the west side and is easily missed. From here there are good views over the valley towards Hindscarth but in all other directions the flat summit expanse obscures all but the distant fells. The path continues southwards following the lie of the land gradually upwards towards High Spy.

Maiden Moor Summit looking onwards to High Spy

Looking back at a precarious looking cairn on the approach to High Spy

  
The summit of High Spy is another flat plateau with steep crags falling away on the western side but the stand out feature is its statuesque summit cairn. It also provides the first views of Dale Head which was the next objective. As I left the summit a pair of walkers came up from the Keswick side, circled the cairn and then turned back. These were last people I saw until returning to the car the following day. 

High Spy summit looking towards Dale Head - now that's a summit cairn!

On leaving High Spy the path drops to a wide col where Dale Head Tarn nestles against the steep flanks of its parent fell. Sitting next to the tarn I briefly considered making camp. It was a lovely sheltered spot and a welcome rest from the buffeting wind which had been steadily increasing for the past hour. It was only 4pm though, and despite the temptation for an early respite I headed on up the steep path to Dale Head summit, which was the hardest work I had done since Cat Bells.

Dale Head Tarn

The summit of Dale Head is a fantastic place to be. The view as you emerge onto the top are some of the best I have seen in the Lakes and made all the better by its magnificent summit cairn which belittles even the one on High Spy. In all directions the view is stunning and I spent a good half hour wandering around taking pictures. Thankfully the cloud had lifted from the Scafells and so the whole panorama was uninterrupted.

SUMMIT VIDEO

Dale Head summit panorama video

Dale Head summit looking towards Hindscarth

Dale Head summit view back down the valley towards Newlands

Dale Head summit panorama north

Dale Head summit panorama south towards the Scafells

Great Gable with the Scafells behind

Looking across Honister to Fleetwith Pike from Dale Head summit

Gatesgarthdale Beck snaking along the Honister valley towards Buttermere

I reluctantly left Dale Head summit and continued along the ridge towards Robinson. After a few minutes Buttermere comes into view. It really is a lovely aspect looking down on the lake with Fleetwith Pike at its head and the High Stile ridge, from Haystacks to Red Pike, stretching out across the opposite bank. After just 1/2 mile the ridge to Hindscarth merges from the right to create a 'T junction' of sorts and I  followed this path along an easy 1/2 mile to the summit of Hindscarth. 

Hindscarth summit view back towards Dale Head

Hindscarth summit view over Newlands towards the Grasmoor - Causey Pike ridge

 By this time the sun was getting low so I began the search for a camp site. The wind was blowing strongly from the west and so I headed towards the leeward side which is a sloping grassy area. I managed to find a flattish tent sized spot and set about making camp.

Camping spot on Hindscarth

Tent guyed strongly against a fierce wind

 It was far from a good pitch as the pegs kept hitting bedrock after 2 inches and so I was unable to get them in at the ideal places. The tent was secure though, if not drum tight and pretty. After setting up and eating some hot food I walked the short distance to the summit ridge to sit down watch the sunset. Hat, gloves and down vest were required to keep warm for that half hour. The following is a 'tongue in cheek' video of the pitch …. which certainly wasn't pretty.

Sun setting over Robinson

It was a cold and windy night but nothing out of the ordinary for a lakeland summit camp. In the early hours I ventured out to 'spend a penny' and was greeted by a clear sky with a full moon which was low in the sky over Maiden Moor. It was too good a photo opportunity to miss so I grabbed the camera and tried for 10 mins to keep it steady enough for a decent piccy. I only had a mini tripod and the wind kept buffeting it so the best I could manage was trying to holding the camera steady on a rock.     

No need for a tent light tonight

Sunrise over Clough Head

 I woke at 6 ish and opened the tent door to a lovely red sky forming over Clough Head. Unfortunately, 20 mins later, the cloud rolled in from the south and stayed there for the rest of the morning. I packed up and retraced my steps back to the main ridge and then along to Robinson. Every now and then the mist cleared for a few seconds giving views down to Butteremere. 

Robinson summit in the clag

Glimpses of Buttermere from the descent to Newlands Hause

Robinson summit was shrouded in thick cloud and after waiting for 10 mins it didn't seem likely to clear any time soon so I headed off down the steep path towards Butteremere Moss and Newlands Hause. The initial descent is along a steep rocky path but as Buttermere Moss is reached the land flattens to becomes a wide mass of soaking wet sphagnum moss interspersed with grassy tussocks. Trying to step from tussock to tussock is unfortunately no defense against the drenched ground and I soon found myself sploshing across this boggy expanse with no escape from the water. Eventually a path appears which follows the shoulder of High Snockrigg before dropping steeply to Newlands Hause.

Knott Rigg & the Newlands valley from Buttermere Moss

Newlands Hause and Knott Rigg

Moss Force and Newlands Hause from the climb up Knott Rigg

From the road at Newlands Hause a good path leads steeply up to Knott Rigg, at the top of which is a small pile of stones which serves as a summit cairn. 

Knott Rigg summit 'cairn' looking towards Robinson

Knott Rigg panorama towards the Sail ridge

Knott Rigg view to Ard Crags

 From Knott Rigg a broad ridge is followed for about a mile towards Ard Crags. It has to be said that Ard Crags is decidedly uncraggy. In fact it appears to be a mile long ridge with steep heather covered flanks and not a crag to be seen as far as I could see. 

Ard Crags -  but where are the crags?

Ard Crags summit - Robinson just emerging from cloud

The Newlands valley towards Cat Bells from Ard Crags

Causey Pike from Ard Crags

Looking back up at Ard Crags and still wondering where the crags are?

Cat Bells over Little Town

 The descent route follows a steep path which cuts through the heather, dropping down to the foot of the Newlands valley where it joins the road to Little Town. 

So that's 106 Wainwrights and just 1 short of halfway. I'm not sure what to tackle next. Perhaps the Skiddaw group or some of the fells north of Blencathra. Til next time. Thanks for reading.

Kit List
 
Shelter : Tarptent Scarp 1 (1.3kgs)
Mat : Exped SynMat7 UL LW (595g) 
Sleeping Bag : Rab Alpine 400 (970g)   
Stove : High Gear Blaze titanium stove (48g)  + Primus 100g Gas Cart   
Pans : Evernew Solo-set (250g)
Rucksack : Osprey Talon 44 (1.18kg) 
Fluid : Deuter Streamer 2lt Bladder (185g) and 600ml Sigg bottle (100g empty) + Sawyer Squeeze filter (84g), 100 mls milk, coffee  
Food : Wayfayrer chicken jalfrezi, Buttered Bread, Supernoodles,various sugary snacks.
Bits & Bobs : headtorch and spare batteries, Iphone + Anker 5800mHh battery,  victorinox knife, map & compass, basic first aid kit and Petzl e-lite, spork, various fold dry bags, flint & steel, plastic trowel.  
Camera : Panasonic DMC-LX7 & lowepro case.  
Clothes : Ron Hill wicking T-Shirt, Rab 100 wt fleece (250g), Mountain Equipment Ultratherm jacket (275g), Rab microlight down vest (310g), TNF Meridian Cargo Shorts (190g), ME beany, Rab phantom grip gloves, sunglasses, Buff, Innov8 short socks. 
Hard Shell = Mountain Equipment Firefox jacket (320g) and trousers (259g) not used.
Trail Shoes : Meindl Respond GTX (820g pair)


Comments welcome as always.