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DODD (8) - CARL SIDE (9) - LONG SIDE (10) - ULLOCK PIKE (11)
Scroll down to view the photographs after the report or click here We were staying at the Camping and Caravanning Club site at Keswick in our trailer tent for nine days over the Easter period, so this was an ideal opportunity to "bag" a few more Wainwright’s! From our site on the banks of Derwentwater we were surrounded on all sides by the magnificent fells of the English Lake District. Directly behind us the snow capped mountains of Skiddaw, Skiddaw Little Man and Carl Side "called" me each day as I ventured out from the confines of our trailer tent but Skiddaw would have to wait – for now! Today I have the privilege of climbing four Wainwright's. The route will take in the fells of Dodd 1,612 feet (491 metres), Carl Side 2,420 feet (738 metres), Long Side 2,405 feet (733) and Ullock Pike 2,230 feet (678 metres), before following a path down and over "The Edge", a mile of ever decreasing fells leading eventually to the Ravenstone Hotel and joining up with the A591 road. My alarm was set for 8-00 a.m. for an early start on my solo walk. It rained heavily during the night but at least it had stopped now. The forecast is for a bright start to the day with possible low cloud on the fells but turning to rain later in the afternoon. I am hoping that if I make an early enough start, I may be able to complete my walk before it turns nasty! I was all sorted and ready for the off by about 9-00 a.m. Annette, my better half, and my daughter Siobhan (Vikki, my other daughter, staying in bed!), were going to drop me off at the start of my walk which was from the Dodd car park opposite Mirehouse. This is set back off the A591 road and at the base of my first fell to be climbed today, Dodd. The car park was reached and our goodbyes said as I set off, following a path up through the trees. There were two or three "coloured" routes that walkers could follow of varying distances. I followed the "green" route that would take three miles to reach the summit. Dodd is a strange fell because of the huge variety of trees that cover it, especially at the summit. There is talk of the fell being stripped of these in the not too distant future. The path was good and offered a steady, relatively steep climb in the early stages, meandering its way up through the densely planted "forest". I made good progress following the trickling stream of Skill Beck for the majority of the way, and soon reached the crags of Long Doors. As I rounded Long Doors a fantastic vista awaited me, it literally made me gasp! Laid out in front of me like a feast before a King, was the glistening lake of Derwentwater, the compact town of Keswick and the breathtaking panorama of the surrounding fells of delightful Lakeland. Fantastic. The summit wasn’t too far from this point and the weather remained dry and the visibility was good although low cloud still covered some of the higher fells, especially Skiddaw and Skiddaw Little Man. After wandering off path slightly, I eventually managed to get back on track and followed a steepening craggy path up ever nearer to my goal. The ground underfoot became more and more muddy but at last, poking out from amongst the trees, the summit cairn came into view. In fact its a stone memorial pillar with two brass plaques, one dedicated to a couple of scouts and the other declaring that this indeed was Dodd summit! The views from the summit were now enhanced by the addition of Bassenthwaite Lake over to the north west and made for an ideal "picnic stop" to recharge my energy levels. Fully gorged, not only on my sandwiches but also on the surrounding view, it was time to leave this tiny piece of heaven and move on, greedily, to the next bit! I had to retrace my steps back down Dodd to a col situated close to Long Doors. From here, and after crossing a rickety fence and a crumbling dry stonewall, the path ran diagonally across and up to my next snow - topped objective, Carl Side. I had to aim for the south ridge of Carl Side just above an area known as "White Stones". It seemed easy going at first but became increasingly harder work especially once passed White Stones. As I wearily made my way up the fell side I met a couple of other walkers, one of whom was on his way down from the dizzy heights of Skiddaw. I took this opportunity to enquire about the layering of snow nearer the summit and if it had provided him with any problems. His reply "Its only calf deep but if you stick to the footprints you’ll be ok", didn’t really inspire me with confidence! Continuing on up the south ridge I eventually encountered my first sprinkling of snow. This I could easily divert around but as I progressed further up the fell the snow became more of a problem until finally it covered the entire path ahead of me. With no choice but to tentatively wade through it, I reached my second goal of the day, the summit cairn of Carl Side. This was a deceptively hard slog but again the views over Keswick and Derwentwater made it all worthwhile and helped to remind me why I put my self through it! I also had a good view of our campsite far below near to the shores of Derwentwater, where my conquest of these fells was eagerly plotted. Eerily, as if to let me know that I am only an invited guest to these fells and not an all-conquering explorer, the low cloud that had been swirling round the tops of nearby Skiddaw suddenly engulfed me, plunging me into near zero visibility. A timely reminder if ever one should need it, that we’re just tiny insignificant specks in a huge landscape and virtually at the mercy of whatever the fells decide to throw at us. Feeling firmly "put-in-my-place" I decided to sit tight, have a bite to eat, a warming cup of coffee, and give the cloud chance to lift. The route ahead between Long Side and Ullock Pike, crosses what is known as Longside Edge, a narrow rocky ridge, which, covered in snow, I didn’t really fancy attempting especially with the added handicap of poor visibility! The phrase "The mountain will always be here for another day" kept springing to mind. The fells must have taken pity on me because after a short while a faint outline of Skiddaw started to emerge from behind the cloud. Soon other fells further a field came into view and I felt more at ease with the thought of completing my walk. I quickly made the short dash back up to the cairn to be presented with the fantastic sight of Long Side, Longside Edge and Ullock Pike, previously hidden amongst the cloud. Feeling rejuvenated and raring to go again I made my way along the path leading towards Long Side. It was at this point that Long Side looked considerably bigger than Carl Side did, this was probably due to a depression in the ground between the two fells. This was an easy walk, half a mile along a decent obvious path, all be it covered in a layer of snow, with a minimal 165 feet of ascent. Whenever I am on a ridge route I feel quite literally on top of the world. Well ok, not quite on top of the world but you know what I mean! The path was a bit slippery in places with a good helping of mud mixing in with the snow and a rocky, craggy surface under that. It didn’t prevent me from reaching my third goal of the day though, the summit of Long Side. Again the views were outstanding with both Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake visible. Looking back towards Skiddaw covered in snow and with its summit still hidden under a thick carpet of cloud, I could see a group of walkers snaking their way up its steep fell side from the col on Carl Side. They looked like tiny black ants making their way up the side of an exceptionally large anthill and I couldn’t help thinking how crazy and dangerous it looked from here! I checked the skies around me and noticed a few dark and menacing clouds lingering over some of the surrounding fells as if waiting to pounce when I was least expecting it. With this in mind I didn’t hang around any longer than necessary and was soon making my way across Longside Edge. This wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated but still provided glimpses of the drop to either side showing just how far I could fall if I wasn’t careful of where I placed my feet! In places it wasn’t quite wide enough for two people to pass or at least the covering of snow underfoot made it look that way. I didn’t take any chances and stepped aside to let oncoming walkers pass, at least that way I could follow their footprints and know the ground was solid underneath and not just fresh air! The journey across Longside Edge isn’t very long and as Wainwright himself stated "Its a pity it isn’t longer". I couldn’t agree more but would have preferred a better day so that I could have spent more time there instead of worrying about the weather turning for the worse. Still, I can always revisit! A third of a mile further on and an easy 50-foot of ascent brought me to the summit of Ullock Pike and my fourth and final goal of the day (not counting getting back to the car park!). Again it goes without saying that the views were breathtaking. You almost run out of words to describe the sheer beauty of this area and is indeed why I love it so. The fells seem to change, almost as often as the weather, from one glance to the next. One minute they are bright, green, lush and inviting, then a cloud may drift overhead and as if casting a spell, change the whole appearance of the fell to a darker, menacing and almost forbidding one. Ullock Pike looked a bit menacing as I approached it. The climb to its summit was easy enough but it looked a very rugged and craggy fell and seemed to drop off quite sharply on the opposite side, the side I needed to make my descent by! As it turned out I needn’t have worried too much. It was nothing more than a few rocky scrambles in places but still a rather steep descent. Looking over to the east brought Southerndale Valley into view with Southerndale Beck and its occasional waterfall running along the valley bottom and Skiddaw towering above as if keeping guard! From this side Ullock Pike looked dark and very craggy compared to the smoother and greener (at least the ones not covered with snow!) fells nearby. The path now runs down over several ridges called "The Edge", decreasing in height as you near the bottom. At one point the sun actually smiled down on me and I gratefully accepted the opportunity for another coffee break while I still had a bit of height to enjoy the views, before finally dropping down to join the A591 road and ultimately the end of my walk. My intention was to follow "The Edge" down and just before reaching a group of upturned stones known as "The Watches", to take a path off to the left, which would have taken me around and down to the Ravenstone Hotel and onto the A591 road. Unfortunately I missed my turn off. Too busy admiring the views! I eventually found a wooden ladder stile crossing a dry stonewall but had a sign attached stating that there was no path beyond. I could see the A591 below but with a few fields between it and me. After walking back and forth looking for the correct path down, I eventually climbed the wooden ladder stile and made my way down across a rather large field. As I neared the bottom of the field I could see a fence ahead of me topped with barbed wire and a couple of houses on the opposite side. No other choice but to scramble over and hope I don’t get spotted by Mr. Farmer and his shotgun! Once over the fence and cursing that I’d got my jacket caught and cut my hand on the barbed wire, I found after checking my ordnance survey map, that I had joined a narrow lane which shot off the A591 just behind an area marked as "Kennedy Plantation". If followed (in the opposite direction to where I wanted to go!) this would lead to Orthwaite but heading roughly south south west for a few hundred yards, would get me back onto the A591. Feeling like a naughty school boy I quickly headed for the A591 expecting at any moment Mr. Farmer to shout "Oi, you, come here!" Safely at the road I then started my walk back towards the Mirehouse car park, and the finish of my walk. It was a bit of a drag this road walking so just after passing a side road on my right leading to Scarness, I crossed over and joined a forest path through what I think is part of Dodd Wood. This eventually led me back to the car park and the end of my walk. All in all another good day's fell walking and four more Wainwright’s bagged. Only a couple of hundred more to do! Bring ‘em on!
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