Wanthwaite - Hilltop Quarry - Old Coach Road - White Pike - Clough Head - Calfhow Pike - Great Dodd - Watsons Dodd - Stybarrow Dodd - Sticks Pass - Stanah - Legburthwaite - St Johns In The Vale - Wanthwaite

I left the Old Coach Road at Hause Well Spring and climbed over the stile in the fence to ascend the steep mountainside heading for Clough Head. The snow was getting much deeper as I climbed. I eventually walked around White Pike and then onwards to the summit of Clough Head (726m). This is where the really deep snow (and fun) started. It was so enjoyable with such excellent weather conditions. At the summit were a shelter (covered in snow) and a triangulation pillar (S5946). I spent a short time at the summit watching several Paraglider’s trying to take off with little success. I also met up with two walkers from Cambridgeshire who had ascended Clough Head the same way as me. They were to walk with me for most of the way across the Dodds.

My next target was Calfhow Pike (which is not a Wainwright but is a Birkett) which can be seen clearly in the distance from Clough Head. The path (wherever it was!!!) to Calfhow Pike was a straight line to its summit. For much of the way across the Dodds I was finding myself using other walker’s footprints. At least you could see the depth of the snow. In some places it was as deep as my knees!! The snow was fairly easy to walk through and was icy/crispy in places. Calfhow Pike (660m) is a rocky outcrop (a good navigational aid in not so good weather conditions). After more photos I continued on to Great Dodd ascending nearly 200m to its summit. Great Dodd (857m) is the 19th highest Wainwright Fell in the Lake District. It has a summit cairn and a shelter which are at either end of its top. At this point the walkers from Cambridgeshire left my company as they decided not to walk to the next fell top.

My third Wainwright of the day was an easy walk to Watsons Dodd (789m) again following walkers footprints in the snow. The snow was still very deep. Throughout the walk the views were excellent. I wanted to stay on the fells forever – it was such a perfect day!! I then carried on ascending once more to Stybarrow Dodd (843m). I met with several skiers at the summit of Stybarrow Dodd (with its small cairn). They were local skiers and explained that the conditions were just right for skiing this weekend. Normally it would be the Alps!!! On descent from Stybarrow Dodd to the Sticks Pass I noticed a ski lift on the side of Raise. I did not know that there was a ski lift there.

When I reached the Sticks Pass I followed more footprints to descent back down by the side of Stanah Gill to Stanah. The descent was steep and very snowy. During the last quarter of the descent it became very icy and lots of care had to be taken. Eventually as the sun had just set I arrived at the B5322. I then headed back along the road back to my car. Part way along the road I was met by the walkers from Cambridgeshire coming in the opposite direction in their car. They gave me a lift back to my car. This was an excellent day full of adventure and excitement – I just did not want it to end.

Reference Books Used