With promise of a good fine day we drove the short 2 miles from the lodges to the village hall at Stanah (£2 fee in honesty box)
The idea of todays walk was to ascend Sticks Pass, and instead of heading to Helvellyn like most, to head off in the opposite direction to "The Dodds" and complete a circular route along the Dodds and back down to the Lodge, get the bike, and cycle the last 2 miles to Stanah to get the car - saving a couple of miles walking.
12 Miles, 8 hours
We set off around 09:45, heading up the lane from the car park, across a stile, and following the steep track up to Sticks Pass.
The day was clear with blue skies, and we stopped regularly to get our breath and admire the ever expanding views down into the valley.
Sticks pass at close to 2000ft is an interchange of paths, leading East to Helvellyn, North to Glenridding, South to Stanah, or West to the Dodds. The view above shows the path we would take up to Stybarrow Dodd.
On from here to Watsons Dodd it was an easy and short bit up down then up, but not too much work.
A small cairn marked Watson Dodd (2477ft) and having bagged the 2nd Wainwright we moved on.
A bit more work and effort to get to the next summit of Great Dodd, but great views down to Thirlmere.
The 3rd Wainwright was in our grasp Great Dodd (2726ft) and a longer rest here and a bite to eat.
The 4th summit was a bit of a longer slog, descending down from Great Dodd, then along a wide stony track past Calfhow Pike (which we bypassed and did not bother diverting up) as by this time we were both feeling a little weary and conscious there was still a long way to go to get around (about half way).
A final long slog and we found ourselves at the top of Clough Head (the 4th and last Wainwright of the day) at 2306ft. We rested and talked a while with a fell runner (German I think), and let him have some of our water as he had run out and still hd to get down himself.
The Old Coach Road is a wide stony path though the walking here was easy, but by now we were staring to tire, but enjoyed thinking back to the summits we had journeyed to today and looked around at the afternoon sun playing on the hills.
The final section saw us come off the Old Coach Road and into the valley fields of St.Johns in the Vale and a final mile or so back to Bram Crag Farm. Here after a swift drink and recovery, I headed off on my bike along the B road to Stanah, threw it in the back of the Santa Fe and drove back the 2 miles to the lodges for well earned bath.
A full days route (for us) if was close to 18:00 by the finish, and a good days walking with excellent views.
Our Walk Score: 8/10
Friday 18th September 2015
A rest day on Thursday, and we decided to cycle on Friday and repeat a route we did in July from Greystoke as the weather then was not too good. today was much kinder.
The route takes in the quite roads and lanes of this northern part of the district and is on the edge of the National Park with views to Blencathra and beyond.
The route is a mix of some flat easy cycling with some long but not too torturous hilly sections mixed with a few downhill respites. A good steady day for novice cyclists like ourselves on Hybrid bikes. All on road, but fairly quiet and not too much traffic at all.
Our Cycle Score: 8/10
