Dodd, then a walk around Whitehaven Harbour

10th January 2015

This was yet another pre arranged trip that unfortunately fell short to the two Atlantic weather systems that brought chaos to Scotland & much of northern England bringing with it fierce winds that saw our plans shelved for a rather windy yet short walk up Dodd.

There are times when I will always second guess a weather forecast but there was no need for that as I struggled to keep my car in a straight line driving past Shap along the M6 Motorway continuing my journey on the A66 towards Keswick, such the force from the wind had I not been meeting David this morning I almost certainly would of tucked my tail between my legs & returned home.

Despite the bad weather David & myself agreed to keep to our original plan where David & Jennifer would board me for the evening & we would re evaluate our Sunday walking plans the same morning.

Today’s walk starts at the car park at the Sawmill Tea Rooms beneath Dodd, yet our walking day would end at Whitehaven Harbour some hours later.

 
Wainwright Guidebook Five
The Northern Fells

-Dodd:

Skiddaw is Lakeland through and through, one of the respected dignitaries of the district, absolutely true blue; Dodd would seem more in place in the dense and streaming jungles of the Amazon.

 

Overview
Ascent: 1,400 Feet – 427 Meters
Wainwrights: Dodd
Weather: Overcast With Hail & Snow, Strong Winds Recorded  48.7 mph On Dodd Summit. Highs Of 3°C Lows Of 3°C Feels Like -9.2°C
Parking: Car Park, Dodd Wood, Bassenthwaite
Area: Northern
Miles: 4.3
Walking With: David Hall
Ordnance Survey: OL5
Time Taken: 2 Hours
Route: Dodd Wood – Skill Beck – Long Doors – Dodd – Long Doors – Allerdale Ramble – Dodd Wood
 

Map and Photo Gallery

 
 

Skill Beck taken shortly after locking the cars 08:55 1°C 

David had already arrived & was parked up next to the parking meter where we emptied £2.70 each for two hours walking, which should be enough time to see us up Dodd & back.

I was five minutes early which meant we there was no real rush to get kitted up beneath a fierce wind that cut through the tree branches high above our heads, if the car & my ability to keep it in a straight line hadn’t already made my mind up the wind above our heads from the car park certainly did which in a rather odd way, assured us that we had made the right decision to stay low today.

We were soon kitted up & headed for the Wooden Bridge which crosses Skill Beck seen here with the old dam in the background.


 

 Waterfalls along the path.

After crossing Skill Beck our path would rise steeply as Skill Beck now fell away to our right, that wasn’t to say we was never to far away from the sound of falling water which surprisingly was…


 Almost crystal clear.
 

Heading towards Long Doors.
We were still climbing yet the initial steepness from the path had been broke. It was at this point did the wind above our heads not just stop the conversation but caused up both to look up mouths ajar…

 A distant Bassenthwaite Lake taken from Long Doors.
Our ascent path can be seen in the right of the photo however the path on the left also takes you back towards the Old Sawmill Tea Rooms with Skill Beck flowing between the two paths.

Derwent Water & the north western fells.

Once we had left Long Doors behind our path would see us flank Dodd’s south side which brought some much welcome shelter from the high winds, it was here it seemed that the wind was blowing from north to south yet the clouds in front of us were blowing west to east.

I guess we’l know how that feels by the time we reached the top.


Angels torches over Derwent Water.
Despite the high winds, the morning light was magical as it broke through the cloud above Keswick & Derwent Water.

Derwent Water.
 

The light show continues close to the summit of Dodd.
The shelter from the south aspect of the hill had provided had all but gone with the little height gained as we crested the summit of Dodd only to be met with powerful gust where we struggled to stay upright, shortly before arriving at the summit both David & myself joked that this was the last time we would speak before arriving back at the car, such the noise from the wind it was neon impossible to speak, conversation from here on in was done with hand movements or taps on each others shoulders

Brilliant light from Dodd summit memorial cairn.

We battened up our hatched & pulled at every drawstring we could lay our hands on. We both had missions to do which seemed more exhausting in the fierce wind that normal, all I wanted to do was leave the summit for & head yonder where I would get a uninterrupted view of Keswick & Derwent Water but the wind & my ability to stand upright made hard work of what I had initially set out to do.

Shortly before I left David propped his body up against the summit memorial & took out his Weather Meter which read a wind speed of 48.7mph which dosnt seem much as what Helvellyn was experiencing (estimated 70-80mph winds across the summit) sadly the Fell Top Assessor could not make a summit & took the readings from Swirral Edge, my hat went off to him who described his time there as deafening.

As least we had the option to drop of the summit within a matter of minutes…


Here, looking back up at Dodd from our descent path.
Time spent at the summit of Dodd & at the mercy of the strong winds was behind us where once again we had the shelter of the hill to thank for this peaceful & delightful descent which was soon cut short once a hail & snow shower arrived, as our path provided us with  shelter the snow fell on you rather that at you yet from afar, it was being hurried along by the winds at a tremendous pace.

Bassenthwaite Lake extends onto low lying ground.
Here looking down on the flooded low lying fields which was the result of recent heavy rains.

 The sun back came out as we passed one of the Osprey viewing stations.
 

Sadly, views south wasn’t as captivating.
 

 
 

 Back at the Old Sawmill Tea Room.

We made it back to the Old Sawmill Tearoom in exactly two hours; now that’s what I call getting the most out of £2.70

Cars pull on the car park & dogs eagerly jump out of car boots as their owners slip on wellies while David & myself de-boot under the canopy of what I recall was the toilet block, nevertheless we are protected by the winds.

Above our heads clouds swirl & I just cant make out what is going to happen next, will it be rain, hail of sun, we just didn’t know.

I follow David back to Whitehaven whilst listening to the girl on the radio urging folk to only travel if absolute necessary, judging by the look of my hair in the rear view mirror Id agree but what a wonderful ride.


 
An afternoon stroll along Whitehaven Harbour
Having shelved intended plans we decided to stretch our legs once more by taking a wintery walk along Whitehaven Harbour. I had already spoken to David on how much I was looking forward to seeing the Harbour which along with the crashing raves against the Harbour walls & Piers we also managed to take in a full on hail shower which came in directly of the Irish Sea, but before all that heres a selection of photos before blue turned to grey.

Appearances can be calm & deceptive behind the sea wall.
 

The C2C cycle route start marker.
 

Whitehaven Harbour entrance.
 

We didn’t have to wait long to see the waves crash over the harbour walls.
 

Sometimes the waves quite easily caught me out.
 

 
 

Not ever cloud has a rainbow at the end of it, but this wave does.
 

The light faded once we had rounded the Harbour where we started to climb a little higher to what’s known as the Candle Stick.
 

Trying to time the waves was more difficult than it looks, but some easier than overs to captutre like this one as it strikes & towers above the Pier wall.
 

The Candle Stick.
Could be mistaken for a memorial or a monument but in actual fact the Candle Stick is a venting shaft from the days when Whitehaven was known for extracting coal from not just the ground beneath the town, but the seabed too.

Whitehaven Harbour.

We could of watched the waves all day as atmospheric & therapeutic as it was it was now time to head back before those sinister clouds unleash what was hiding within them, but, we only managed to get back to the mariner before a wintry hail shower hit us from behind (thankfully) & almost soaked us through to the core before passing & suddenly started to brighten up again.

By which time we needed some good helping of winter food in our bellies which Jennifer had cooked, I call it Hot Pot, my Dad would call it Prater Pie but up here in Cumbria they call it Tatty Pot & was simply delicious & just was what the doctor ordered after a day spent in wintry Cumbria, all thanks to Jennifer of course.




 

Back to top