Somewhere different was needed to walk this fine day.

Plans to walk in Borrowdale fell through so I changed my sights slightly once I realised that I hadn't climbed Dodd Fell for many years.

An afternoon start, so if I didn't spend to much time along the way the cafe might still be open at the end !

My starting point was the roadside parking, close to Mirehouse and the Old Saw Mill Tearooms.

It is a continuous forest track, partially tarmaced on the steeper section, but is over a mile of a straight-line-climb up through the trees.

I settled into a steady walking pace (as befitted the nice afternoon), only slowing when the views distracted.

This was Skill Beck as it cascaded down the valley below me.

Up until now all junctions I've passed have been paths and tracks that had joined my route.

At Long Doors, the 'coll' between Dodd and Carlside, was the first split where you have to make a positive decision to change direction for the summit.

Left will take you over to the White Stones / Carlside path, or onward and downward to the village of Millbeck on the Keswick road.

As I reached the bench, these two gents were admiring the view south over Derwent Water.

This forest path avoids the final climb to the summit for longer than expected,

but eventually you reach another viewpoint (left) or the now fast rising path (right) that will take you to the top.

As I climbed, the views to the east appeared over the tops of the trees.

Skiddaw Little Man can be seen over the Whitestone/Carlside shoulder and Clough Head is the escarpment in the distance.

The Scout Memorial graces the top of the summit.

Visibility today was good and there's plenty of Scotland to see, away in the distance beyond Bassenthwaite Lake.

Looking south, Dougal and Dylan sit patiently as I take photos.

One was this composite photo including all the sights you can see from the top this lovely day.

Click here or on the photo above for a larger 360 degree annotated panorama.

[ press backspace from the panorama page to return here]

For the second I moved a little further from the top to catch a more complete view of Bassenthwaite Lake.

The problem with these type of paths is that they could seem twice as important as they really are,

the footsteps having been created once on the way down and a second time on the return after a fruitless diversion !

Still, I took a chance and headed down the fell, glancing back up at the climb I may have to re-make shortly.

Sanity regained . . . the path down had been slippery, it twisted and turned through the trees

and I often had to duck down when the dogs just walked ahead under the low branches of the forest.

It was what you might call an 'adventure' . . . lovely to do but follow it at your own discretion !"