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Image reproduced with permission from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service
Walks: A Traverse of the Eastern Fells
Description A beautiful ridge walk that takes in the spine of the Eastern fells, from Helvellyn in the south to Clough Head in the north. Summary Swirls - Helvellyn - White Side - Raise - Stybarrow Dodd - Watson’s Dodd - Great Dodd - Clough Head - Wanthwaite Maps The walk can be found on Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 5. You will also find it on Ridge Map 1 on our maps page. Transport Being a traverse, you will need to decide how to get back to your start point at the end. Two suggestions: first, walk with a friend and take two cars. You can then leave one at Wanthwaite (grid reference NY316229) and the other at the Swirls car park (grid reference NY315168); or, alternatively, for strong walkers, leave your car at Wanthwaite and walk the 4.5 miles to Swirls before commencing the walk proper. (You could also use the 555 bus for the Stanah to Swirls stretch). Distance, Height and Time This is a lengthy walk, approximately 14 miles long and involving 4,350 feet of ascent. In good weather, the walk should take you approximately 8 hours.
Details Starting from the car park at Swirls (grid reference NY315168), cross the footbridge and take the path on the left side of the stream. Soon you will come to a signpost marked ‘Helvellyn’, pointing you over a bridge back across to the other side of the stream. Cross the bridge and continue to follow the track, climbing up the side of Helvellyn Gill and towards Browncove Crags. Above the crags the path becomes less steep as it skirts below the subsidiary summit of Helvellyn Lower Man and then climbs up to the summit of Helvellyn itself. After enjoying the splendid views from here, it is time to make your escape from the crowds. Retrace your steps but this time swing right onto Helvellyn Lower Man. From here, continue north along the ridge to the grassy summit of Whiteside and then north-east to Raise where the next few miles of the route open up before you in a vista of rolling summits. Descend to the top of Sticks Pass and climb up the other side of the col to reach Stybarrow Dodd, the true summit of which lies a short distance off the main ridge path to the north-east; simply keep climbing higher until you can go no further and reach the small cairn. Now stroll along the broad grassy track that leads north-west to Watson’s Dodd, whose summit also lies off the main track - keep going north-west where the track curves round to the right and, once again, you will find a small cairn marking the highest point. Returning to the main ridge path, follow it to the north-east where, in three-quarters of a mile, the summit of Great Dodd is reached, with spectacular views in all directions. After a well earned rest it is time to strike out for the last summit of the day, some two miles distant. Begin by heading north-west and making for the curious rock outcrop called Calfhow Pike. On a summer’s day this little tor rises from the sea of waving grass like a whale surfacing for air. As you near Calfhow Pike, the track swings north and heads for the summit of Clough Head, where you will find a trig point and spectacular views of distant Blencathra. At last the end is in sight, although a few miles still remain. Pick up the path running north from the trig point which soon begins to descend, gently at first and then more steeply, as it heads for the minor protuberance of White Pike. Keep to the left of this as you descend and the track, which may disappear in the grass, will eventually deposit you on the old coach road. Here turn left and trudge the two miles back to Wanthwaite. |
