Hartsop Dodd and Caudale Moor

We were determined to complete this walk having been blown off it a few weeks previously with high winds. A good bright day when we set off from the car park just above Hartsop, through the kissing gate and down to the right crossing the river as though heading up Pasture beck. Instead of turn up the valley we entered the field ahead through a gate, to start the steep grassy climb to the left of a wall, over a style and up to the northern ridge of Hartsop Dodd. After a short rest we climbed the ridge. Seen from the valley, driving from Patterdale towards Kirkstone pass three impressive ridges sweep down off the summit plateau of Caudale More. All look very inviting for the hill walker and I have always wanted to ascend each of them. The western most ridge to Caudale Head we have done previously (in complete mist), the middle ridge was today’s walk and the most eastern ridge over Grey Crag was another walk to look forward to.


We rested just below the summit of the Dodd for a sandwich admiring the views over to Place Fell, Angle Tarn Pikes and Brock Crags satisfyingly being able to say “we’ve been there”. Further a field other summits we had climbed Glenridding Dodd and Sheffield Pike plus many others still to do. The weather was glorious, warm with an interestingly cloudy sky but plenty of blue patches. At the Hartsop Dodd cairn Caudale Moor looked distant but it didn’t take long, after a short descent, to climb up to the summit at Stoney Cove Pike. This was where I realised the Wainwright Book was back at the car. Was this the Wainwright Summit or was it the distinctive cairn over to the west at Caudale Head? There was no question, we had to walk across the summit plateau to the other top. (On getting back tot the car found we needn’t have done this but the walk along the top was immensely enjoyable). Retracing our steps to Stoney Cove Pike along the summit wall, which, from our previous experience, is an extremely useful landmark in the mist, we were amazed by the number of seagulls both on the ground and circling high above.
Descending east, now, down to Threshthwaite Mouth the path became quite rocky and steep in places but at the col the sun was out and the air was still. We sat bathing in the sunshine - Thornthwaite Crag ahead looked a steep ascent but a definite possible detour from our original plan. However, we had other committments in the evening so resisted the temptation and headed down to Pasture Beck.

A good choice for only 10-15 minutes after leaving the col, I looked behind and it had disappeared in thick black gloomy clouds, the tops all around no longer in sight, the seagulls circling high above. There was a definite atmosphere of impending doom relieved only by the bright sunshine in the valley to the north. Suddenly a loud clap of thunder echoed around the valley followed by a chorus of bleating sheep. No time to linger, we quickly got our waterproofs out before the heavens opened and we trudged back to the car, very wet but content after a walk with such variety.

Time 4 hrs

Memories
· Sudden change from sunbathing to being soaked
· Seagulls
· Views over our previous tops

Grade Excellent


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