A trip to the Lake District isn’t consider a real success unless you go trekking to the summit of a fell. So after we lost our way on our first trekking attempt, I found a book on the Low Fells to follow which sounded a better option for little legs and we decided to tackle Dodd Fell.
This is a smallish fell but was still slightly higher than Alice’s first-ever summit of Cat Bells last year. At just over 1600ft it’s an easy ascent along a well-tended path with utterly fantastic views of both Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite from the very top. On a clear day, which we enjoyed, we could also see the Solway Firth and Scotland in the far distance.
The whole week we were on holiday in Keswick it had been sunny but chilly and this day was no exception. We wrapped up well and packed our provisions into rucksacks as we can never be sure how long a never done before the walk will take us. Especially when one of our party has little legs. At the car park where we could begin our ascent, there’s a cute little cafe too so we decided to have lunch there when we returned. After we had changed into our tough walking boots we headed up the main path towards the fell. This took us through pine woods and a steep craggy, and icy, beck tumbling down the hillside. On our left were slate cliffs with icicles and the odd stream and Alice began hunting for fairy crystals (the tiny white stones that sparkle). This was a good idea as it kept her interested in the walk! We did forget to take our walking poles but we found a solid branch for her to use which was promptly named, “Scruff”.
So Scruff and Alice continued their climb upwards in good humour. Chocolate ‘snacks’ are always a good incentive as are spotting other families either on the way down from the top as it’s a good way to encourage them up a hill on what could be seen in their eyes as just a boring walk.
As always as soon as we reached a milestone in the trek, or plodded around a corner and were treated to unexpected views it was all worthwhile. The view from the summit was the best I’d ever seen thanks to the beautifully clear and sunny weather! A quick photo of Alice proudly standing next to the cairn and we descended to have a well-deserved lunch before visiting Mirehouse Gardens in the afternoon.