Great Dodd – Watson's Dodd Summit loop from High Rigg

Hiking trails & Routes

St John'S Castlerigg And Wythburn

Great Dodd – Watson's Dodd Summit loop from High Rigg

Hard

4.6

(16)

257

hikers

Great Dodd – Watson's Dodd Summit loop from High Rigg

06:38

18.3km

1,070m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 7, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Lake District National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

2.03 km

Clough Head North West Face Traverse

Highlight • Viewpoint

A good path takes you on this rising traverse of the steep north east flank of Clough Head. It's an atmospheric place to be

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4.85 km

Clough Head

Highlight • Viewpoint

Looking back at Clough Head

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5.64 km

Great Dodd

Highlight • Natural Monument

Great Dodd, at 2,812 feet (857 m) is a gentle giant. The 19th highest Wainwright, it is probably the fell that will pose the least technical challenge of the top …

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5.74 km

Great Dodd Shelter Cairn

Highlight • Viewpoint

Don’t confuse this with the summit location of Great Dodd which is approx. 100m away and marked by a small cairn

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6.92 km

Watson's Dodd Summit

Highlight • Natural Monument

I've visited the summit of Watson's Dodd twice, it sits between Great Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd on the long Helvellyn ridge. Its Wainwright status makes it popular with peak baggers …

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8.15 km

Stybarrow Dodd

Highlight • Viewpoint

In contrast to the craggy grandeur of Helvellyn and its subsidiary peaks, the Dodds are gentle rounded fells. However, their great height gives them superb views across the Lake District, …

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8.98 km

Sticks Pass

Highlight • Trail

Sticks Pass is the only major route crossing the Eastern Fells ridge between Grisedale Tarn and Threlkeld. The old route crosses from Legburthwaite by Thirlmere to Glenridding by Ullswater. At …

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11.4 km

Stybeck Waterfall

Highlight • Natural Monument

Lovely series of waterfalls. Close to the car park and lay-by which means a high reward for little effort

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18.3 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

9.58 km

7.40 km

911 m

351 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

10.5 km

3.11 km

2.27 km

1.36 km

764 m

269 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (850 m)

Lowest point (140 m)

Weather

Thursday 22 October

9°C

4°C

97 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 27.0 km/h

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Comments

October 10, 2022,St John's Vale Skyline. 5 Wainwrights. 3 Nuttalls.

Day 11. LD04. St John's Vale Skyline. 5 Wainwrights. 3 Nuttalls.

Wainwrights: Clough Head 726m, Great Dodd 857m, Watsons Dodd 789m, Stybarrow Dodd 843m and High Rigg 357m. Nuttalls: Clough Head, Great Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd.

The problem with this route is parking in St John’s Vale. Stuart Marshall states in his great Walking the Wainwright book there is ample …