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502 m · Wainwright — Northern Fells · Birketts to bag nearby, parking, buses, my hikes and live summit weather.

Dodd - a tall slate summit pillar with a bronze plaque, conifers and a distant lake beyond under grey cloud
Wainwright — Northern FellsAlso a Birkett

Dodd (Skiddaw)

Dodd at 502m (1,647ft) is the prominent wooded cone above Bassenthwaite Lake, its open summit — above the Dodd Wood forest — giving one of the finest aerial views of Bassenthwaite Lake in the whole district.

502 m
Height
~2–2.5 h
Typical time
+5
Bonus Birketts
See routes & download GPX →

Home › Fells › Dodd (Skiddaw)

Written and walked by Lee McCoy · Last reviewed

502 mWainwright — Northern Fells✓ summit is also a Birkett+5 bonus Birketts within 3 km Straightforward in cloud

Is it worth going? — Today’s conditions & 7-day summit forecast

Modelled guidance for the 502 m summit. Always check the Met Office mountain forecast and MWIS before you set off.

On the summit today (Tue 28 Jul): 16° to 14°C, gusts to 32 mph, 3.4 mm of rain forecast.

Tue 28 Jul
🌦️
16° / 14°
💨 32 mph
🌧 3.4 mm (77%)
Wed 29 Jul
🌧️
16° / 12°
💨 26 mph
🌧 10.1 mm (79%)
Thu 30 Jul
🌧️
13° / 5°
💨 30 mph
🌧 2.4 mm (76%)
Fri 31 Jul
🌤️
15° / 2°
💨 23 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (69%)
Sat 1 Aug
🌦️
15° / 4°
💨 15 mph
🌧 1.5 mm (63%)
Sun 2 Aug
🌤️
16° / 3°
💨 16 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (25%)
Mon 3 Aug
🌦️
16° / 6°
💨 16 mph
🌧 0.4 mm (20%)

Forecast snapshot from 28 Jul 2026, 04:58 UTC — refreshed nightly and updated live in your browser. Temperatures and gusts adjusted to the 502 m summit altitude via Open-Meteo. Summit conditions are always harsher than the valley — check the professional mountain forecasts before you go.

Pro mountain forecasts: MWIS · Met Office mountain forecast

About the walk

Key information

Dodd (Skiddaw)

Dodd - a tall slate summit pillar with a bronze plaque, conifers and a distant lake beyond under grey cloud
© Lee McCoy

Dodd at 502m (1,647ft) is the prominent wooded cone above Bassenthwaite Lake, its open summit — above the Dodd Wood forest — giving one of the finest aerial views of Bassenthwaite Lake in the whole district. Wainwright included it in his Outlying Fells guide, noting the excellent lake view and the pleasant forest approaches. The ascent through Dodd Wood from the Mirehouse car park is popular with families and makes for an excellent short outing. The views of Skiddaw towering above and Bassenthwaite below are outstanding.

🗒️ My notes
I'm not sure if this is my least favourite fell or not. I visited it the end of a long day having come off Skiddaw and Carl Side and had to climb again for this Wainwright that stands alone. As I got back down to the main track, my route took me an inappropriate way. I used the OS map-making tool and it tried to take me the direct route straight up the side of it. I walked that way, I could see that it was a horrible pull-up through the forest and decided to take the more sane option of the friendlier track. This was fine on the way up, but less so on the way back where I just wanted to get back and took a bad short-cut which you can read in the navigation feature. The summit of Dodd itself is fine. It has a nice monument and acceptable view. But this one wouldn't be at the top of my list if I was looking for a solo hike, but with children its a perfectly good one - if you keep to the well-trodden route.

Routes up Dodd (Skiddaw)

Hand-mapped, with GPX to download — full maps further down.

Skiddaw via Ullock Pike and Dodd
12.4 km · ~4.3 hr · Hard
A grand horseshoe of the northern Skiddaw group from the forest at Dodd Wood. The walk climbs the clean, shapely ridge over Ullock Pike and along airy Longside Edge to Long Side, then drops to the col by Carl Side before the stiff, loose scree pull onto Skiddaw itself — and one of the great Lakeland summit views, out across the Solway Firth to Scotland. The return crosses back over Carl Side and takes a careful, GPS-checked line down to the wooded little top of Dodd before the drop home through the trees. Five Skiddaw-group Wainwrights — Ullock Pike, Long Side, Carl Side, Skiddaw and Dodd — on a satisfying, varied loop: clean ridge, real summit, quiet forest to finish.
Classifications & hill data
Wainwright
Northern
Birkett
Fellranger
Synge
HuMP
502 m
Height
1,647 ft
In feet
NY 2444 2735
Grid ref

Map & nearby Birketts

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right). Parking positions are approximate.

Nearest parking: Dodd Wood (paid), about 1.0 km from the summit (straight line). Full parking, toilets and bus details are below.

Birketts near Dodd (Skiddaw) (within 3 km)

These Birkett tops are not Wainwright summits — detour to them on this walk and they are pure profit. Distances are straight-line; allow extra for terrain.

2.0 km NESkiddaw South Top926 m · Northern
2.2 km NESkiddaw Middle Top929 m · Northern
2.4 km ESkiddaw Lesser Man824 m · Northern
3.0 km EJenkin Hill735 m · Northern
3.0 km NNEBroad End832 m · Northern

Routes over Dodd (Skiddaw)

Skiddaw via Ullock Pike and DoddRevised
12.41 km · ~1081 m ascent · loop · ~4–5.5 h · Loop · Hard
Summits: Ullock PikeLong SideSkiddaw Middle TopSkiddawCarl SideDodd (Skiddaw)

✎️ Start from the pay-and-display forestry car park at Dodd Wood (Mirehouse), on the A591 by the east shore of Bassenthwaite Lake — the path heads up through the trees, over a brook, and north past Sand Beds.

⬇️ Download GPX

Best season: A popular route walkable in most seasons. Save Longside Edge for a day without a gale, and expect the loose scree onto Skiddaw to be the one real effort. In winter the scree and the high, open ridge need proper care and kit.

⚠️ Warnings: Longside Edge is an airy ridge — fine in calm weather and nothing like Striding Edge, but it can feel daunting in a high wind.; The pull onto Skiddaw is loose scree, with a navigation trap: don't bear left too soon or you'll pass under the summit and miss it — aim straight up the scree.; The descent from Carl Side to Dodd needs care with the GPS: turn right down towards the road — the 'direct' line straight up to the left is almost impassable — then immediately left to pick up the clear path to Dodd.; Off Dodd, a clearing to the left looks like a short-cut but isn't: it leads through branches and moss to a sharp drop. Head back to the road and follow the track home.

Full route guide ↗

A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass.

The View from Dodd (Skiddaw)

A computed 360° skyline — every visible named top labelled by distance and bearing, from the terrain model in perfect clarity, not photographed. Drag to pan; reveal the far four-nations horizon.

drag to pan · arrow keys
Computed 360-degree skyline from Dodd (Skiddaw)34 labelled tops shown (7 distant behind the far-horizon toggle). Theoretical visibility in perfect clarity; computed from terrain, not photographed.eye levelNNEESESSWWNWScafell Pike · 20 kmHelvellyn · 16 kmSkiddaw South Top · 2 kmBowfell · 21 kmPillar · 17 kmRaise · 14 kmSkiddaw Little Man · 2 kmGreat Dodd · 12 kmCrag Hill · 9 kmSkiddaw Lesser Man · 2 kmSwirl How · 27 kmKirk Fell · 18 kmGrisedale Pike · 7 kmGreat Rigg · 20 kmHigh Raise · 18 kmClough Head · 10 kmUllscarf · 16 kmLadyside Pike · 8 kmHigh Seat · 10 kmBlake Fell · 15 kmLord's Seat · 4 kmSwarth Fell · 22 kmUllister Hill · 4 kmBroom Fell · 5 kmLong Side · 1 kmCriffel · 45 km · clear daysUllock Pike · 1 kmBengairn · 55 km · clear daysLing Fell · 7 kmRivings · 5 kmCaermote Hill · 11 kmBainloch Hill · 46 km · clear daysKillyleoch Hill · 66 km · clear daysWhite Hill · 60 km · clear daysGreat End · 19 kmGreat Gable · 17 kmCatstye Cam · 16 kmHigh Crag · 17 kmStybarrow Dodd · 13 kmEel Crag · 9 kmHigh Stile · 15 kmGrey Friar · 27 kmHopegill Head · 8 kmRobinson · 11 kmRanderside · 12 kmLoadpot Hill · 23 kmStanding Crag · 15 kmBleaberry Fell · 9 kmArthur's Pike · 23 kmBishop Forest Hill · 66 km · clear daysClints Crags · 12 kmMerrick · 100 km · a rare clear dayCairnsmore of Carsphairn · 96 km · a rare clear dayCairnsmore of Fleet · 84 km · a rare clear dayQueensberry · 77 km · a rare clear dayCairn Table · 110 km · a rare clear dayCairnharrow · 77 km · a rare clear dayColt Hill · 90 km · a rare clear day
What you can see from Dodd (Skiddaw), by direction
  • North-east: Skiddaw South Top (2 km)
  • East: Skiddaw Little Man (2 km), Skiddaw Lesser Man (2 km)
  • South-east: Little Dodd (12 km), Great Dodd (12 km), Watson's Dodd (12 km), Stybarrow Dodd (13 km), Raise (14 km), White Side (14 km), Helvellyn Lower Man (15 km), Catstye Cam (16 km), Helvellyn (16 km), High Crag (17 km)
  • South: Glaramara (17 km), Great Gable (17 km), Kirk Fell (18 km), Great End (19 km), Esk Pike (20 km), Broad Crag (20 km), Ill Crag (20 km), Scafell Pike (20 km), Bowfell (21 km), Scafell (21 km), Shelter Crags (22 km), Crinkle Crags (22 km), Crinkle Crags (22 km), Crinkle Crags (22 km), Great Carrs (26 km), Swirl How (27 km), Grey Friar (27 km), Brim Fell (29 km), The Old Man of Coniston (30 km)
  • South-west: Grisedale Pike (7 km), Hopegill Head (8 km), Sail (8 km), Eel Crag (9 km), Crag Hill (9 km), High Stile (15 km), High Stile (15 km), Pillar (17 km)

On the clearest days the far horizon adds: Merrick (100 km, Scotland), Cairnsmore of Carsphairn (96 km, Scotland), Cairnsmore of Fleet (84 km, Scotland), Corserine (96 km, Scotland), Lamachan Hill (95 km, Scotland), Queensberry (77 km, Scotland), Cairn Table (110 km, Scotland), Cairnharrow (77 km, Scotland).

Computed from terrain in perfect clarity, not photographed · distances are straight-line.

Computed from Copernicus GLO-30 terrain; distant tops from the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY 4.0). See how we compute the view · and the summit intervisibility report below.

What you can see from Dodd (Skiddaw)

On a clear day — computed sightlines, curvature- and refraction-corrected.
73Wainwrights in view+5 marginal
101 kmFurthest sightlineMerrick · possible under favourable refraction
1Sea in viewSolway Firth

On the clearest days the view reaches across to Scotland.

Far horizons
  • Merrick ScotlandNW · 101 km clear
  • Criffel ScotlandNW · 46 km distant
  • Solway Firth bay/estuaryNNW · 34 km in view
All 73 Wainwrights in clear view (nearest first)

Long Side, Ullock Pike, Skiddaw Little Man, Barf, Lord's Seat, Latrigg, Broom Fell, Sale Fell, Barrow, Ling Fell, Grisedale Pike, Outerside, Walla Crag, Causey Pike, Cat Bells (Catbells), Scar Crags, Hopegill Head, High Rigg (Naddle Fell), Sail, Crag Hill (Eel Crag), Bleaberry Fell, Maiden Moor, Clough Head, High Seat, Raven Crag, Hindscarth, High Spy, Robinson, Grange Fell (Brund Fell), Castle Crag, Great Dodd, Watson's Dodd, Dale Head, Stybarrow Dodd, Fleetwith Pike, Raise, White Side, High Stile, High Crag (Buttermere), Rosthwaite Fell - Bessyboot, Catstye Cam, Eagle Crag, Helvellyn, Ullscarf, Base Brown, Sergeant's Crag, Pillar, Glaramara, Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit), Great Gable, Kirk Fell, High Raise (High White Stones), Seat Sandal, Allen Crags, Great End, Thunacar Knott, Esk Pike, Pike of Stickle, Scafell Pike, Great Rigg, Harrison Stickle, Bowfell, Scafell, Bonscale Pike, Arthur's Pike, Loadpot Hill, Pike of Blisco, Cold Pike, Great Carrs, Swirl How, Grey Friar, Brim Fell, The Old Man of Coniston (Coniston Old Man)

How Dodd (Skiddaw)’s view compares with all 214 — the View Report: every Wainwright ranked by what you can see from the top.

Sightlines from a bare-earth terrain model (forests and buildings not included), corrected for the Earth’s curvature and average atmospheric refraction. “Distant” sightlines and any over 100 km depend on exceptionally clear air. Modelled from Copernicus GLO-30 open elevation data — a guide to the view, not a guarantee of any single one.

Best parking to hike Dodd (Skiddaw)

Where we have the data, each parking spot also shows the nearest public toilets and facilities (cafés, pubs, shops).

Dodd Wood (paid) — 1.0 km from summit (straight line)
Forestry car park for Dodd, Carl Side and the Ullock Pike ridge onto Skiddaw.
Directions
🚺 Dodd Wood Car Park (79m) — Free☕ The Old Sawmill Tearoom
Braithwaite village (roadside/small areas) — 3.7 km from summit (straight line)
Start of the Coledale Horseshoe: Grisedale Pike, Causey Pike round.
Directions
🚺 Braithwaite, Keswick (229m) — Free☕ Middle Ruddings☕ Ivy House☕ Jasper's🍺 Royal Oak🍺 Coledale Inn

Positions are approximate — zoom the map to confirm. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

Tip: pan and zoom the interactive map at the top of this page to spot other potential parking near your route.

Water & shelter on the way up

On the Skiddaw via Ullock Pike and Dodd route:

🛖 map (5 m)🚌 Mirehouse (S bound) (55 m)

On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors, per route — an absent marker doesn’t mean none.

Buses to Dodd (Skiddaw) from Penrith / Ambleside / Windermere

Stagecoach 77 / 77A “Honister Rambler”
Keswick – Portinscale – Hawse End (Catbells) – Grange – Seatoller – Honister Pass – Buttermere – Lorton – Whinlatter – Keswick (circular)
Catch it from: Keswick (connect via 555 from Windermere/Ambleside or X4/X5 from Penrith)
Seasonal (roughly Easter–October). Brilliant for the North Western fells: Catbells, Dale Head from Honister, the Buttermere fells and Whinlatter.
Stagecoach X4 / X5
Penrith – Rheged – Threlkeld – Keswick – Braithwaite – Cockermouth – Workington
Catch it from: Penrith
Year-round, frequent. From Penrith this is your way into Keswick and the Northern fells — Threlkeld/Scales stops serve Blencathra directly, Braithwaite serves the Coledale fells.

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before relying on a last bus.

My hikes over Dodd (Skiddaw) (Strava)

1 logged hike pass over this summit:

Interactive route maps and photos load here for visitors with JavaScript. Data from Strava.

Navigating Dodd (Skiddaw) in cloud

Straightforward

A rough, rocky summit ringed by crags, with no single obvious way off in poor visibility. Navigation here is relatively straightforward even in cloud — but carry map and compass and know how to use them; a low score never means “safe”.

In winter — snow, whiteout, cornices, buried features — every top demands full winter navigation skills whatever its band, and a broad, gentle summit can be the worst place of all. See walking in bad weather and the navigation guide.

How Dodd (Skiddaw) compares with all 214 — the Clag Index: navigating in cloud. A relative, deliberately cautious guide; the site can’t navigate for you.

Other fells near Dodd (Skiddaw)

Maps & guidebooks for Dodd (Skiddaw)

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