Route: Dodd
Area: Northern Lake District
Date of walk: 25th April 2015
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 5.1 miles
Weather: Mostly overcast
The ospreys have recently returned to the Lake District after spending their winter in Africa and thanks to the Osprey Project it’s possible to have a close insight into the lives of these rare birds. The location of the viewpoints also makes it possible to the climb Dodd, so this was going to be a walk with plenty of interest
On the way to the start I stopped off at Whinlatter visitor centre, where high quality webcams are trained on the nest and by great good fortune I was able to see the male osprey return to the nest with a fish for his mate, and also to see the two eggs which have been laid so far
I then drove over to Dodd Wood and parked near the Old Sawmill Tearoom. The Forestry Commission has done a good job in providing waymarked trails, and I followed the signs to the lower viewpoint and then to the higher one. In both places helpful volunteers are on hand, along with telescopes, and I had good sightings of both the male and female osprey
This would make a good walk in itself but I’d decided to carry on to the top of Dodd, so followed the easy trails to the summit. The views were tremendous – Derwent Water and the North Western Fells in one direction and the Solway Firth and Scotland in the other
I retraced my steps for a short distance and returned to the start along more easy and well waymarked trails
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
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There was plenty of red squirrel activity in the garden the day before the walk
The next morning it was raining and I wondered if a walk would be on the cards
It cleared later on, and as I set off for Dodd, son James and his pal Jason set off on a 30 mile ride, taking in the Honister and Whinlatter Passes - madness!
On the way over to Dodd I stopped off at Whinlatter Visitor Centre
The exhibition area for the Osprey Project, with its two webcams
As I was watching, the male (right) came in with a small trout which the female flew off with, leaving her mate to take over egg warming duties
On with the walk - Skill Beck from the car park at Mirehouse
There are various waymarked trails through the woods - I head for the osprey viewpoints
The lower viewpoint, where a telescope is trained on the nest, overlooking Bassenthwaite Lake
The upper viewpoint, a few minutes later
Derwent Water from the upper viewpoint
The distinctive outline of Causey Pike centre of picture
There was a good view of both ospreys from here (too far away to photograph, even with a telephoto lens)
There’s another webcam in here, with a volunteer on hand to provide helpful information
I carry on up the forest track towards the summit of Dodd
There are wonderful views as the path snakes round the side of the fell - this is Derwent Water
I can just make out a couple of walkers on Dodd summit ahead
The stone memorial pillar at the summit
Derwent Water again
Better weather coming in from the north, and a very clear view of the Solway Firth and Scotland beyond Bassenthwaite Lake
Zooming in on Criffel with the telephoto lens
Bassenthwaite Lake (good one for the pub quiz - it’s the only official ‘lake’ in the Lake District)
Derwent Water and Portinscale, as I start the descent
Looking into Newlands Valley
Heading down the forest track
Scotland in the distance again
The path leads back down to Skill Beck
Skill Beck
Back to the start - despite the indifferent weather it had been a great walk
By coincidence, James and Jason arrived back from their cycling endurance test at exactly the same time, smiling through the tears
Later that day, a glorious sunset over Lorton Vale
