Route: Sheffield Pike and Glenridding Dodd
Area: Eastern Lake District
Date of walk: 6th June 2013
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 5.7 miles
Ascent: 1,700 feet
I parked in the layby below Stybarrow Crag and walked along the shore of Ullswater to the outskirts of Glenridding. I then joined a path heading west and up behind the village. After a short distance I left the path to head steeply uphill to the top of Glenridding Dodd
Having reached the summit, I descended to the col and went up the nose of Heron Pike (another steep pull) which leads to Sheffield Pike. The fell is not particularly attractive and mining activities have detracted from its appearance, but the view of Ullswater is superb – or would have been, for it was hazy and the long distance views on this walk were disappointing
The highlight of a fell walk is usually the summit but on this occasion it was the descent from Sheffield Pike, along Glencoyne Beck. This was a beautiful path, with views of Ullswater along the way
I’d really enjoyed the walk, but wished that the visibility from the tops had been better
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
As soon as I parked the car, I had this view along Ullswater
The lakeshore path took me to the outskirts of Glenridding
Shortly after following the track known as Greenside Road, I turned off to head up to Glenridding Dodd
Looking along Glenridding valley
And now looking back over Glenridding village
Ullswater from the summit cairn of Glenridding Dodd, the haze and grey sky spoiling an otherwise lovely view
Looking down to Glenridding village, Glenridding Dodd on the left
Glenridding valley from the steep climb up Heron Pike. Catstycam is the pointed fell in the distance
Ullswater
I was struggling to take good photos - though it was hot and sunny in the foreground, it was overcast and hazy in the distance.....
....as you can see - or not (from the summit of Sheffield Pike)
The hinterland of Sheffield Pike is rather dreary
The descent from the fell, after reaching Nick Head, was a joy
Ullswater from Glencoyne
Back to the shore now, and nearly back to the start
