Watson's Dodd

Infobox Mountain
Name = Watson's Dodd
Photo = 20030107q.jpg
Caption = Castle Rock of Triermain and Watson's Dodd. By Andrew Leaney
Elevation = 789 m (2,588 ft)
Location = Cumbria, ENG
Range = Lake District, Eastern Fells
Prominence = "c" 14 m
Parent peak = Great Dodd
Coordinates =
Topographic
OS "Explorer" OL5
Grid_ref_UK = NY336196
Listing = Wainwright

Watson's Dodd is a fell in the English Lake District. It forms part of the Helvellyn range in the Eastern Fells. This chain of hills runs north-south and, in the vicinity of Watson's Dodd, forms the watershed between the Thirlmere and Ullswater catchments.

Topography

Taller neighbours overlook Watson's Dodd from either side. To south east is Stybarrow Dodd while Great Dodd rises to the north. The fell occupies a bend in the ridge, formed by the head of Deepdale on the eastern side. On the western side is a broad grassy flank, difficult to describe as a ridge, falling to the foot of Thirlmere at Legburnthwaite. This is bounded by Stanah Gill to the south and Mill Gill to the north. Rougher ground breaks out as the slope increases at around 1,500 ft, culminating the the fell's chief glory, Castle Rock (1,112 ft).

Castle Rock

Castle Rock on Ordnance Survey maps is also known as The Castle Rock of Triermain and is an impressive crag overlooking the Vale of St John, north of Thirlmere. It was referred to by Walter Scott as the setting for his poem "The Bridal of Triermain", [Alfred Wainwright:"A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells", Book 1: ISBN 0-7112-2454-4] hence the longer romantic name. Jutting out from the hillside it provides faces on three sides, although the top can easily be reached from 'behind'. The castle-like profile is made still more picturesque by a garland of mixed woodland around the lower slopes.

Geology

The summit area is formed by the welded rhyodacitic lapilli-tuff of the Thirlmere Member. An outcrop of breccia lies below this on the western slope. Castle Rock is composed of bedded tuffs of the Tarn Crags Member.British Geological Survey: 1:50,000 series maps, "England & Wales Sheet 29": BGS (1999)]

ummit and View

The summit of Watsons's Dodd is triangular in plan and clad in grass. A small cairn marks the top, toward the western edge. Fine views of the Lakeland fells are available in all directions, other than where masked by near neighbours. The ridges north and south are marked by clear paths, although the main trod bypasses the summit to the east.

Ascents

The obvious routes of ascent begin at Legburnthwaite and pass around Castle Rock either to north or south. Mill Gill then offers one alternative, or a bee-line can be made up the trackless breast of the fell. Access to the fell from the east is usually accomplished via Great Dodd or Stybarrow Dodd, rather than by climbing direct out of Deepdale.

References