Great Dodd - Topography

Topography

The Helvellyn range runs broadly north-south for about 7 miles, remaining above 2,000 ft (600 m) throughout its length. Great Dodd is near to the northern end of this ridge, with Clough Head to the north and Watson's Dodd to the south. The fell is a typical "Dodd" with a smoothly rounded profile, clad primarily in grass and bracken. Great Dodd lays claim to a wide tract of land to the north east, descending gradually over five miles to the vicinity of Troutbeck.

Great Dodd stands at an acute angle in the Helvellyn range, with the "northward" continuation to Clough Head actually starting off westerly, before swinging around the head of Mosedale. Before the unnamed col is reached, the ridge throws up the small rock tor of Calfhow Pike (2,165 ft). In more rugged areas of the District this would have little significance, but here amid the wide vista of smooth green slopes, Calfhow Pike is a landmark visible for miles around. It has little prominence although some guidebooks list it as a top. The connection to Watson's Dodd is a short grassy promenade running south westerly with little reascent at the far end. The ridge path in either direction is broad and clear, with a shortcut contouring to the west of Great Dodd's summit for those in a hurry.

The long north eastern ridge drops first to Randerside (2,375 ft), a subsidiary top bearing a rash of stones. From here it broadens into Matterdale Common, becoming steadily wetter underfoot, before splitting into two on either side of Groove Beck. The more southerly ridge heads over High Brow (1,885 ft), fringed by Dowthwaite Crag which broods over the road-end settlement of Dowthwaitehead. The further tops of Low How (1,630 ft) and Cockley Moor (1,492 ft) are passed before this branch of the ridge peters out in extensive conifer plantations, and then the ground climbs again to Great Mell Fell. The northern branch of the ridge is edged by Wolf Crags above the Old Coach Road, beyond which a wide prairie sweeps north across Sandbeds Moss and Flaska to the A66 and the dismantled Penrith to Keswick railway.

Between the north east ridge and Clough Head is the head of Mosedale, one of many valleys in the district bearing that name. Groove Beck, which divides the north east ridge into two, becomes Thornsgill Beck and then Trout Beck, before finally uniting with the waters of Mosedale to head west for Keswick as the River Glenderamackin. The dale separating Randerside from Stybarrow Dood and Hart Side also undergoes a bewildering sequence of name changes as it flows to Ullswater. Beginning as Browndale Beck it flows through the hanging valley of Deepdale, becomes Rush Gill and finally at Dowthwaitehead is renamed Aira Beck. This is the head stream for the famous waterfall of Aira Force, a popular destination for tourists.

The western flanks of Great Dodd are drained by the short streams of Beckthorns, Ladknott and Mill Gills, all of which once fed St John's Beck. As part of the Thirlmere reservoir scheme, completed in 1894, a water race was constructed to divert the latter two becks southward to the lake. There is some outcropping rock here at the bottom of the slope, Lad Knott being the principal feature.