We parked at Cow Bridge and walked alongside Brothers Water to Hartsop Hall. After the Hall we passed the foot of High Hartsop Dodd which would be our descent route later in the day. Then over the foot of Caiston Beck by a bridge with iron bars and no gate. An awkward "leg over" required and we had to lift two dogs over the bars. Why not just provide a gate - not difficult surely?
Then the exceedingly steep ascent of Middle Dodd. There are not many "paths" in the Lakes which are steeper than this lung bursting ascent! The transverse wall is only the half way point unfortunately. The summit (when you get there!) has great views and Red Screes summit is clearly visible just 400 feet above. We took a lunch stop on Red Screes summit in the wind shelter. The dogs appreciated the chance to cool off in the summit tarn.
An easy descent to Scandale Pass is followed by an easy and short ascent to the twin summits of Little Hart Crag. By now the weather, as forecast, was getting darker but it stayed dry. An easy descent soon brought us to High Hartsop Dodd where we got a great view of our morning's ascent route - it looked every bit as steep as it seemed to be when we were on it! The descent back to Hartsop Hall is steep but quite pleasant and we were soon back in the meadows surrounding Hartsop Hall from where a level walk in very light intermittent drizzle soon brough us back to the car.
Ice cream in Glenridding was a fair reward for the steepness of the ascent up Middle Dodd!
This is a circuit of just 7 miles but I would not fancy a much steeper ascent than that of Middle Dodd. I would fancy a descent of Middle Dodd even less, though! The route could be made even shorter by starting from near the Brothers Water Inn but the walk from Cow Bridge to Hartsop Hall is too good to miss!
Enjoy the pics http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/559899015RhyjtA
