The Dovedale Round

Often ignored for Helvellyn the Dovedale Round is an excellent walk. It starts with a long gradual climb up a long grassy ridge and ends with a steep drop off above the Brothers Inn campsite. Dove and Hart Crags are part of the nearby Fairfield Horseshoe but there are 3 other less convenient Wainwrights on the hike.

The Walk

Lying between the Helvellyn range and Kirkstone Pass lies a complex range of long ridges, deep valleys and high fells. These ridges are less popular than others nearby but the relative sparsity of other walkers make them all the more enjoyable. The paths are in much better condition and the opportunity for quiet exploration is much easier. Only on Dove Crag and Hart Crag, where the route meets the Fairfield Horseshoe do fellow walkers converge. However with the views as good as they are this does not seem to matter.

There are 5 Wainwrights on the Dovedale Round. Two are on the main ridge but the 3 outliers are on the spurs that make up the circuit. Hartsop above How is on the long outbound ridge. The rocky summit of Little Hart Crag and the fine viewpoint of High Hartsop Dodd are on the descent. Including them on this walk saves a lot of grief later on. Or so I told Charlotte on our recent climb.

On another visit the cloud was low over the southern and western half of the Lake District but fortunately cleared as I parked up at Brothers Water. The undulating three mile ridge over Hartsop above High was a delight. The ridge finally arrives at Hart Crag. The clouds were still sitting to the south and west providing a blanket from which only the higher peaks poked through. Great Gable being particularly impressive. It providing one of the best Lakeland views I have ever seen. Only a similar climb of Helvellyn matched it.

Recommend

Take the long Hartsop above How ridge on the ascent leaving the dramatic views from High Hartsop Dodd to the end of the day.

Navigation Tips on the Dovedale Round

From Hart Crag follow the wall south to Dove Crag. Then leave the wall and head south east till you meet an east running boundary (only fence posts). Follow this round to the south and then at a small tarn head east on to High Hartsopp Dodd.