Parking
Start at Dodd Wood car park on the A591, opposite Mirehouse. It is the trail's primary access and uses pay-on-exit parking; toilets and a cafe are beside the car park.
Overview
About Dodd Summit Trail
A circular walk of 4.0 miles (6.5 km), measured as the full loop from the car park back to the car park. Allow about 3 hours. It is graded Hard, and the way is marked throughout with green waymarkers. No permit is needed.
Why go
- 502 m summit with long views over two lakes
- A complete loop through woodland and open fell
Heads up
- Steep, narrow and uneven underfoot
- Open upper section is exposed to wind and rain
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Lake District map
Full mapElevation122–444 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Lake District alerts
- ClosureChapel Stile footpath closed for retaining-wall riskPart of Footpath 543030 between Chapel Stile and Baysbrown campsite is closed because a retaining wall beside the path could collapse and material it supports could fall across the footpath.Official details
- ClosureStanley Ghyll Lower Falls footpath closed for rockfallThe section of Footpath 408037 leading towards Stanley Ghyll Lower Falls is closed because severe rockfall damage has made the path unstable and further rockfall remains a danger.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lake District Tour Guide
Your drive to Dodd Summit Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake District National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Dodd Wood and Bassenthwaite Views0:00 / 1:18
“You're drawing near Dodd Wood beside Bassenthwaite Lake, where you can choose a climb above the trees or a shorter walk among towering Douglas firs.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Barf and Lord's Seat from Powter How
- High Side: Skiddaw via Longside Edge
- Skiddaw and Latrigg from Gale Road
- Noble Knott: Two Short Woodland Loops
- 298 audio storiesacross Lake District’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Red Deer, Eurasian Otter, Osprey, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 265 trails, 89 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Dodd Summit Trail
How the walk unfoldsFrom the car park the trail rises steadily through the wooded slopes of Dodd Wood, passing…
From the car park the trail rises steadily through the wooded slopes of Dodd Wood, passing streams and waterfalls, before the trees give way to open fell for the final pull to the 502 m summit of Dodd, a Wainwright. The descent loops back down through the forest, so you get a genuine round rather than a there-and-back.
Difficulty and footingThe climb begins steeply and keeps climbing for much of the ascent.
- The climb begins steeply and keeps climbing for much of the ascent.
- Underfoot it is a mixture of forest roads and surfaced footpaths, but these are steep, narrow and uneven in places.
- Boots with grip and a reasonable level of fitness make a big difference.
- The upper section is on open fell with no tree cover, so wind, rain and low cloud are felt much more strongly there than in the forest. Carry layers and be ready to turn back if the top is clagged in.
ViewsThe summit opens out to wide panoramas taking in Derwent Water, Bassenthwaite Lake and the…
The summit opens out to wide panoramas taking in Derwent Water, Bassenthwaite Lake and the Solway Coast, and on clear days the Scottish hills around Dumfries and Galloway. Lower down, the forest sections offer glimpses out between the trees and the sound of running water for company.
WildlifeDodd Wood is red squirrel country, and the Bassenthwaite ospreys are a seasonal draw.
Dodd Wood is red squirrel country, and the Bassenthwaite ospreys are a seasonal draw. Neither is guaranteed, so treat any sighting as a bonus and keep noise down where you can.
Getting there and facilitiesStart from the Dodd Wood car park on the A591, opposite Mirehouse. Parking is pay on exit.
- Start from the Dodd Wood car park on the A591, opposite Mirehouse. Parking is pay on exit.
- Toilets and a cafe are at the car park.
- All the waymarked trails here begin from the same car park, so if the summit route looks too demanding on the day, there are shorter and gentler options from the same start.
Dogs and accessibilityDogs are welcome at Dodd Wood, and the forest code asks that they are kept under control,…
Dogs are welcome at Dodd Wood, and the forest code asks that they are kept under control, especially around wildlife and other visitors. The trails here are not recommended for wheelchairs or all-terrain mobility scooters because of the gradients and uneven surfaces.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Lake District
81 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
13 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
76 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
51 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
233 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
176 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
