Baitstops Facts and Figures
Height: High Raise Martindale – 802 m, Rest Dodd – 696m
Height: High Raise Martindale – 2631 feet, Rest Dodd – 2283 feet
Bible Position: The Martindale Fells
Conditions: Warm and sunny
Viewranger Stats:
Wainwright Facts and Figures
Book: The Far Eastern Fells
Position:
Other Wainwrights on this walk: The Knott, Rampsgill Head
Last walk out we did
High Raise in the central fells but there are two fells called High Raise, the second and higher of the two is in Martindale. So High Raise Martindale was on our list today. Looking at the maps another one of the eleven tops left to do, Rest Dodd, was not too far away, so we were hoping to potentially get two in today.
It was my turn to drive, with thunder and lightning forecast for the afternoon, I got to Peters early, 6.00 am so we could maximise the good weather. We arrived at the car park at Hartsop about 7.45 and we were booted and ready to walk at exactly 8.00 am.
Start of the walk
It was already very warm, shorts and tee-shirt day. There was a very good path at the start of the walk towards Hayeswater, passing a sheep shearing hut early on.
Sheep shearing hut at the start of the walk
The first point of interest on the walk was the Hayeswater Treatment hut which we reached within the first half hour.
Hayeswater Treatment Hut
A great wall, someone worked hard on this one
After the treatment hut there was a short, steep climb to a really good path which took us to Hayeswater.
Looking back down the valley
Passing a couple of waterfalls coming from Hayeswater on the way up to the man made lake.
Waterfall from Hayeswater
Hayeswater
Once we got to Hayeswater we crossed the stream and began to climb a little steeper and a long slog towards The Knott. The path was fairly clear for most of the walk and as we began to climb it was getting very warm and sunny. We stopped for a drink part way up this climb. As it began to level out a little we could see the potential second top of the day, Rest Dodd to our left. From this point in the walk it looked easily achievable although we would have to drop quite a bit to climb again after High Raise Martindale!
Passing Rest Dodd, we will be back later!
We continued to walk along The Knott and towards Rampsgill Head still steadily climbing all the way. Eventually we were looking down on Rest Dodd. As we got onto Rampsgill Head we could see our first summit of the day ahead. We just had a short dip and another climb ahead of us to reach the top.
Not far now to first summit of the day
High Raise Martindale summit
We reached the first top of the day at 10.50, our highest point today. Great views of the surrounding fells but also we could see some clouds gathering in the distance. We retraced our path back to Rampsgill Head and began to drop down to where the path turned for Rest Dodd.
High Raise summit
Looking back to High Raise
At this point we were 1km from the summit of Rest Dodd and for the first time it began to rain lightly. We put on our waterproof jackets for the descent. When we got to the bottom, the rain had stopped and it was going to be too warm climbing with the jackets on so we took them off. At the bottom we could have called it a day and headed back to the car. The next top was so close though and we had to go for it.
We had to go down to go back up!
Rest Dodd summit
The climb was tough, with one top weighing heavy in our legs and a steep climb by the wall, it was hard work, especially in warm sunshine. Yet at 12 noon we reached the second summit of the day. Very satisfying that we could get two done and we had managed to avoid the forecasted thunder storms.
View from the summit
Rest Dodd summit
The descent
We now just had to descend to Hayeswater and then it was a fairly steady drop back to the car. Surprisingly my knee was holding out quite well today, not too much trouble on the descent at all. We got back to the car at 1.50 pm, got changed and just as we set off it started to rain! We stopped at the
Brackenrigg Inn for a pint and some jockeys whips and as we were sat there we could see the storm coming along the valley towards us. Within minutes we had torrential rain, thunder and lightning!
Route plan and stats for the walk.
A great walk, great weather and great company as always, most important only 9 left to do!
See you on the next walk.
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