Dodd Summit Trail, Dodd Wood
Cumbria
Dodd is a small, heavily wooded fell at the foot of the Skiddaw range, four kilometres north-west of Keswick, on Forestry England land beside Bassenthwaite Lake. There's no livestock on the route, so a dog can range freely through the forest for most of the climb. For decades conifers were planted right up to the summit and hid the view, something Wainwright objected to in 1962, but Forestry England began clearing the top in 2001 and it is now open again. Dodd Wood is also known for the Bassenthwaite ospreys, which nest near the southern end of the lake and can be watched from viewing platforms on the lower slopes. The Dodd Summit trail is a steep 4.5km circuit from the car park opposite Mirehouse, following green waymarkers up forest roads and paths through the trees and onto open hill to the 502 metre summit, where the panorama takes in Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite Lake, the Solway coast and the hills of Dumfries and Galloway. Forestry England grades it as hard, with around 410 metres of climbing.
This is a dog friendly forest walk with no sheep or cattle, so a dog with good recall can be off lead for much of the way on the wide forest tracks. Keep the lead on around the car park, picnic areas and the busy osprey viewpoints, and watch for red squirrels. The trees give shade on most of the climb and small becks cross the lower paths. The car park is pay on exit, with toilets and the Old Sawmill Tearoom beside it.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.5 km (2.8 miles)
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Duration
- 2 hr
- Walk Type
- Forest, Peak, Lake
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- High
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Toilets and the Old Sawmill Tearoom at the car park; picnic areas; osprey viewpoints on the lower slopes.
- Parking
- Dodd Wood car park, Forestry England, pay on exit (members free), on the A591 opposite Mirehouse.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Dodd Summit Trail, Dodd Wood, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in CumbriaFrequently Asked Questions
Is Dodd Summit Trail, Dodd Wood dog friendly?
Dodd Summit Trail scores 8 out of 10 for dog friendliness, and it's easy to see why. The route runs entirely through Forestry England land with no livestock, wide forest tracks for most of the climb, shade from the trees, and small becks on the lower paths — all of which make it a genuinely enjoyable outing for dogs and their owners alike.
Can dogs be off lead at Dodd Summit Trail, Dodd Wood?
Dogs with good recall can be off lead for much of the trail, as there are no sheep or cattle on the route. You'll want to put the lead back on around the car park, picnic areas and the osprey viewpoints where it gets busier, and keep an eye out for red squirrels in the forest.
What should I know before visiting Dodd Summit Trail, Dodd Wood with my dog?
This is a steep 4.5km circuit with around 410 metres of climbing, graded hard by Forestry England, so it's worth making sure your dog is fit enough for the ascent to the 502 metre summit. The car park is pay on exit and sits beside toilets and the Old Sawmill Tearoom, so you're well set up at the start and finish of the walk.
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