Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side up Carl Side: route map, distance and time
747 m · Cumbria
Carl Side is a shoulder of Skiddaw above Bassenthwaite Lake, and walkers climb it from Millbeck or Dodd Wood as a quieter way on to Skiddaw.
Follow the ridge from the woods over Ullock Pike and Long Side, with Bassenthwaite Lake below, before the last rise to Carl Side.
Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side starts at about 116 m and gains 658 m over 5.0 km to 736 m on the track. The first 2 km are the easy part, averaging 7%. The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 3 km, which climbs 206 m at an average of 21%, with a 500 m stretch from 1.7 km at about 26%. The final kilometre eases to the top. About 24% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.
Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side at a glance
| Distance | 5.0 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 660 m |
| Climb on the track | 658 m up, 42 m down on the way |
| Start and top of the track | 114 m to 737 m (summit 747 m) |
| Steepest 500 m | About 26%, from 1.7 km |
| Steeper than 1 in 5 | 24% of the way |
| Time up | 2h 5m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 5m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Dodd Wood car park, CA12 4QE |
| Start grid reference | NY 235 281 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 254 280 |
| Parking | Dodd Wood car park |
Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side map
The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Download the Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side GPX
Ascent only: plan your way down. A planning track, not checked on the ground; it doesn't show safe scrambling moves. Track data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), heights from a terrain model.
Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side kilometre by kilometre
Height, climb and average gradient for each kilometre of the track, with a grid reference at the end of each one to check your position on the map.
| At | Height | Climb | Gradient | Grid ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 190 m | +74 m | 7% | NY 235 290 |
| 2 km | 261 m | +70 m | 7% | NY 238 300 |
| 3 km | 467 m | +206 m | 21% steep | NY 241 293 |
| 4 km | 662 m | +195 m | 19% | NY 246 285 |
| 5 km | 736 m | +74 m | 7% | NY 254 280 |
How long Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 35m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 5m | 3h 5m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 35m | 3h 50m |
Times leave out stops. Coming down the same way, the table counts the ascent once; steep descents on rough ground can be as slow as the climb.
- Today: sunrise 07:47, sunset 18:07. Start by 14:02 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:49, sunset 18:05. Start by 14:00 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 5m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Carl Side summit weather for this route
There is no recent summit forecast cached for Carl Side right now. The main Carl Side page loads the live forecast when you open it. Open the live Carl Side forecast.
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
About Carl Side
Carl Side is a shoulder of Skiddaw above Bassenthwaite Lake, and walkers climb it from Millbeck or Dodd Wood as a quieter way on to Skiddaw. More about Carl Side, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Nuttall, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Long Side (734 m), 0.7 km north-west
- Skiddaw (930 m), 1.1 km north-east
- Skiddaw Little Man (865 m), 1.2 km east
- Ullock Pike (690 m), 1.2 km north-west
- Dodd (502 m), 1.3 km south-west
- Sale How (666 m), 2.2 km east
Challenges that include Carl Side
More walks from Dodd Wood car park
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side ridge up Long Side
- Ullock Pike ridge up Skiddaw
- Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side ridge up Ullock Pike
Other routes up Carl Side
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millbeck via White Stones | 2.4 km one way | 626 m | 1h 30m | Moderate |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 235 281, the summit at NY 254 280), what happened and how many are in your group. If you have no signal for a call, a text to 999 works once you have registered your phone with emergencySMS: text "register" to 999 before you go.
Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side: questions and answers
How far is Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side?
Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side is 5.0 km one way to the summit of Carl Side, with 660 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 10.0 km.
How long does Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side take?
About 2h 5m to the summit of Carl Side and 3h 5m there and back by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops. A relaxed group takes nearer 3h 50m for the round trip.
How steep is Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side?
The steepest 500 m averages about 26%, starting 1.7 km from the start, and 24% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side climbs 658 m in all on the track.
Where do you park for Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side?
Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side starts from Dodd Wood car park (postcode CA12 4QE). The grid reference is NY 235 281. Dodd Wood car park
Is Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side suitable for beginners?
Yes, for fit walkers on a clear day. Peakify grades it Moderate: a long climb on a made path, but the top is high, exposed and colder than the start. Turn back if the cloud comes down and you can't navigate.
What time should I start Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side today?
By 14:02 at the latest. Sunset on Carl Side today is 18:07, Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side takes about 3h 5m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Dodd Wood via Ullock Pike and Long Side?
Yes. Download it from this page. It is an ascent-only planning track from the start to the summit, plotted on OpenStreetMap paths and not checked on the ground.