Dockray up Great Dodd: route map, distance and time
857 m · Cumbria
Great Dodd is the highest of the northern Helvellyn Dodds, a rounded grassy dome reached from Dockray or Legburthwaite on easy, open slopes.
Follow tracks west from Dockray and climb open grassy slopes over Randerside to the summit.
Dockray at a glance
| Distance | 6.0 km one way, to the top |
|---|---|
| Ascent | 579 m |
| Time up | 2h 10m by Naismith's rule |
| There and back | 3h 20m, down the same way |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Start | Dockray (roadside parking) |
| Start grid reference | NY 392 215 |
| Summit grid reference | NY 342 205 |
Dockray map
The start (green) and the summit (blue). Peakify has no GPX track for this route yet, so follow the description and your map.
Height profile and getting to the start
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
How long Dockray takes
| Pace | To the top | There and back |
|---|---|---|
| Brisk 6 km/h, 8 min per 100 m up | 1h 45m | 2h 45m |
| Steady (Naismith) 5 km/h, 10 min per 100 m up | 2h 10m | 3h 20m |
| Relaxed 4 km/h, 12 min per 100 m up | 2h 40m | 4h 10m |
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 07:46, sunset 18:07. Start by 13:47 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 20m for the walk and an hour for stops.
- Tomorrow: sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05. Start by 13:45 to be down before dark, allowing 3h 20m for the walk and an hour for stops.
Great Dodd summit weather for this route
-
Good Today Sunday 18 October
Mainly clear, up to 5°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -6°C, summit wind 20 mph gusting 25 mph, 0% chance of rain. Rated Good. Sunrise 07:46, sunset 18:07.
-
Marginal Tomorrow Monday 19 October
Moderate drizzle, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 36 mph gusting 45 mph, 59% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05.
Best day of the next seven for Dockray: Sunday 18 October, with summit gusts around 25 mph and a 0% chance of rain.
Hour-by-hour Great Dodd forecast · 14-day forecast · Is it safe to climb Great Dodd?
Before you go, also check: MWIS Lake District forecast · Met Office mountain forecast · Weatherline fell top conditions.
What to take today
- An insulated jacket, hat and warm gloves: it feels like -6°C on top.
- A waterproof jacket. It can rain on the tops in any forecast.
- Microspikes for icy paths. In snow, an ice axe and crampons and the skills to use them.
- Map and compass, and the skills to use them. A phone is a backup, not a plan.
- A head torch, food, water, a charged phone and a small first aid kit.
About Great Dodd
Great Dodd is the highest of the northern Helvellyn Dodds, a rounded grassy dome reached from Dockray or Legburthwaite on easy, open slopes. More about Great Dodd, with the live forecast.
On the lists: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall, HuMP, Birkett.
Extend the walk: tops near the summit
- Watsons Dodd (789 m), 1.2 km south-west
- Watson's Dodd (789 m), 1.2 km south-west
- Stybarrow Dodd (844 m), 1.6 km south
- Hart Side (756 m), 1.9 km south-east
- Green Side (794 m), 2.1 km south-east
- Clough Head (726 m), 2.2 km north-west
Challenges that include Great Dodd
- Lake District 24 Peaks Challenge · 24
- Bob Graham Round · 42
- Hewitts · 523
- Nuttalls · 442
- Wainwrights · 214
More walks from Dockray
Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.
- Dockray route up Hart Side
Other routes up Great Dodd
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Time up | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legburthwaite via Sticks Pass | 5.8 km one way | 761 m | 2h 25m | Moderate |
| Glenridding via Sticks Pass | 8.2 km one way | — | — | Hard |
In an emergency
Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 392 215, the summit at NY 342 205), 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.
Dockray: questions and answers
How far is Dockray?
Dockray is 6.0 km one way to the summit of Great Dodd, with 579 m of ascent. There and back by the same way is about 12.0 km.
How long does Dockray take?
About 2h 10m to the summit of Great Dodd and 3h 20m 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 4h 10m for the round trip.
Where do you park for Dockray?
Dockray starts from Dockray (roadside parking). The grid reference is NY 392 215.
Is Dockray 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 Dockray today?
By 13:47 at the latest. Sunset on Great Dodd today is 18:07, Dockray takes about 3h 20m there and back, and that leaves an hour for stops. Start earlier in winter or if the forecast turns.
Is there a GPX for Dockray?
Not yet. The Peakify iPhone app can plan the route and export a GPX (Peakify Pro).