Routes up
Watson's Dodd routes: 3 ways to the top
Legburthwaite directHiking · 4.4 km one way · 686 m ascent · ~2h 0m · from Legburthwaite car parkModerate
Climb the steep grassy western flank from Legburthwaite to the summit cairn on the broad top.
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Full Legburthwaite direct route guideLegburthwaite via Sticks PassHiking · 4.9 km one way · 686 m ascent · ~2h 5m · from Legburthwaite car parkModerate
Follow the Sticks Pass path to the ridge, then walk north over Stybarrow Dodd to Watson's Dodd.
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Full Legburthwaite via Sticks Pass route guideGlenridding via Sticks PassHiking · 7.3 km one way · from Glenridding main car parkHard
Summit today
Is it safe to climb Watson's Dodd today?
Loading the summit forecast…
Cloud inversion · 7 days
The chance of standing above a sea of cloud on Watson's Dodd each morning this week, from overnight temperature, humidity and low cloud below the 789m summit.
Dark sky · 7 days
How dark the sky gets over Watson's Dodd each night this week, from cloud cover, moonlight and local light pollution.
Snow · 7 days
No snow is forecast at the summit in the next 7 days.
Sun today
Sunrise 07:06, sunset 16:45
9h 39m of daylight. Golden hour ends 07:59 and starts 15:51. From the summit you see the sun 07:00 to 16:50.
Nearby summits
Close to Watson's Dodd
About Watson's Dodd
Watson's Dodd lies on the long, grassy ridge of the Dodds, which runs north from Helvellyn towards Clough Head. Great Dodd is 1.2 km north-east and Stybarrow Dodd 1.0 km south-east, with Raise 2.3 km south. The western slopes fall steep to Legburthwaite and the north end of Thirlmere.
The main ridge path skirts the summit, which sits on a broad grassy top to the west, so walkers traversing the Dodds can miss it. You can climb it direct from Legburthwaite, at the north end of Thirlmere, by a steep path up the western flank. Walkers on the full ridge from Clough Head to Helvellyn cross it on the way.
The summit looks west over Thirlmere and St John's in the Vale to the central fells.
Watson's Dodd is 789 m (2,589 ft) high with 11 m of prominence. It is in Cumbria, England. It is the 62nd highest of the 273 summits Peakify lists in Cumbria. The nearest summits are Little Dodd (0.9 km), Stybarrow Dodd (1.0 km) and Great Dodd (1.2 km).
Can you combine Watson's Dodd with Great Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd?
Yes. The three sit on the same grassy ridge, and the main Dodds path links them all.
What is the easiest way up Watson's Dodd?
Climb from Legburthwaite at the north end of Thirlmere, or reach it along the Dodds ridge from Sticks Pass.
Is Watson's Dodd a Wainwright?
Yes. It is one of the 214 Wainwrights and also a Birkett.
How high is Watson's Dodd?
Watson's Dodd is 789 metres high with 11 metres of prominence.
Where is Watson's Dodd?
Watson's Dodd is listed in Cumbria, England.
Are there routes for Watson's Dodd?
Peakify lists 3 routes for Watson's Dodd, including available distance, ascent, start point, and difficulty details. The easiest is Legburthwaite direct (4.4 km one way, Moderate).
Is it safe to climb Watson's Dodd today?
Peakify rates each day on the summit Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. Today's and tomorrow's ratings are at the top of this page. The rating covers the weather only: also check your route, daylight, kit and experience, and in winter whether you need an ice axe and crampons.
What weather information is shown for Watson's Dodd?
The page includes cached mountain forecast context, snow outlook, dark-sky signals, cloud-inversion information, sunrise, sunset, and summit planning details where available.
Peakify is run by Sam Tyler, who has climbed Yr Wyddfa 22 times. The forecast refreshes every hour; how our forecast works.
