Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Watson's Dodd: route map, distance and time

A hard mountain walk to the summit from Glenridding main car park.

Glenridding via Sticks Pass starts at about 156 m and gains 814 m over 7.3 km to 785 m on the track. It is steep from the start: the first kilometre climbs 180 m (18%). The steepest kilometre is the one ending at 2 km, which climbs 266 m at an average of 27%, with a 500 m stretch from 0.7 km at about 36%. The final 0.3 km eases to the top. About 22% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5, so expect hands-on-knees going and a slow descent.

Glenridding via Sticks Pass at a glance

Glenridding via Sticks Pass map

The track from the start (green) to the summit (blue), with a marker at each kilometre.

Height profile and getting to the start

Download the Glenridding via Sticks Pass 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.

Glenridding via Sticks Pass 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.

How long Glenridding via Sticks Pass takes

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.

Watson's Dodd summit weather for this route

• Marginal Today Monday 19 October

  Slight rain, up to 8°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -2°C, summit wind 35 mph gusting 44 mph, 67% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:48, sunset 18:05.

• Marginal Tomorrow Tuesday 20 October

  Dense drizzle, up to 7°C at the summit, feeling as cold as -1°C, summit wind 22 mph gusting 28 mph, 88% chance of rain. Rated Marginal. Sunrise 07:50, sunset 18:02.

Best day of the next seven for Glenridding via Sticks Pass: Thursday 22 October, with summit gusts around 29 mph and a 57% chance of rain.

Hour-by-hour Watson's Dodd forecast

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 -2°C on top.
• Waterproof jacket and overtrousers: 67% chance of rain.
• A windproof layer, and poles for balance in gusts to 44 mph.
• 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 Watson's Dodd

Watson's Dodd is a grassy top on the Helvellyn Dodds ridge above Thirlmere, its summit cairn set a little west of the main ridge path. More about Watson's Dodd, with the live forecast.

On the lists: Wainwright, Birkett.

Extend the walk: tops near the summit

• Stybarrow Dodd (844 m), 1 km south-east
• Great Dodd (857 m), 1.2 km north-east
• Green Side (794 m), 1.9 km south-east
• Raise (883 m), 2.3 km south
• Hart Side (756 m), 2.3 km east
• White Side (863 m), 2.9 km south

Challenges that include Watson's Dodd

• Lake District 24 Peaks Challenge · 24
• Bob Graham Round · 42
• Wainwrights · 214

More walks from Glenridding main car park

Routes in Peakify's guides that start within 500 m of this one, for another day from the same car park.

• Glenridding via Mires Beck up Birkhouse Moor
• Patterdale walking approach via Birks up Birks
• Glenridding eastern fell walking paths up Catstye Cam
• Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Clough Head
• Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Dollywaggon Pike
• Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Fairfield
• Glenridding via the Sheffield Pike col up Glenridding Dodd
• Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Great Dodd
• Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Hart Side
• Glenridding via White Side and Keppel Cove walking paths up Helvellyn
• Glenridding via Grisedale valley and Grisedale Hause up Helvellyn
• Glenridding via Sticks Pass up Raise

Other routes up Watson's Dodd

In an emergency

Call 999, ask for the police and then mountain rescue. Give your location (the start is at NY 386 169, the summit at NY 335 195), 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.

Glenridding via Sticks Pass: questions and answers

How far is Glenridding via Sticks Pass?

Glenridding via Sticks Pass is 7.3 km one way to the summit of Watson's Dodd. There and back by the same way is about 14.6 km.

How steep is Glenridding via Sticks Pass?

The steepest 500 m averages about 36%, starting 0.7 km from the start, and 22% of the way is steeper than 1 in 5. Glenridding via Sticks Pass climbs 814 m in all on the track.

Where do you park for Glenridding via Sticks Pass?

Glenridding via Sticks Pass starts from Glenridding main car park (postcode CA11 0PD). The grid reference is NY 386 169. Glenridding main car park; the postcode is approximate

Is Glenridding via Sticks Pass suitable for beginners?

Not as a first mountain. Peakify grades it Hard: steep, rough ground where a slip matters. Build up on an easier route first, such as Legburthwaite direct.

Is there a GPX for Glenridding via Sticks Pass?

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.