Starling Dodd
Encyclopedia
Starling Dodd is a fell
in the western part of the English
Lake District
, located between the valleys of Ennerdale
and Buttermere
, on the ridge between Great Borne
to its west and Red Pike (Buttermere)
to its east. Not visible from Buttermere and rounded in profile, Starling Dodd is a relatively unfrequented top.
occupy a triangular sector of the Lake District, bordered by the River Cocker to the north east and Wasdale
to the south east. Westwards the hills diminish toward the coastal plain of Cumberland. At the central hub of the high country are Great Gable
and its satellites, while two principal ridges fan out on either flank of Ennerdale
, the western fells in effect being a great horseshoe around this long wild valley. Starling Dodd stands on the northern branch, dividing Buttermere and Ennerdale.
The Buttermere
- Ennerdale
watershed runs north west from Haystacks, climbing over High Crag
, High Stile
and Red Pike
, the three fells of Buttermere Edge. The ridge then loses its craggy character, swinging westerly over the grassy Starling Dodd to its terminus at Great Borne
.
The western ridge of Red Pike swings down, away from the craggy Buttermere front of Ling Cove, and then rises to the subsidiary top of Little Dodd (1,935 ft). This is generally considered to be a part of Red Pike, the territory of Starling Dodd beginning at the next depression westward. A short climb on grass then leads to the summit, a rounded, but quite shapely grassy dome sitting atop a broad ridge. Gentle slopes fall westward along the watershed, interrupted only by the slight rise of Gale Fell (1,699 ft), a trivial summit listed only by Birkett. Rough grass on the facing slope leads up to the rockier environs of Great Borne.
The southern flanks of Starling Dodd are heavily wooded below 1,000 ft, part of the extensive conifer plantations of the Ennerdale Forest. Within the forest is Latterbarrow (895 ft), a parallel lower ridge which diverts some of Starling Dodd's streams further west than might be expected. North of the summit dome, Starling Dodd levels into a wide plateau before disappearing over a steep rim of minor crags. At the base of this fall is the tenuous topographical connection to Mellbreak
, a low watershed dividing Starling Dodd's northern drainage into widely differing catchments. That to the west of the summit flows into the marshy valley of Mosedale, travelling all around Mellbreak to enter Crummock Water
via Park Beck. The north eastern quarter takes a direct line into the lake, dropping down the craggy face via Scale Force. This is believed to be the highest single waterfall in the District, dropping around 100 ft down a narrow cleft.
of disrupted, sheared and folded mudstone
, siltstone
and sandstone
. Surrounding it on almost all sides are the granophyric granite
s of the Ennerdale Intrusion.
The steep northern slopes were the site of iron mines, operated in the late nineteenth century. One of the levels can still be found near the foot of Scale Force. All work had ceased by 1877.
, reinforced by many iron posts and fittings salvaged from the Ennerdale Fence. A recent photograph shows that many have been added since Alfred Wainwright
drew the cairn in 1966.
Ennerdale Water
is well seen from the summit, with parts of the lakes of Crummock Water and Loweswater
also visible. High Stile hides part of the arc of the Western Fells, but Pillar
and its neighbours make a fine panorama. The North Western Fells
are also seen across Crummock Water.
can be used as a base, although this then requires a full traverse of marshy Mosedale. Red Gill can then be followed to reach the plateau. The same point can also be reached from Buttermere village or Ennerdale by using Floutern Pass. This is not without bogs either. Indirect ascents along the ridge from either direction are probably more common.
, Wainwright
wrote that Starling Dodd was the final fell he climbed during his research for the books. As such, some Wainwright-baggers
save Starling Dodd to be their last Wainwright fell in honour of this.
Fell
“Fell” is a word used to refer to mountains, or certain types of mountainous landscape, in Scandinavia, the Isle of Man, and parts of northern England.- Etymology :...
in the western part of the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
, located between the valleys of Ennerdale
Ennerdale
Ennerdale may refer to:* Ennerdale, Gauteng, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa* Ennerdale Water, a lake in the Lake District in England**Ennerdale Bridge, a nearby settlement...
and Buttermere
Buttermere
Buttermere is a lake in the English Lake District in North West England. The adjacent village of Buttermere takes its name from the lake. Historically within the former county of Cumberland, the lake is now within the county of Cumbria. It is owned by the National Trust, forming part of their...
, on the ridge between Great Borne
Great Borne
Great Borne is a fell in the English Lake District with a height of . It is a rather secluded hill situated at the western end of the long ridge which divides the Ennerdale and Buttermere valleys.-Name:...
to its west and Red Pike (Buttermere)
Red Pike (Buttermere)
Red Pike is a fell in the High Stile range in the western English Lake District, which separates Ennerdale from the valley of Buttermere and Crummock Water. It is high...
to its east. Not visible from Buttermere and rounded in profile, Starling Dodd is a relatively unfrequented top.
Topography
The Western FellsWestern Fells
The Western Fells are a group of hills in the English Lake District. Centred on Great Gable they occupy a triangular area between Buttermere and Wasdale...
occupy a triangular sector of the Lake District, bordered by the River Cocker to the north east and Wasdale
Wasdale
Wasdale is a valley and civil parish in the western part of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. The River Irt flows through the valley to its estuary at Ravenglass. A large part of the main valley floor is occupied by Wastwater, the deepest lake in England...
to the south east. Westwards the hills diminish toward the coastal plain of Cumberland. At the central hub of the high country are Great Gable
Great Gable
Great Gable is a mountain lying at the very heart of the English Lake District, appearing as a pyramid from Wasdale , but as a dome from most other directions. It is one of the most popular of the Lakeland fells, and there are many different routes to the summit...
and its satellites, while two principal ridges fan out on either flank of Ennerdale
Ennerdale
Ennerdale may refer to:* Ennerdale, Gauteng, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa* Ennerdale Water, a lake in the Lake District in England**Ennerdale Bridge, a nearby settlement...
, the western fells in effect being a great horseshoe around this long wild valley. Starling Dodd stands on the northern branch, dividing Buttermere and Ennerdale.
The Buttermere
Buttermere
Buttermere is a lake in the English Lake District in North West England. The adjacent village of Buttermere takes its name from the lake. Historically within the former county of Cumberland, the lake is now within the county of Cumbria. It is owned by the National Trust, forming part of their...
- Ennerdale
Ennerdale
Ennerdale may refer to:* Ennerdale, Gauteng, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa* Ennerdale Water, a lake in the Lake District in England**Ennerdale Bridge, a nearby settlement...
watershed runs north west from Haystacks, climbing over High Crag
High Crag
High Crag stands at the southern end of the High Stile ridge which divides the valleys of Ennerdale and Buttermere in the west of the English Lake District. It is often climbed as part of a popular ridge walk, from Black Sail youth hostel, or from Buttermere via Scarth Gap...
, High Stile
High Stile
High Stile is a mountain in the western part of the Lake District in northwest England. It is the eleventh highest English Marilyn, standing 807 metres high, and has a relative height of 362 metres ....
and Red Pike
Red Pike (Buttermere)
Red Pike is a fell in the High Stile range in the western English Lake District, which separates Ennerdale from the valley of Buttermere and Crummock Water. It is high...
, the three fells of Buttermere Edge. The ridge then loses its craggy character, swinging westerly over the grassy Starling Dodd to its terminus at Great Borne
Great Borne
Great Borne is a fell in the English Lake District with a height of . It is a rather secluded hill situated at the western end of the long ridge which divides the Ennerdale and Buttermere valleys.-Name:...
.
The western ridge of Red Pike swings down, away from the craggy Buttermere front of Ling Cove, and then rises to the subsidiary top of Little Dodd (1,935 ft). This is generally considered to be a part of Red Pike, the territory of Starling Dodd beginning at the next depression westward. A short climb on grass then leads to the summit, a rounded, but quite shapely grassy dome sitting atop a broad ridge. Gentle slopes fall westward along the watershed, interrupted only by the slight rise of Gale Fell (1,699 ft), a trivial summit listed only by Birkett. Rough grass on the facing slope leads up to the rockier environs of Great Borne.
The southern flanks of Starling Dodd are heavily wooded below 1,000 ft, part of the extensive conifer plantations of the Ennerdale Forest. Within the forest is Latterbarrow (895 ft), a parallel lower ridge which diverts some of Starling Dodd's streams further west than might be expected. North of the summit dome, Starling Dodd levels into a wide plateau before disappearing over a steep rim of minor crags. At the base of this fall is the tenuous topographical connection to Mellbreak
Mellbreak
Mellbreak is a hill in the Western part of the English Lake District. Despite being surrounded on all sides by higher fells , it stands in isolation. It is surrounded on three sides by a 'moat' of deep marshy land, and on the east side by the lake of Crummock Water...
, a low watershed dividing Starling Dodd's northern drainage into widely differing catchments. That to the west of the summit flows into the marshy valley of Mosedale, travelling all around Mellbreak to enter Crummock Water
Crummock Water
Crummock Water is a lake in the Lake District in Cumbria, North West England situated between Buttermere to the south and Loweswater to the north. Crummock Water is two and a half miles long, three quarters of a mile wide and 140ft deep. The River Cocker is considered to start at the north of the...
via Park Beck. The north eastern quarter takes a direct line into the lake, dropping down the craggy face via Scale Force. This is believed to be the highest single waterfall in the District, dropping around 100 ft down a narrow cleft.
Geology and Mining
The summit of Starling Dodd is formed by rocks of the Buttermere Formation, an olistostromeOlistostrome
The term olistostrome is derived from olio - a dish of many ingredients or stew; a mixture of heterogeneous elements; hodgepodge. and stroma - a bed covering...
of disrupted, sheared and folded mudstone
Mudstone
Mudstone is a fine grained sedimentary rock whose original constituents were clays or muds. Grain size is up to 0.0625 mm with individual grains too small to be distinguished without a microscope. With increased pressure over time the platey clay minerals may become aligned, with the...
, siltstone
Siltstone
Siltstone is a sedimentary rock which has a grain size in the silt range, finer than sandstone and coarser than claystones.- Description :As its name implies, it is primarily composed of silt sized particles, defined as grains 1/16 - 1/256 mm or 4 to 8 on the Krumbein phi scale...
and sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
. Surrounding it on almost all sides are the granophyric granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
s of the Ennerdale Intrusion.
The steep northern slopes were the site of iron mines, operated in the late nineteenth century. One of the levels can still be found near the foot of Scale Force. All work had ceased by 1877.
Summit and view
The smooth grassy top bears a sizeable cairnCairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
, reinforced by many iron posts and fittings salvaged from the Ennerdale Fence. A recent photograph shows that many have been added since Alfred Wainwright
Alfred Wainwright
Alfred Wainwright MBE was a British fellwalker, guidebook author and illustrator. His seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, published between 1955 and 1966 and consisting entirely of reproductions of his manuscript, has become the standard reference work to 214 of the fells of the...
drew the cairn in 1966.
Ennerdale Water
Ennerdale Water
Ennerdale Water is the most westerly lake in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. It is a glacial lake, with a maximum depth of 45 metres , and at 700 to 1,500 metres wide and 3.9 kilometres is one of the smallest lakes in the area...
is well seen from the summit, with parts of the lakes of Crummock Water and Loweswater
Loweswater
Loweswater is one of the smaller lakes in the English Lake District. The village of Loweswater is situated at the foot of the lake.The lake is not far from Cockermouth and is also easily reached from elsewhere in West Cumbria. The group of fells to the south of Loweswater is known as the Loweswater...
also visible. High Stile hides part of the arc of the Western Fells, but Pillar
Pillar (Lake District)
Pillar is a mountain in the western part of the English Lake District. Situated between the valleys of Ennerdale to the north and Wasdale to the south, it is the highest point of the Pillar group . At 892 metres it is the eighth highest mountain in the Lake District...
and its neighbours make a fine panorama. The North Western Fells
North Western Fells
The North Western Fells are a group of hills in the English Lake District. Including such favourites as Catbells and Grisedale Pike, they occupy an oval area beneath the Buttermere and Borrowdale valley systems...
are also seen across Crummock Water.
Ascents
Loweswater villageLoweswater, Cumbria
Loweswater is a village and civil parish in the county of Cumbria, England.-Village:The village lies between the Lake District lakes of Loweswater and Crummock Water, about south of Cockermouth and within the Lake District National Park...
can be used as a base, although this then requires a full traverse of marshy Mosedale. Red Gill can then be followed to reach the plateau. The same point can also be reached from Buttermere village or Ennerdale by using Floutern Pass. This is not without bogs either. Indirect ascents along the ridge from either direction are probably more common.
Wainwright's Pictorial Guides
In his concluding notes in the seventh and final volume of the Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland FellsPictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells
A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells is a series of seven books by A. Wainwright, detailing the fells of the Lake District in northwest England...
, Wainwright
Alfred Wainwright
Alfred Wainwright MBE was a British fellwalker, guidebook author and illustrator. His seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, published between 1955 and 1966 and consisting entirely of reproductions of his manuscript, has become the standard reference work to 214 of the fells of the...
wrote that Starling Dodd was the final fell he climbed during his research for the books. As such, some Wainwright-baggers
Peak bagging
Peak bagging is an activity in which hillwalkers and mountaineers attempt to reach the summit of some collection of peaks, usually those above some height in a particular region, or having a particular feature.Peak bagging can be distinguished from highpointing...
save Starling Dodd to be their last Wainwright fell in honour of this.