Starling Dodd

About Starling Dodd

Tucked between the High Stile ridge and Great Borne, this rounded, grassy summit offers a quieter alternative to its more dramatic neighbours. Often bypassed by those rushing toward Red Pike, it rewards the patient walker with a striking, industrial-looking iron summit cairn and an expansive view down the length of Ennerdale Water.

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Did You Know?

• •The name combines the bird with the Cumbrian term 'Dodd', which stems from the Old Norse 'doddi', used to describe a bare, rounded hill or a limb-like projection from a larger massif.
• •Alfred Wainwright was particularly struck by the summit's unique cairn, which features a tangled mass of old iron fencing wire and posts, describing it as a 'curious object' in an otherwise soft landscape.
• •The summit offers an unobstructed view of the Loweswater Fells to the north, specifically the twin humps of Mellbreak and the dark profile of Grasmoor across the Crummock Water valley.
• •It serves as a vital link for walkers completing the high ridge between Ennerdale and Buttermere, providing a unique vantage point to study the rugged northern face of Pillar across the valley.
• •Reaching the top requires a certain tolerance for damp feet; the surrounding depressions are notoriously boggy, ensuring that your boots will likely be significantly heavier upon departure than they were at the start.