About Clough Head

Clough Head is a fell in the English Lake District and is the northernmost top of the Helvellyn range in the Eastern Fells, standing to the south of Threlkeld and the A66.

The Helvellyn range runs broadly north to south for about 7 miles (11 km), remaining above 2,000 ft (600 m) throughout its length. To the south of the terminus at Clough Head are Great Dodd, Watson's Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd - collectively 'The Dodds' - before the scenery becomes gradually wilder on the approach to Helvellyn itself.

Clough Head is the lowest of the range and from some directions it appears as a rounded grassy dome. Alone among the Helvellyns it has smooth slopes to the east, with crags on the west, a reversal of the usual pattern. The crags continue around to the north west above the village of Threlkeld forming a large natural amphitheatre.

The connecting ridge from Great Dodd begins westerly before swinging north around the head of Mosedale, the boundary between these two fells. The halfway point is marked by Calfhow Pike (2,165 ft), a rocky pinnacle. This would be unremarkable in other parts of the district, but here the lone rocky island in a sea of fell-grass is a landmark for miles around.

North of Calfhow Pike is a col at 2,020 ft (620 m) before the broad ridge makes directly for the summit of Clough Head.

The steep drop of Red Screes begins almost immediately to the north west of the summit, falling to the floor of the unnamed amphitheatre at around 1,650 ft (500 m).

The outlet of this hollow contains the subsidiary top of Threlkeld Knotts, deflecting the drainage to either side. Gentler slopes lead down from here to the hamlet of Wanthwaite and the remains of Threlkeld Quarry, now Threlkeld Mining Museum.

Also nearby are the remains of an ancient Settlement, believed to date from the Romano-British period. Outlines of enclosure walls can still be clearly seen.

North east from the summit of Clough Head is the lesser top of White Pike. From here the ridge descends between Mosedale and Red Screes gradually broadening into Thelkeld Common before it reaches the River Glenderamackin some two miles (3 km) away.

The western face of Clough Head, looming above the Vale of St John, is uniformly rough. The principal rock features are from the north, Buck Castle, Wanthwaite Crags and Bram Crag.

Rising up between the latter two in a south easterly direction is Fisher's Wife's Rake, the only chink in Clough Head's defences on this side. A (very) steep grassy walk rises up from the scree below Wanthwaite Crags, climbing to the smoother ground above. It is practicable although not for the casual walker. The name comes from the Fisher family of nearby Rake How - the husband cut peat and his wife hauled it down by sled.

The summit is marked by an Ordnance Survey triangulation column and a sprawling cairn cum windbreak. It provides a good view of Blencathra to the north, in fact Alfred Wainwright drew himself admiring this view in his Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells. Although the higher Great Dodd obstructs, the vista of the high fells to the west is excellent.

Clough Head is often climbed as the first step of a traverse of the Helvellyn range. From the northeast (Threlkeld) there is a path avoiding the crags and reaching the summit via White Pike.

Alternatively one may follow the Coach Road to its highpoint, before heading southwest to the top.

Wanthwaite provides the other main access either via Fisher's Wife's Rake or the much easier slopes behind Wanthwaite Quarry.

None of these routes have paths throughout, but once the top is reached a clear track leads south towards Great Dodd.