The Bob Graham Round: a Photographic Tour

Leg Two: Threlkeld to Dunmail Raise (20.71 km)

A central part of the second leg of the BGR. Looking back along the path that leads up to the summit of Helvellyn at dusk in mid-summer (June, 2022).

Full route of Leg Two of the BGR. Starting at Threlkeld, taking in highlights such as Helvellyn and Fairfield, finishing along the main road at Dunmail Raise.

Overview: Well done. You’ve managed the first leg of the BGR. You’re now, hopefully, in full on attack mode and ready for leg two.

In truth, Leg One seems an awfully long way to run in order just to tick three summits off the list, but fear not. Over the course of Leg Two you’ll hit the summit of twelve peaks and by the time you reach your end point of Dunmail Raise you’ll have completed fifteen in total. Nice. The highlight of Leg Two is the wonderfully impressive peak of Helvellyn - one of the most popular fells in the UK and with good reason.

Starting at Threlkeld the first section of Leg Two begins with an easy jog along a small lane, through some gentle farmland, before you hit the wall-like feature that is Clough Head. To my mind Clough Head is the toughest section of Leg Two and getting it out of the way early on is no bad thing. At 726m it it far from the highest fell on the leg, but the incline is pretty steep and it is likely you will walk up the path here.

Thankfully, after Clough Head things are much easier as you strike of summit after summit with far less effort put in. You’ll quickly gain Great Dodd (857m), Watson’s Dodd (789m), Stybarrow Dodd (843m), Raise (883m), White Side (863m), and Helvellyn Lower Man (925m), before arriving at Helvellyn (950m) itself. There are a few gentle inclines along the way, but after Clough Head you’ll be just fine.

From Helvellyn the running continues to be easy going as you, thankfully, head down to Nethermost Pike (891m), Dollywagon Pike (853m), and Grisedale Tarn that sits beneath Fairfield (873m) and Seat Sandal (736m), which are your final two fells on this leg of the BGR. The pull up onto Fairfield is a tough slog however, so be prepared for this and a good deal of scree along the way.

All in all, this is a pretty gentle leg on the BGR. There is little in the way of technical ground, there should be no issues with navigation, and the summits come thick and fast as you zoom along the ridgelines of these gentle Wainwrights.

The only thing to keep in mind are the specific summit tops of Stybarrow Dodd, Nethermost Pike, and Dollywagon Pike as these can sometimes confuse fell runner and hiker alike so you will need to pay attention when you approach these summits. The photos below show all this, but be mindful of which pile of rocks marks the summit and all will be well.

Good luck on leg two of the BGR!

Leg Two - Section One

Threlkeld to Clough Head

Summits Gained: Clough Head (726m)

End of Leg Two, Section One | Total Summits Gained = 4/42 (You’ll be in no rush to head back to Clough Head)

BGR lEg One

BGR Home

BGR Leg Three