It’s Friday, It Must Be Newlands

Day 28 – 17 April – looked like being a fairly big day. Ian Hardy was joining me again and we met near Hawse End just after 8.30 before taking a car to start at Newlands Hause. After last night’s weather forecast I had entertained thoughts of wearing shorts – what a good job I didn’t – it turned out to be grey with low cloud and an absolutely biting wind.

The summit of Robinson (2417’) was obscured by cloud as we set off, although the day seemed to have the promise of something better. Unusually, for a man who insisted on spending, not saving, time on the hill, AW says of this ascent “Try to do it under one hour” so at 55 minutes we emerged on the grey, windy summit with some credit.

The traverse to Hindscarth (2385’) continued the cold grey windy theme, so the lightly-clad lady with hairdo and no headwear seemed a little incongruous: she was the only person we saw, in contrast to later on. A few bright spells promised an improvement in the day as we chatted along. Ian asked whether I talk to myself when walking alone to which I had to answer ‘All the time’. (Doesn’t everybody? Or do I sense the approach of men in white coats? Is this all getting to me? Am I paranoid or does everybody have it in for me anyway?) Back to the blog…

Great views were now opening up to Fleetwith Pike and Buttermere as we made our way to the top of Dale Head (2473’) before the long drop down to Dalehead Tarns. The Newlands Round is for me one of the best in the Lake District, with stunning scenery all the way. Of course, what goes down must go back up again, which we did to reach High Spy (2143’) with another fine cairn at the summit.

On the left of the ridge, Eel Crags are steep and heather-clad, and a pair of Ring-Ousels put on a good show very close to us as we passed by. The path now resembles a motorway and the trippers from Keswick were out in droves. After Maiden Moor (1887’) came the delightful Catbells (1481’) where there were literally hundreds of people, some no doubt taken aback by the strength of the wind compared to the valley floor in Keswick. This was the end of the Newlands Round but not the end of the day for us. We got back to the car at Hawse End and drove around once again to Newlands Hause, now in bright, clear sunshine, but still high winds.

Leaving the rucksacks behind we made our way up to the ridge leading to Knott Rigg (1790’), an ascent of about 720’ from the Hause, and then on along the fine traverse, with great views of Wandope, Eel Crag (not the same as the Eel Crags just mentioned), Sail and Causey Pike, to Ard Crags (1860’) before retracing our steps back to the car to finish the day with another 8 tops, making a total of 158. Now for two days off (my right knee will appreciate that) before an assault on Wasdale next week.

Photos: 1. Robinson from Newlands Hause first thing - compare with photo 4; 2. Looking back to Robinson and Hindscarth; 3. Catbells from Maiden Moor; 4. Robinson in glorious sunshine from Newlands Hause, 3 pm.