A Newlands Horseshoe


Newlands Church and Schoolhouse Newlands Church and Schoolhouse   I parked my motor-car in the Little Town car park at 08:30 and then sat looking out at the frost covered ground, all in deep shadow. There were two other cars there and the small car park might just hold a total of ten. No parking charges here, at least. Did I really want to get out of the warm car and put on my walking gear? I don't think I have ever been so reluctant.

Ten minutes later I walked over Chapel Bridge spanning Scope Beck and turned left up a narrow lane to Newlands Church emerging into the sunshine. The camera recorded that I took the photograph of Newlands Church at 08:53.

The small tracks and paths looked very pretty in the morning sunshine and I continually checked the map to find the farm at Low High Snab, which was just beyond a hotel, off to the right.



A Hotel to the right of my track A Hotel below High Snab and to the right of my track   High Snab sign-post High Snab sign-post



Gate at Low High Snab with High Snab Bank right of centre Gate at Low High Snab with High Snab Bank right of centre   Beyond Low High Snab the path led up the valley keeping to the higher ground to the right of Scope Beck. I overtook two walkers who had stopped for a rest and discovered they were also doing the 'horseshoe'. I left them and continued on my way.

Upon reaching a small reservoir, the map showed the footpath diverging and climbing up to the ridge but no footpath was apparent on the ground. I eventually found a small path that seemed to follow the contours and that took me past the summit of Robinson. I then found a crossing path that took me back to the summit, which I reached just before the two walkers, that I had met previously, arrived. They had also failed to find a proper route but managed to reach the ridge and approach Robinson from the correct direction.



Peter on the summit of Robinson Peter on the summit of Robinson   Robinson is 737m (2,419 ft) high and named after a former landowner. Crummock Water is visible to the right in the photograph taken at 11:30, so about 2:45 to get this far.

The other two walkers turned out to be Lee and Michelle and they suggested I might like to join them for the remainder of the walk. I readily accepted, since walking alone can be a bit boring.

As we started the descent from Robinson in the direction of Hindscarth, there was a splendid view of the top of the Honister Pass way below us with the Scafell range in the far distance.

At the bottom of the descent, we bore slightly left to take in Littledale Edge on the steep climb to Hindscarth Summit.



Honister Pass and the Scafell range Honister Pass and the Scafell range



Hindscarth was reached at 13:00 and the photograph shows Hindscarth Edge and Dale Head. Hindscarth is not quite as high as Robinson but Dale Head that lies ahead is the highest point on the walk at 753m (2,473 ft).

Approaching Dale Head from this direction there is one point on the path where the ground drops away almost vertically to the right for hundreds of feet.

The next large photograph is taken from Dale Head at 13:13 looking straight down the length of Newlands Valley towards Skiddaw. Hindscarth is to the left and Maiden Moor to the right. The stream in the valley below is appropriately Newlands Beck. 		  Hindscarth Edge and Dale Head from Hindscarth Hindscarth Edge and Dale Head from Hindscarth



Newlands Valley and Skiddaw from Dale Head Newlands Valley and Skiddaw from Dale Head



The descent from Dale Head to Dale Head Tarn is steep and spectacular followed by a stiff climb back up to High Spy at 653m (2,143 ft).

The path then continues generally northward and downwards but there is another high point just before Narrow Moor by Castlenook at 2,065 ft. After Narrow Moor the route widens to the summit of Maiden Moor at just 576m (1,888 ft).

Maiden Moor is left by way of Trap Knotts to Hause Gate, where a broad steep track leads directly to Little Town.

The group photograph that follows was taken at Dale Head summit cairn and the photograph looking back at Dale Head was actually taken in 2014 on a previous visit. 		  High Spy is central and mid-distance High Spy is in the mid-distance and central



Peter, Lee and Michelle on Dale Head Peter, Lee and Michelle on Dale Head   The descent from Dale Head - 2014 photograph The descent from Dale Head - 2014 photograph



Lee and Michelle with Cat Bells visible Lee and Michelle stop as Cat Bells comes into view   Hause Gate comes before Cat Bells, which I have visited many times before. Since Lee and Michelle wanted to climb it before returning to Hause Gate, I decided to sit down and finish my coffee and sandwiches and await their return.

We walked together from Hause Gate to Little Town and then discovered I had parked my motor-car right next to their rather large BMW with its personalised number plate!

The walk had taken me 8 hours and 30 minutes. Failing to find the correct way up Robinson and having to walk back to gain the summit probably cost me an extra mile and was hard going without a proper footpath. We did not walk continuously and took at least 30 minutes over eating lunch etc.



Editor: Peter J. Cosker   peter@the2coskers.com   top of page   Updated: 05/04/2015