High Spy

Back in January 2011 we walked 3/4 of the Newlands Round, missing out the final top of High Spy.  When I spoke to Peter earlier this week and explained I was doing the Swimathon on Sunday and wanted an easy-ish walk we decided on High Spy.  It wasn't too high and a fairly easy ascent and descent.  My turn to drive so I picked Peter up just after 6.30 am and set off in the direction of Keswick.  We arrived at Little Town around 8.30.  We had both brought Scotch Eggs for breakfast so we had one each for breakfast and kept the other 2 for lunch later.  

Shot Of Great Gable

Summit of High Spy

We started this walk the way we finished the walk in 2011, walking back up the road from the car park and turned right up the hill and then walked along the valley.  We were walking for around 30 or 40 minutes and then began to climb very slowly.  It was a steady climb up towards the pass which you can see in the picture on the right.  The last 50 yards or so up to the pass became a little steeper.  We found a little shelter and decided to stop for our first bait stop, had a cuppa and the other scotch egg.  As we were sitting it started to rain so we put the water proof jackets on and set off again.  As we reached the top of the pass the rain had stopped and it was actually getting warmer so the water proofs came off and we turned left towards High Spy.  This part of the climb was a little steeper and we reached the summit at 11.00 am.  

There were great views from here of the Scafels, Great Gable and Great End.  Then to the north Blencathra and Skiddaw and many others.  The weather was also clearing up so we could see for miles.

Skiddaw and Blencathra from High Spy

There was still a little bit of snow on some of the tops but nothing here today.  Looking around from the summit we could also see Dale Head and Hindscarth with Robinson behind, the other 3 tops on the Newlands Round walk.  

We set off back towards the car, walking on the flat for a little while and then beginning to drop towards Derwent Water with Keswick behind.

The walk was beginning to get busier as we descended.  This is a very popular walk with Cat Bells just below.

Looking back to High Spy

The car is down there somewhere

Derwent Water with the summit of Cat Bells centre left

As we descended Derwent Water and Keswick came into view and they were looking very good in the April sunshine.

A little further and the popular Cat Bells walk looked very busy today.

Cat Bells looking busy today

We walked towards the bottom of Cat Bells as can be seen on the left and then turned left down the slope towards the car.

Would be a nice stop in the summer!

Back at the car for around 1.00 pm and time for a quick drink at the Sportsmans.

Next walk planned towards the end of May.  See you then.

Newlands Walk

First walk of 2011 and the start of a successful year in chalking off a large number of tops. Steve and Peter picked me up just after 6.00 am, it took a while to clear the ice off the car which was a sign of how the weather was going to be today. It was very cold but very clear as we drove over the A66 towards Keswick. We had already decided to go to the Newlands Valley to do anything up to 4 tops starting with Robinson and then Hindscarth, Dale Head and potentially High Spy. We turned off the A66 towards Portinscale and after a couple of wrong turns eventually found the very minor road to Little Town. We parked just before Chapel Bridge, first in the car park

although 2 other cars arrived as we were getting ready. I picked up the Angus steak pies the day before so we got ready and then tucked into the pies. We started walking at 8.30, crossing the bridge over the stream and turning left towards Newlands Church. We walked up past the church and through a couple of gates. After the second gate we turned right and immediately up a very steep grassy bank towards High Snab Bank. There was a thick frost on the ground but it was a very clear day.

Once onto the ridge we had a steady walk for a little while until we reached 3 rock steps, about 20 or 30 feet each which meant we had a bit of scrambling to do. There was still a little way to go, but from here it was a steady climb to the summit which we reached at about 11.15 am. We stuck around for a few photos and then headed for top 2 of the

day which was clearly visible in the very blue sky.

We walked towards a fence and then turned left walking down by the fence towards Little Dale then the path split in two. We took the left path towards Hindscarth and reached the second summit at about 12.15. Two down and time for another cuppa and a bit of bait.

Dale Head seemed well within reach so 3 tops in one day was looking very likely but could we make 4? We decided to head towards Dale Head and then decide when we got there. We headed along the ridge turning left towards Dale Head, dropping slightly before climbing again to the summit which we reached around 1.30. So that was definitely 3 tops down today,

not a bad start to the year.

There was a particularly well built cairn at the summit and we remarked all the tops should have such monuments to them.

So the question was do we go for 4 or stick with 3 and head back to the car. Well either way we had to drop to Dale Head tarn and then it was either continue down into the valley or climb to High Spy and then follow the ridge all the way along. So we began to descend to Dale Head tarn, quite a steep descent and a little slippy in places where it was icy. When we got to the frozen tarn we threw a few stones onto the tarn and heard the hollow sound as they bounced on the ice. As the descent to the tarn was quite steep and my legs were feeling the strain now we all decided it was best to head back to the car. Perhaps the single top of High Spy can be given the dubious honour of being my final top when I reach my target eventually!

Leaving the tarn we dropped down to cross an almost frozen stream and then followed the stream for a little while dropping all the way. A long slow descent and a little icy as well meant you had to tread very carefully. We eventually reached an unmade road and Steve commented

that on the left side of the valley Gold mining had gone on in the distant past. Looking back we could see the full walk, Robinson on the right and Dales Head on the left with Hindscarth in the middle. It looked a very impressive achievement from this end point and very satisfying.We continued along the path for an hour and eventually got back close to the car, so close we could see it below, about 50 feet away but with no obvious path down to it. We had to walk a little further along the track and then drop down to the road and doubled back to the car. It was after 4.oo pm now so no time for a drink but very happy that 3 tops were down in one day.

Next walk will not be until early March now.

PS. Click here for video footage of the walk