Newlands Valley, Lake District, Summer
On the Sunday following the Saturday, we threw caution to the wind and visited the Lake District for a solid hike.
Signs were looking good that, for a Sunday morning, the Lake District wasn’t looking too busy (use Safer Lakes to check the busyness of Lake District car parks). We drove to Keswick and plotted a hiking route from the town onto the Cumbria Way towards the Lingholm Estate, where we’d pause for refreshment. Then we’d continue on the Cumbria Way towards the foot of Catbells, and break off into the Newlands Valley, terminating at Little Town and circling back all the way to Keswick.
All in all, about 16 km and 25,000 steps. Pretty good.
It was a stupendously beautiful day in the Lake District, and the Newlands Valley in particular was looking absolutely incredible.
Please enjoy these photos.
All photos shot on my Fujifilm X-T2 using my three prime lenses: a Samyang 35mm f/1.2, a Laowa 9mm f/2.8, and an adapted Pentax SMC 55mm f/2.0 lens. Images were made 80% in-camera using a customised Velvia film simulation, with minor edits afterwards in Lightroom and Affinity Photo.
Crossing the Greta Bridge here signifies the start of our walk onto the Cumbria Way. Given the weather we’d had, the river was looking very low.
The Cumbria Way bisects an open field, with clear views towards the Newlands fells one way and the Skiddaw range the other.
Pure Lake District. Mountains above, Herdwick sheep below.
Hot Herdwick ewes and their lamb find shade wherever they can. They’re about ready for clipping (shearing) I reckon.
Just south of the village of Portinscale, you enter a heavily wooded area. This is all part of the Lingholm Estate, the centre of which is a Victorian mansion built in the 1870s by Alfred Waterhouse.
The grounds of Lingholm Estate, and especially the Walled Gardens and Kitchen, are beautifully maintained.
Beatrix Potter made sketches of the octagonal kitchen garden and referred to it as her original inspiration for Mr McGregor’s garden in The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
Rhododendrons and foxglove. Pretty colour contrasts.
Everything was looking so lush in the gardens.
A brief window of light penetrates the woodland canopy, illuminating this uprooted tree.
After popping out of Overside Wood you enter what is simply known as The Park, and are greeted with the northern ridge of Catbells (451 m/1,480 ft), one of the Lake District’s most famous mountains.
Our journey that day did not involve Catbells, especially with the veritable train of people following the path up to the fell’s summit. Instead we took the minor road around the mountain’s western shoulder, heading towards the Newlands Valley. Already, the views look wonderful.
One of Keswick’s more familiar sights is the knobbly profile of Causey Pike (637 m/2,090 ft).
Rowling End (433 m/1,421 ft) slightly obscuring Causey Pike with Birkrigg Farm below.
Looking back the way we came, with the massive Skiddaw range looming above Keswick. My lovely Lisabet looking, well, lovely!
Following the minor road around Catbells’ western shoulder, the views open up more and more, giving us extensive panoramas of the Newlands fells.
An ultra-wide perspective of our way forward as the Newlands valley opens up.
The fell in the centre that looks like it’s had a massive bite taken out of it is Robinson (737 m/2,418 ft). The name might seem unusual, given most fell and place names in Cumbria have Old Norse origins. Apparently the land that included the fell was purchased by a Richard Robinson centuries ago. The fell, at the time unnamed, became known as Robinson’s Fell, and eventually shortened to Robinson.
I suspect this minor road was once a miner’s road (see what I did there?). According to the OS Map, ahead of us at Yewthwaite was some disused old mining works beneath Maiden Moor (576 m/1,890 ft).
We followed the trail through the old mines and onward towards Little Town. Ahead of us, Ard Crags’ (581 m/1,906 ft) pointy profile is revealed. But what I’m looking for is just around the corner of High Crags…
And there it is. In my mind, one of the best views in all of Lakeland. Dale Head (753 m/2,470 ft) on the left, Hindscarth (727 m/2,385 ft) in the middle, and Robinson on the right.
Looking back the other way, we are treated to another gorgeous Lakeland summer scene. Herdwick sheep in the valley bottom, the Skiddaw range above.
We stopped for refreshment and delicious ice cream at Catbells Café in Little Town. Ard Crags, like a toddler amongst the grown-ups, still very much demanded our attention. Not a bad spot for refreshments, eh?
After pausing at Little Town we circled back and followed the trail all the way back towards the Cumbria Way and Keswick. This part of the trail is closer to the valley bottom and more open, giving us different views entirely.
A pleasing composition of ancient trees, farm fence and gate, and the Skiddaw range.
Lots of the standalone trees around this part of the Newlands Valley I suspect are rather old, and remnants from when this valley was cleared of woodland by Viking settlers.
It also means you find strange and unusual trees, such as this beauty. Ever seen a tree trunk like it?!
From one field into another, following an ancient lane back towards Skiddaw.
One final look back at the Newlands fells, with groups of Texel sheep and lambs dotted about.
Back on the minor road underneath Catbells. Lisabet grabs a rare selfie, with Blencathra looking mighty in the distance.
Stormwater Bridge, a suspended footbridge, indicates our approach is near Keswick. The Skiddaw range looms ever closer.
Herdwick lambs seeking shade from the warm day. They are born jet black, save for tufts of white around their ears. As they age, their face and legs turn white and their fleece becomes a dark, chocolatey brown. It’s not until they’re 2-3 years of age that they get their first clip (shear), which reveals the characteristic grey Herdwick fleece underneath.
Zen Cow is contemplating existence…
Keswick town was busy. Time to navigate through the crowds in order to get back to the car.
What a wonderful day it was.