| High Level Linear Walk from Birkrigg around the Newland Valley to Hawes End | |
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| (Distance 11.5 miles) | |
| Clare dropped me off at the start of the walk in the small parking area below Birkrigg Brow. | |
| Leave the road and follow the path into the valley
alongside Rigg Beck until a narrow path drops down the banking
(left) to the beck. Go down and over the beck, then up the
path diagonally left to right to the reach Aiken Knott. (photo: Heading out at the start into the valley below Birkrigg Brow, with Ard Crags visible) |
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Continue up the steep path to Ard Crag summit, then along the ridge over
Knott Rigg and down to Newland Hause. (photo: Looking back down Aiken Knott, with Littletown and Catbells in the distance) |
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| (photo: The route ahead to Newland Hause with Knott Rig at the end) |  |
| (photo: A view back down to the Newland Valley from the top of Ard Crags) |  |
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Cross the road and follow the path going straight up as it zigzags up to
the Buttermere Moss. (Avoid the path leading along to the waterfall.)
The path is not easy to see at the top, but continue south on the right
side heading towards High Snockrigg. (photo: Setting out along the top to Newland Hause ...... still in dry weather) |
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Go left now, across the boggy area, in the direction of the southern
slopes of Robinson. The path is reasonably visible, but rather wet and
boggy in a few places. The path soon starts going up hill, then turns
left diagonally up the western side of Robinson. (photo: Looking across to Eel Crag and Sail from Buttermere Moss, on the way up to Robinson) |
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| When the path reaches the top, go right and continue to
Robinson summit. From the summit, head along the path south to reach a fence high above Buttermere. Turn left and follow
the path along Littledale Edge, over a couple of steep up-and-downs along
Hindscarth Edge, eventually arriving at Dalehead. (photo: View east from the summit of Robinson, with Honister Hause in the central dip) |
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| (photo: And looking west with Crummock Water nearer, with Loweswater beyond) |  |
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Continue east down to Dalehead Tarn. From the Tarn, follow the path
right around the rocks, then north up the rocky path to High Spy. (Avoid
the path going down into the valley below Dale Head.) (photo: A very wet Newland Valley from Dale head summit) |
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From the trig point of High Spy, continue north keeping on the left
path, eventually dropping down to Maiden Moor. There are two options
now, keeping left along the outside of Maiden Moor, or right across
Maiden Moor to the northeastern corner. (photo: Summit of High Spy) |
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The path now drops down a short steep section to Hause Gate between
Catbells and Maiden Moor. From the col, continue to Catbells summit. (photo: Leaving Maiden Moor on the way down to the Hause Gate col before Catbells) |
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From Catbells, follow the ridge north, dropping down some steep rocky
sections to a level section. From the end of the level section, the path
winds down the final stage of the descent reaching the parking area in
some trees on the Grange road. From there it is either a short walk to Hawes End landing stage, or a longer walk back to Portinscale, and even further on to Keswick. (photo: The final section down Catbells to a waiting Clare to pick up a soggy Sandy) |
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