Date & Time: Tuesday 20th March 2007. 3.15 pm start.

Location : Little Town in the Newlands Valley, Cumbria Uk. ( NY 235 197 )

Places visited : Little Town, Yewthwaite Comb, Hause Gap, Catbells, Skelgill Bank, Little Town.

Walk details : 3 mls, 1475 ft of ascent, 2 hours.

Walked with : Ann and the dogs, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : A rather mixed afternoon with a strong, cold, northerly breeze and occasional light snow flurries.

Off to Little Town, turn right at the Purple House . . .

 

The demolition notices are still posted on this landmark of the Newlands Valley. It is also being advertised for sale by auction in the local paper this week. No doubt the house is past saving but the land should be pretty valuable. The owner passed away last year, hence the sale.

Apparently the building's colour was deliberately chosen to snub the planning board following a disagreement.

A really sociable, if slightly muddy pony was watching us as we started our walk.

We were aiming for Catbells, but followed the road up through the Little Town houses instead of taking his footpath to the old Skelgill Farm.

A white top to Skiddaw and the white houses of Little Town in the foreground.

Our route took is up Yewthwaite Comb, aiming for Hause Gap, before climbing to the summit of Catbells from the wrong direction - the south.

   
It's been cold for a few days now
and the spray from the small stream has frozen on the grass.
   
   
Cold enough too, to play snowballs.
Onward and upward through the old mine workings.

To our right, the high ground is Bull Crag on the northern edge of Maiden Moor.

Even though it is fairly overcast and cold, the sun does find gaps in the cloud, here lighting up Carlside, Skiddaw and Skiddaw Little Man.

The wooded knoll in the foreground is Swinside.

The walk was going really well at this point in time, then we struck a problem, or should we say Harry struck a problem.

   
Mountain Rescue - first aider. ( Bethan says it wasn't her fault )
Do I need such a big bandage? What a fuss - it's only a graze.

His recent injury was healing well and earlier in the day we had his ten stitches removed. At the top of the hause, Bethan appeared sporting a red streak and a quick inspection of Harry revealed that he had burst his wound open. Five minutes later, and one sterile bandage less in the kit, we were back in business.

A quick phone call to the Vet arranged a 6 pm appointment - so plenty of time to finish the walk !

Harry didn't seem to mind, in fact he couldn't see what all the fuss was about.

 

A problem ? What problem ?

Back on track, Harry poses, his good side to the camera, as we re-start the final climb to Catbells summit.

 

Sunshine on Eagle Crag and High Raise. Pike O' Stickle is the rocky peak above Bessyboot on Rosthwaite Fell.

Looking down, the sun is just catching the chimneys of Brandelhow. (Photo by Ann.)

The grey rock face is Surprise View, and that sunshine extends almost to Bleaberry Fell. Clough Head, over the back, has a reasonable covering of snow.

The high cloud is well clear of Blencathra, and that sun has nicely highlighted Lord's Island on Derwent Water.

Catbells summit looking north to Skiddaw and Blencathra.

The flat nature of the light has rather blended the snow with the cloudy sky.

 

Summit photo - Harry now on a lead for his own protection.

- - - o o o - - -

For those of a observant nature you may notice I'm wearing the latest of Fellwalking Fashion - a Sprayway Pro Shell.

Pro Shell seems to be a lightweight Paclite but with attitude.

Strong, lightweight, waterproof zips, good hood, comfortable fit

and no need for a high viz jacket on the way to the pub tonight !

 

( Don't be too impressed, it's on loan and has to go back next week after I've written a gear test report on it. Email any comments by Thursday evening latest so that I can write the report in time for Friday. Polite comments only please.)

 

Catbells summit achieved, we walked down towards Keswick to Skelgill Bank (the level bit)

and cut down to the west side on the old miner's track, in order to reach the horizontal Skelgill Miners Track.

   
An old stone sided field entrance.
The mine track back to Yewthwaite Comb.

The gateway would have had horizontal wooden bars in the old days which could have been removed to let the sheep through. The farmer subsequently added hinges and a gate but even that has perished, to be replaced by a rough wire fence.

Late afternoon sun beams shine down on Hindscarth as we finish our walk.

Oh well, time to go for another ten stitches at the Vet's.

Hope these work better.

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with a Canon G7 Digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . a mountain first aid kit in the rucksack.

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Previous walk - 14th March 2007 Hen Comb and Melbreak for Polly's 200th

A previous time up here - 8th December 2003 Catbells and an early sunset

Previous walk - 21st March 2007 Grey Knotts and Brandreth with Zoro