Hiley Website


Remember: Press F11 for a full screen view of this page.

Date & start time: Tuesday 6th January 2009. 11.20 start.

Location of Event : Little Town, Newlands Valley, Cumbria, Uk ( NY 235 196 )

Places visited : Yewthwaite Combe, High Crags sheepfold, Maiden Moor, Narrow Moor, Blea Crags, and back via Hause Gate.

Walk details : 4.5 ml, 1675 ft of ascent, 3 hours 30 mins.

Highest point : Blea Crags above Nitting Hause 2047 ft ( 630m )

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

Weather : Good weather to start but deteriorating.

Ann at Little Town at the start of the walk

The cold spell continues and we get chance to get out again.

Where to go ? . . . Derwent Water has some ice . . . so we went high to look down on it.

We started at Little Town in the Newlands Valley.

The place seems to revolve about the farm at the centre of the village and the views of Skiddaw are great.

Robinson Fell with the snow and Scope End on the left without.

Causey Pike across the valley as we walk up into Yewthwaite Comb

but take a small path off to the right of the main track and aim more directly up towards Maiden Moor.

The valley was the home of significant mining in days past.

The tunnels under Catbells produced lead, gold and many other minerals.



It's been a cold few days . . .	. . . and all the drinking water has turned to ice.

Organ Pipe icicles.

As we reach higher ground we cross the snow line.

The sheepfold underneath Bull Crags on Maiden Moor.

One last short climb but it's slippery.

Looking back we get our first view of Derwent Water over Hause Gate.

We've climbed diagonally up Bull Crags and it's a short walk to the top.

A great panorama of the Helvellyn Range opens out as we reach the top of the ridge.

There's even a little sunshine over there.

The top of Maiden Moor leads on to Narrow Moor and they're both covered in a reasonable layer of snow.

Along the way we enjoy the contrasts between the white fells and the green valleys below .

Here we are looking down on the old Goldscope Mine.

Photographer at work . . . do not distract the stars.

Bethan, Harry and Dale Head

The sky is getting very overcast but the view back is fine.

They're having a sunny moment on Helvellyn top but it's the last of the blue sky and sunshine today.

Derwent Water has a slight covering of ice . . . it is true what they said.

Behind in Walla Crag with Blencathra in the distance.

The head of Derwent Water at Lodore.

The ice down there is thick enough to walk on . . . presumably they checked it first !

On the path to High Spy . . . time to look for a spot for lunch perhaps ?

The cairn on Blea Crags seems a good spot.

Below is Nitting Haws and Goat Crag, overlooking the Borrowdale Valley.

Ann on Blea Crags summit

High Spy Summit is a short way off . . . but we pass on that today as we have to get back home soon.

Before we go . . . a close up of High Spy cairn.

Behind it, Scafell and Great Gable.

Click here or on the photo above for a 360 degree annotated panorama.

After lunch we turn round and make our way back.

The extra layers have kept us warm while we stopped as enjoyed soup and a sandwich . . . we work hard for our picnics you must admit !

The weather's changing and the sun on Helvellyn has disappeared.

That view of Maiden Moor looks a lot bleaker on our return.

Still . . . there's always time for a snowball game.

Dogs above . . . Lodore below.

We make our way down from Hause Gate through the spoil heaps of the old Yewthwaite Mines.

The path is a little slippery !

There's a small waterfall by the side of the track

and it even has it's own Arctic Seal . . . hold your cursor over the photo if you can't find him.

" Ann walks on water " . . . . it's magic but not trick photography.

I had a go too . . . it's easy . . . provided you take suitable precautions.

Gear Test

Those with a keen eye may have spotted a dash of red on our boots.

A short while ago I mentioned the instep crampons we were using on Haystacks. We had lots of enquiries about them but when I asked, they were no longer available in Fishers.

However the shop is now selling Kahtoola Micro Spikes ( see left ) so as they looked good, Ann and I decided to invest in a pair each. In use they are easier to put on and provide a more even grip, fit over all types of boots and on icy paths they gave us back the grip we had on non-icy days.

Don't use them for ice climbing, but for icy paths they were brilliant.

The "Spiders" ? They are still good but they can now be used by friends, and they will be stored with the car's winter equipment in case the roads are bad when we're out.

Finally we retraced our steps and left the Herdwick to their fells . . . . and their lunch ?

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with with my Cannon G7 or Ann's Ixus 75 Digital camera.

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

This site best viewed with . . . a warm thermos and two cups.

Go to Top

Previous walk - 1st January 2009 Whiteside and Hopegill Head

A previous time up here - 7th June 2006 Maiden Moor, High Spy and a swim