The Hindscarth and Maiden Moor walk in the Lake District

Generally south-west all the way to the summit of Hindscarth via Low Snab, Scope End and High Crags. Onwards to Hindscarth Edge and east to Dale Head followed by a steep descent to Dalehead Tarn. Another climb to the top of High Spy then north across Maiden Moor to Cat Bells and Skelgill Bank. Lastly down to the minor road near Gutherscale and south-west across farmland back to Little Town. A 10-mile walk in the Lake District.

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The best map to use on this walk is the Ordnance Survey map of the Lake District North-Western Area, reference OS Explorer OL4, scale 1:25,000. It clearly displays footpaths, rights of way, open access land and vegetation on the ground, making it ideal for walking, running and hiking. The map can be purchased from Amazon in either a standard, paper version or a weatherproof, laminated version, as shown below.

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Grade 2 listed, 16th-century Newlands Church just outside the hamlet of Little Town. Attached to the church is a former school. The plaques on the wall read as follows:

NEWLANDS SCHOOL
BUILT BY THE PARISHIONERS
1877, CLOSED 1967
THIS STONE WAS PLACED HERE
IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF
DOROTHEA POTTS
HEADMISTRESS
1943-1962

NEWLANDS SCHOOL
RESTORED 2000
AND DEDICATED AS A PLACE FOR
QUIET AND REFLECTION BY
IAN, LORD BISHOP OF CARLISLE
ON 9TH APRIL 2000

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The view from Low Snab north through the Newlands valley towards the Skiddaw mountain range.

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Causey Pike with its distinctive cone-shaped top as seen during the ascent of Scope End.

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Looking west towards Sail, Crag Hill and Wandope, the three high points on the horizon, centre of picture.

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The view of Hindscarth (centre) and Dale Head (left) from Scope End.

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Heading towards High Crags, with Robinson on the right and Hindscarth on the left.

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The steep, craggy, west-facing slopes of the High Spy / Maiden Moor ridge.

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Looking back at High Crags and Scope End, with the Skiddaw and Blencathra mountain ranges in the distance.

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The summit of Hindscarth, height 727 metres (2385 feet).

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Buttermere comes into view as I join the Littledale Edge / Hindscarth Edge footpath. The lake is backed by the three high points of Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag.

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The Newlands valley as seen from Dale Head.

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The summit cairn of Dale Head, height 753 metres (2470 feet).

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Dalehead Tarn.

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The upper course of Newlands Beck near Dalehead Tarn.

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The view of Hindscarth Crags from the southern flanks of High Spy. The deep cut in the rocky landscape (on the left in both pictures) has been created by Far Tongue Gill, a tributary of Newlands Beck.

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The summit cairn of High Spy, height 653 metres (2142 feet).

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Derwent Water is visible from the footpath across High Spy, but it’s worth briefly leaving the path as there are better views from Minum Crag on the eastern slopes of the mountain.

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The view east from Minum Crag towards the Helvellyn mountain range in the distance on the horizon.

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Cairn between High Spy and Maiden Moor, about 150 metres to the east of the main path.

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The well-used route across Maiden Moor, and the first view of Bassenthwaite Lake.

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The Newlands valley and many of the Lake District north-western fells, including Whiteless Pike, Wandope, Crag Hill, Sail, Causey Pike, Ard Crags and Knott Rigg.

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Derwent Water (right) and Bassenthwaite Lake (left) in one view.

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The full extent of Derwent Water. Keswick is situated on its northern shores with Skiddaw and Blencathra in the background.

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The summit of Cat Bells, height 451 metres (1480 feet).

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The Newlands valley viewed from Skelgill Bank.

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Looking north from Skelgill Bank towards Swinside (the tree-covered hill) and Bassenthwaite Lake.

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