Saturday, 17th November 2018
Well, just as the fates were conspiring against me last time I was up at Sheila's caravan, the fates gave me a bit of a reprieve. Yoga teacher lady rang to say there would be no class this Saturday and then chippy rang to ask if I could swap my Saturday.... resulting in me having a weekend totally and utterly to do as I wished with.
So Thursday night had me looking at the weather forecast for a few places and discovered that, unusually, the western side of the country was going to be wall to wall sunshine all weekend. Mind made up for a last minute escape, I started the search for B&Bs in Ambleside but all the sensibly priced ones were taken and I certainly wasn't going to be paying £200 per night for a single room without en-suite!
The glimmer of an idea of doing my Newlands Cloven Hoof walk came to mind so I started looking for B&Bs in Keswick and surrounding areas. I got lucky, at about 11pm I booked myself into Silverdales Guest House in Keswick for Friday and Saturday night.
On Friday I got a flyer from work (POETS Day and all that). Got packed and set off, arriving at 8.30pm. Too late for a walk as such but I went for a mooch round the streets and discovered that I was incredibly close to Keswick "town" centre really.
Saturday saw me devouring a delish full English breakfast then driving the 20 minute drive to the Newlands Valley. Beautiful day. Mist hanging in the valleys and dew sparkling in the sunshine.
I got pretty much the last parking spot near the river, got "geared up" (lol) and set off across the lovely little bridge over Newlands Beck.
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| Newlands Beck |
I walked up a quiet lane past Newlands Church. The mist in the valley almost gone and the blue skies promising a wonderful day out.
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| My intended route |
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| Newlands Church |
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| Walkers negotiating one of the "bobbles" on Scope End |
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| My route up Scope end from the quarry spoil heaps |
It was at this point I started to doubt my fitness. I've not done much in the way of walking at all just recently and suddenly, the slope looked terrifyingly steep, plus, seeing those walkers steadying themselves up on the lumpy bumpy bits made me doubt my hill fitness (a couple of other things too but I won't go into that here).
I decided I would be foolish to attempt my Cloven Hoof walk under the circumstances. So, I continued on along the path which remains on the valley floor and follows the river.
The sun was in my face for much of the walk and I'm convinced that I got a tan. Following a farm track was easy walking and the views of the surrounding hills were fantastic. Every now and again I'd spot walkers up on the tops and felt a pang of envy. Then again, so far, I'd had the valley to myself.
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| Dale Head at the head of the valley |
In the sun it was really warm and I was down to fleece and windshirt. In the shade it was really quite chilly and I was glad of my insulated jacket which I'd stuffed in my rucksack to keep my flask warm for longer!
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| Looking back down the valley with Skiddaw in the far distance |
I passed a few nice little waterfalls. Crystal clear and no doubt icy cold!
Eventually the track petered out and roughened up and I had a bit of fun bog-hopping. The walking staff came out for only the second time since I bought it and it proved its worth as the path steepened and became more rocky.
I had in my mind that I might just go up to Dalehead Tarn but, after reaching the "proper" waterfalls and seeing the gradient ramp up alongside it, I changed my mind. Choosing instead to sit and have my sausage roll on a little rocky knoll and stare down the valley or maybe stare at the waterfalls... ooooh, decisions, decisions!
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| Waterfalls coming down the headwall of Dale Head |
The picture doesn't do the falls or the gradient justice.
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| Looking back to my lunch spot |
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| Looking the other way - I would be chasing the sunshine |
Now, according to my track recording, I retraced my steps. Though I don't recall seeing this!
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| Quarry - sheltered spot for a wild camp maybe? |
Eventually I caught up with the sunshine and overtook it (jacket off again!). I found a nice little rock up the hillside on the right for my cuppa (which I'd saved for a sunshiney snack stop) before carrying on along the, once again, easy under-foot track.
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| Can't beat an easy stroll in the sunshine |
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| Causey Pike (with Newlands Church in the foreground) |
Shortly after this my car came into view, teasing me, because I had to walk beyond and past it to get down to it!
Anyway, despite not managing my Newlands Cloven Hoof walk, it was a lovely 6.5 mile walk in its own right and one I'd like to do again. It would be a cracking easy walk for winter but the drive to the parking spots might not be so much fun.
I drove back to my B&B, got parked up and headed into town for some food. I found a nice little cafe - Jasper's I think it's called, and had coffee and a cheese scone. I noticed that the market was still on (though just starting to pack away) so I wandered down one side and back up the other, THEN I noticed that all the shops were having Black Friday sales. Me thinks I'm going to have to have a nosey before I head home!
I'd love to figure out why sometimes I feel in fine fettle and invincible and others I feel like I've got something seriously wrong with me. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it. It happens at home too, not just on walks.
So there you have it. One day I'll get to do the intended walk. Third time lucky eh?
Thanks for looking 😊
