Lucy
22 April 2021
The Newlands Valley (near Keswick) is a beautiful valley surrounded by fells. It’s a great spot for walking, with gentle walks running along the bottom of the valley to Dale Head and continuing to Hindscarth and High Spy - the fells to either side. This area was a big copper mining region, and there are several disused mines to explore. Take some candles or a torch - if you're feeling brave enough!
Begin the walk near Newlands Church – note there is no parking at the church itself, but there are spaces just beyond it.
To get there, drive to the village of Braithwaite (about five minutes from Keswick). At Braithwaite, follow signs for Newlands Valley – if you have come from Keswick, turn left off the A66 to Braithwaite, then take the first left (signed Newlands), and then left again over a little humpback bridge (again signed Newlands). Carry on along this road for about 2.5 miles, and then take a sharp left turn (signed Newlands Church and Little Town). Follow this narrow road for half a mile. You will then see a sign to the right for Newlands Church. Ignore this turning for now and park just beyond it on the right (over the tiny bridge). Walk back to the church to begin the walk.
From the church, turn left and, eventually, you will walk through Low Snab Farm. After the farmyard you can do three things:
1. Carry on along the valley bottom towards Dale Head fell, making your way back along the other side of the river to Low Snab Farm.
2. Turn right after the farm and go up Hindscarth fell, then keep left and continue to Dale Head, dropping down to the valley floor and walking back along the other side of the river to Low Snab Farm.
3. Keep high after Dale Head and carry on along High Spy fell and Maiden Moor. Cut left down the hillside before you get to Catbells.
When you get back to your car, there is no need to turn the car around - just carry on towards Portinscale and then the A66. At Little Town (about a minute beyond the car park) there is a lovely cafe on a farm.
From our Keswick Cottages, it should take about 15 minutes to get to the Newlands Valley. If you are coming from our Borrowdale Cottages, it would be better to arrive from the other side of the lake (via Manesty) - again it will take about 15 minutes to get here. From our Loweswater Cottages, it will take about half an hour via Crummock Water and then up the Newlands Valley from Buttermere - you will be arriving at the church from a different direction.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.