Meet time: 9.15am
Start time: 9.30am
Estimated finish time: 2pm to 2.30pm
Distance: 6.46 miles (10.4 kilometres)
Ascent: About 2,520 feet (768 meters)
Ramblers walk grading: B (Moderate)
Start point: Top of Newlands Hause (the highest point of the Newlands road where the Moss Force Waterfall can be seen.
Postcode: Not sure.
Car parking: At the top of Newlands Hause.
It is the responsibility of each walker to make sure they understand where to park. If you are not sure where the car parking/meeting point is, you must contact the walk leader at the latest the day before the walk. You should not rely on mobile phones or postcodes. There is often no mobile reception near walk meeting points and postcodes are for the nearest place nearby but should only serve as a guideline. Please allow plenty of time to find a parking space so that walks can start promptly.
Description: This is a linear walk where we start from Newlands Hause (elevation 333 meters) and ascend about 600 to 700 feet to Knott Rigg (556 meters). The summit of Knott Rigg marks the top of a remarkable ridgeline which reveals most of the Newlands Valley, the mountains nearby and of course parts of Buttermere and Crummock Water. We keep following the ridgeline northeastwards until we come to its second summit which is Ard Crags, which comes in at 581 meters.
The summit of Ard Crags is a tiny cluster of small rocks, but from there we immediately go leftwards to take a faint path which approaches the divide between two becks: Sail Beck which runs westwards, and Rigg Beck which runs eastwards. What we are going for is the Sail Beck path that eventually joins the pass between Sail itself and Scar Crags.
So we go down a bit before going up some more to come to this pass. Once at the pass we take the winding track up to Sail (773 meters), and from here most of the northern peaks of the Lake District can be seen. By following a ridgeline we go from Sail to Crag Hill (also known as Eel Crag), and Crag Hill is the highest point of the walk coming in at 839 meters.
The whole section from Sail to Crag Hill to Wandope to Whiteless Pike is one of my favourite routes in the Lake District, from each point there are broad views, valleys to look down and many distant peaks to see. The final stage of the route is the descent, it begins with Wandope (772 meters), and then follows a ridgeline to Whiteless Pike (660 meters).
From Whiteless Pike Buttermere can be seen (perhaps one of the best views of Buttemere), and so can the way back to the finish point as the path initially cuts through small rock faces, then becomes gentler as it winds its way through grassy hills and slopes. The walk finishes at Buttermere.
Now for the A to B part, with A being Newlands Pass and B being Buttermere. I will be parked at the finish point Buttermere, so for those wishing to go home as soon as possible I will drive you up to Newlands Pass where you have parked. Depending on the size of the group this may have to be done a few times. This means we don’t have to go from Buttermere to Newlands Pass on foot. For any questions about this please message me.
Please contact Miles on 07842 783319 by 10pm on Saturday 15 July if you are coming on this walk (text or phone, or message on Facebook (Miles Saunders-Priem)). This walk is suitable for dogs and few sheep are found on the mountains around Sail Beck.
Please note that on Saturday I will be leading a walk in the Howgills and may not get messages, while during the evening I will be staying over at YHA Langdale- I may not receive messages there either, or I may receive messages but not be able to send a message back. If you message me on a Saturday but don’t get any reply, please come along anyway!
Please check the weather and bring appropriate clothing (waterproofs and spare warm clothing), footwear and enough food and water. The leader reserves the right to turn away any walker not suitably equipped. The leader may cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.
Car sharing is now possible – please contact the walk leader to arrange.
New members: please note the walk leader may ask for more information about your walking experience. This is to ensure you have the fitness required to complete the walk that is planned safely.