Newlands Hause, Buttermere, Whiteless, Crag Hill, Ard Crags Knott Rigg, Cumbria.
[ 12.1 km] Thu 10 Apr 2008

It was an overcast and gloomy drive to Newlands Hause above Buttermere. The weather forecast was bad but fortunately the cloud wasn’t as low as it could have been and I could see some of the tops. Another car load of walkers arrived just before I set off. I walked down the road to Buttermere. It was uneventful except for the fine drizzle, so its as well I put full waterproofs on. There were a few people about as I passed through the village and it was nice to look through the dining room window of the Bridge Inn and see the people sitting in dry comfort as they had their breakfasts. I left the road at High House Crag to follow the grassy track towards Sail Beck.

Looking down Sail Beck.

The track was very wet and muddy and I was glad that I soon left it to follow the path up Whiteless Pike. Grasmoor summit was lost in the cloud but there seemed to be gaps in the region of Crag Hill, which is where I was heading. I left the path to move over to the right to get a very impressive view down into Sail Beck. Continuing up I came to a small cairn and then a short snow covered descent towards Whiteless Edge. The weather was blustery and squally snow showers blew across the ridge. I followed a minor track into the cloud in the direction of Crag Hill. On the way I came to Wandope Edge and had another great view this time looking down into Addacomb Head.

It’s an impressive hanging valley which I camped in a few years ago. I had to leave the edge as snow obliterated the path. I took the main path to the summit of Crag Hill where I just managed a view as the cloud base was just above the summit. I was surprised to see part of the stone trig point had come away at the base. If it continues to deteriorate it will probably collapse soon. A steep path descends ‘The Scar’ and part way down I found some shelter to sit down and eat my lunch. I soon realised that I hadn’t chosen a very good spot as my rucksack and camera bag were perched on a very steep grassy slope and if they slipped it would be a long way down. I set off again towards Sail and found a better location with a partial shelf of almost flat ground. I had a very impressive view down towards the Force Crag Mine and the old workings on High Force.

Descending to Sail and Ard Crags.

I continued over Sail and descended to the next saddle. There is a cross roads of paths here and I took the right turn to take the gentle descent to the saddle between Sail Beck and Rigg Beck. I didn’t follow it all the way as it didn’t go to the pass summit. I minor path did and this is the one I followed. My next objective was Ard Crags but there is no path so I just took a direct line up the steep fell and plodded to the top. Across the summit ridge is a very nice path which I followed to Knott Rigg. It was still cloudy and drizzly but I had some nice views towards Blencathra. It is a very good ridge walk and the last part with its descent to Newlands Hause is a path I’d never been on. It must be very pleasant in good weather.