Little Town, Dalehead Crags, Dale Head, Hindscarth, Newlands Chuch, Cumbria.

Little Town, Dalehead Crags, Dale Head, Hindscarth, Newlands Chuch, Cumbria..
[13.1 km] Wed 31 Jan 2018

Plan + Profile

OS Grid ref: NY 23152 19382
Lat/Long: 54.563803, -03.189989
The drive north along the M6 was extremely windy with a strong cross wind. I reached the small car park at Little Town at the south end of Newlands Valley to find I was the only one there. My plan was to re-do a walk I did almost 10 years ago and I’d loaded the gps track from that walk. I walked back along the road then turned sharp right to join the old miners track south into the valley.

Dale Head in the distance

Climbing Hut

Climbing Hut

he weather was not good but I was still able to see the full length of the valley to Dale Head though the high tops were in cloud. Up on the right were the massive spoil heaps of the Goldscope Lead Mines.The track was an easy walk and I followed it to the climbing hut which is quite substantial. A lot of gas bottles are by the gate but the building was locked. I was able to peer inside and took some photos through the windows. Outside was a stocked coal bunker so I’m not sure why they need gas a well.

Climbing Hut interior

I continued up the valley to some spoil heaps and climbed an old track to one up the valley side to Castlenook Mine. It looked little more than a small quarry so may not have been the main mine. I descended back to the track and down to the river. I needed to cross and although I could see the old miners track up the opposite bank the river was too high to get to it. I continued up the valley and eventually got across OK.

Part of Castlenook Mines

I headed up to an old sheep fold then steeply up to join the miners track. It took me up to a flat area and substantial ruined stone building. There were no obvious mines nearby but some copper mine workings higher up.

Sheep folds

Nearby was the site of an old camp of mine around 10 years ago. It was now getting very windy so I sheltered behind the stone walls to have my sandwiches then continued up the steep path. It was below freezing and the ground was icy. Higher up was an old spoil heap which I passed on my way to the main path up to Dale Head summit. It was
-5degC and extremely windy.

Miners building

I had to put my ice studs on to continue and set off towards Robinson which was hidden in cloud. I was having a lot of difficulty in the strong winds so when I got to the Hinscarth path I decided to take it as Robinson would be a real struggle. Heading north towards Hindscarth I came to the summit cairn then a short descent to a large stone shelter. It was too cold and windy to stay long so I continued the steep descent to the grassy path.

Descent of Hindscarth

Distant view of the descent of Robinson

Newlands Church

Newlands church interior

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

At the wall I turned right to descend to the Goldscope Mine area and Low Snab Farm. Along the farm track I came to Newlands Church and the old school attached. I’d planned to photograph it but walked the short distance back to my car to drive back with my tripod.
At the car park a mini-bus turned up with a load of schoolchildren & teachers. They had hard hats on and set off towards the Goldscope Mine area. I noticed a ‘pay here’ box asking for £3. I decided my stay was worth £2 so put that amount in the box. I drove back to the church and took a few photos before driving home. The church interior was open but the adjacent old school room was locked.

Memorial to G D Jackson Vicar of Newlands
1949 - 1956