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This was my second walk of the day and I had saved the best for the afternoon as the forecast was for clear skies.
I parked in the small car park at Little Town in the Newlands Valley as I wasn't certain how far out I would walk and didn't want too far to come back if it started to get dark.
The ascent of Cat Bells from Little Town is a good pull up to Hause Gate and then onto the ridge path that runs between cat Bells and Maiden Moor. Cat Bells isn't big (1481ft) but punches above its weight when it comes to views. The sky was clear and Skiddaw, Blencathra and all the fells to the south, east and west were out of the clouds. This was the first day this year I have seen so many tops out of the clouds and the first time I have had the sun on my back. What a great day!
I followed the ridge route over Maiden Moor, which doesn't have many remarkable features (and not a single Maiden in sight!) and then on towards High Spy via Blea Crag Cairn with its spectacular view across Derwentwater. High Spy is easy to spot with its large cairn and from there I dropped down to Dalehead Tarn, which sits in a bowl of rocky peaks and forms a great little spot to devour your packed lunch in perfect silence.
I looked at the steep ascent to Dale Head and quickly decided I had had enough for one day so headed down the good rocky track that follows Newlands Beck all the way back to Little Town.
This is a great walk with spectacular views and options for turning it into a longer day by heading up Dale Head and onto the other, taller, fells that surround the Newlands Valley.
Will post some pictures later today.
Derek
