An Alternative Newlands Round - 🐝🐝+

Our walk starts by walking back briefly up the lane towards Little Town, very quickly picking up the footpath southwards towards Newlands Beck.  Crossing the beck we swing northwards towards Low Snab and then onto Low House Farm.  From here our route takes us through fields and pasture,  becoming wet and indistinct in places, eventually leading down an embankment to cross Keskadale Beck, by way of a footbridge.  We then follow a track to meet the road rising to Newlands Hause.  We follow  the road round a sharp bend, turning off right opposite the farm to begin our climb up Keskadale Edge.  Initially we cross a stile onto a steep and narrow path, wet in places, above a gorge, so extra care is needed.  After crossing a second stile we start the steep steady ascent up the ridge of Keskadale Edge.  We should have some views into the restricted depths of Ill Gill, now protected as  part of the Keskadale Oakwood National Nature Reserve. 

On reaching the Summit of Knott Rigg (1824ft/556m), marked only by a pile of stones on a grassy mound, we should get some good views especially back into the Newlands Valley.  This modest top is surrounded by some of the great fell ridges, providing a sense of scale, making the climb worth our effort.  We now head north east, gently descending on a comparatively narrow ridge before rising to the summit of Ard Crags (1906ft/581m). 

Our descent continues to follow the narrow ridge path to Aiken Knott, then winds steeply down through heather, before gently easing as we approach Rigg Beck.   Crossing the beck we head easterly towards a disused quarry.  From here we meet the road again and follow it back to Chapel Bridge, passing the road entrance to Newlands Church before completing our walk.