Sale Fell

Weather: Cool and cloudy with showers, some heavy. Windy on top of the fell
Start & Finish: 1/4 mile SE of Routenbeck NY192303
Terrain: Mainly grassy routes, some difficult to follow in places
Distance: 4.5 miles
Recommended map: OS Explorer OL4, The English Lakes North-western area

The path heads south and leads steeply from the road towards a gap in a dry stone wall. Beyond the wall, another path comes into view which contours the fellside. Heading east, the path climbs bringing ever-improving views over the northern end of Bassenthwaite Lake, with the dome of Binsey directly behind.

Eventually the path turns clockwise and the view becomes obscured by trees. Fording a stream, the path follows the wall bordering Wythop Woods, but as it continues to climb, a new vista opens up looking down Bassenthwaite towards Keswick in the distance, the mountains of the Skiddaw range forming an impressive backdrop.

Continuing round clockwise, the path turns westwards, still climbing, across open fell and meets up with another route heading north towards the summit. Following this path over a low wall and then through a gate, the 359m summit (NY195296) is soon reached.

From here, the best way down would be to retrace the route back to the gate, then follow the wall downhill to Kelswick (NY192292), where the circular path around the base of the fell can be followed in a clockwise direction back to the start. However, a more direct route back to the start (the one we took!) heads broadly north-west down the fell side, which is very steep in places. Eventually this joins the main path through ferns and it's just a short walk to the junction leading back to the start.

Newlands Valley

Weather: Bright, sunny and reasonably warm, turning cloudy later
Start & Finish: Braithwaite village church NY232237
Terrain: Good paths throughout
Distance: 6.5 miles
Recommended map: OS Explorer OL4, The English Lakes North-western area

This walk started in Braithwaite, a small village just off the A66, a couple of miles north of Keswick. There is a large campsite in the village which is especially popular at weekends, and a narrow path leads around the back of the site alongside Coledale Beck. The path winds away from the village and eventually crosses the beck at a small footbridge.

Here the views down Newlands valley open up. Newlands is one of the most picturesque valleys in the Lake District, surrounded on three sides by superb mountain scenery. The path now runs upstream alongside Newlands Beck, whose water is crystal clear, and soon reaches a small farm at Little Braithwaite. Accepting the diversion through the farm then crossing the beck via a roadbridge, the path again heads south into Newlands valley proper.

The landscape is stunning. The shapely aretes of Barrow and the popular Catbells frame the route on either side, with higher peaks such as Causey Pike, Robinson, Hindscarth and High Spy all competing for attention in between.

After a mile or so, the path meets another minor road and the route heads right towards the hamlet of Stair. Turning left at a crossroads, the only uphill section heads to the farm at Skellgill (NY243208). Looking down the valley from here, the view takes in Bassenthwaite Lake, Skiddaw and the surrounding mountains.

At the foot of the climb to Catbells, there is a path signposted to Portinscale through the trees via the marina at Nichol End (NY254228), where refreshments are available at the cafe. Suitably refreshed, the walk continues to the outskirts of Portinscale, where a path is signposted on the left. Both the path and the road eventually lead to the main A66 road.

Rather than follow the main road back to the start, there is a better option directly opposite, where a path heads away, meeting an unused branch of the old road out of sight of the heavy traffic. The lane crosses the beck via an old bridge and rejoins the main road directly opposite the turning for Braithwaite. Here it's just a short stroll back to the start.