Turn right along the road at the church

and right again after a gate. Walk over the

bridge and continue (carefully) on the road
through the hamlet of Little Town to nd the
footpath just after the last building on the right
(FPS Skelgill) point B. Turn right and continue
on the faint but obvious path over several elds
to reach Skelgill Farm with its camping barn.
Turn right after the farmhouse and up
the road through the gate on to the level road.
Carry straight on to where the road forks (at
start of climb to Catbells). Keep left over the
cattle grid and in 45 metres take the path on
the right (FPS Hawes End). At the next road,
if you want to take the launch back to Keswick,
turn right and in 15 metres turn left down a path
in the woods (FPS Launch Jetty) through a
kissing gate and ahead to the lakeshore. If you
wish to walk back to Keswick, rather than taking
the launch, at the road go left through the wicket
gate and retrace your steps back to Keswick
(stages 3, 2, 1).
The launch takes you
back to the boat landings in
Keswick.
On disembarking, turn
left and walk past the Theatre
by the Lake and turn left into
Hope Park. Walk through the
park, passing the crazy golf and
putting green, cross the road
and take the pedestrian subway
to reach Lake Road. Turn right
up Lake Road and left at the top
to continue through the shops
back into the Market Square of
Keswick (1).
9
8
7
5
4
3
2
1
6
9
7
5
4
6
8
Newlands
Catbells
DERWENTWATER
Little Town
Skelgill
Fawe Park
Nichol End
Marine
Hawes
End
Derwent
Isle
Portinscale
KESWICK
Newlands
Newlands
Church
A
B
By 1567 the company was mining
enough lead and copper ore from the fells
around Keswick to keep six ore smelters in action at
Brigham in Keswick. This is believed to then have
been the biggest operation of its kind in Europe.
Below you on the near shore
is Brandelhow, once a large
mine which had ooding
problems. Its lead ore veins
were rich enough for miners to
justify the use of water wheels
to pump out the mine, though
they eventually lost the battle
in 1891. Other mines in the
area included Saltwell Mine,
near Brandelhow, and
Copperplate Mine so
called because the copper it
produced was used to plate ships against
encrustation. In its mining heyday the area around
Derwentwater must have been busy and noisy -
a far cry from the quiet beauty you enjoy today.
Continue over the summit and descend
on the path ahead. At the lowest point before
the path starts to climb Maiden Moor, take
the path to the right, descending steeply into
Newlands valley. Fork left on a grass path to
a cairned path that follows the steepest route
through the old workings of Yewthwaite Mine,
then bears left curving down to the valley.
On meeting a wider track in the
valley and by a wall, a shorter route is
possible by turning right and walking
along the path to Skelgill and picking
up the route description at stage 7.
For the longer walk, on meeting the
wide path turn left and continue on
the track which bends left towards
the valley head under Dale Head.
Where the gravel path bends right for
Little Town, the route may again be
shortened by turning right to Little
Town at point A and picking
up the route at Little Town as in stage
6, point B. For the longer route, do
not go into Little Town, but instead
take the grass track off to the left
facing the sharp ridge of Hindscarth.
Continue left when the grass track meets gravel
towards the head of the valley with impressive
views of Dale Head. Just after the last farm
buildings on the right look out for a footbridge
to the right beside the old Goldscope mine
workings.
(Old mines and their remains can be dangerous so
please stay away from them.)
Copper was mined from this area as early as the
13th century but by 1565, copper and some lead
were being mined on a large scale. The name
Goldscope is thought to have evolved from Gottes
Gab which in German means Gods gift. Though
this rich source of ore was mined, on and off, for
more than 400 years the spoil heaps just before
Low Snab Farm are the only remains.
Cross the footbridge and turn right through a
gate onto a path back towards the farm. Follow
the path beside the wall and ahead through a
gate onto a permissive path through the farm
and ahead to Newlands Church.
Elizabethan mining
N
The Lake District National Park
With its world renowned landscape,
the National Park is for everyone to enjoy,
now and in the future.
It needs a prosperous economy, world class
visitor experiences and vibrant communities,
which sustain the spectacular landscape.
Everyone involved in running Englands largest
and much loved National Park is committed to:
respecting the past
caring for the present
planning for the future
Lake District National Park Authority
Murley Moss
Oxenholme Road
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 7RL
Phone: 01539 724555
Fax: 01539 740822
Minicom: 01539 792690
Email: hq@lakedistrict.gov.uk
Website: www.lakedistrict.gov.uk

Artwork Bob Henfrey.
Photographs Val Corbett, Keswick Tourism Association.
Publication Number 02/10/ND/1.5K
Alternative formats
can be sent to you.
Call 01539 724555
This leaet is printed on recycled paper
K E S W I C K W A L K S
The Countryside Code
The land in the Lake District National Park
is nearly all privately owned and much of it
is farmed. Because of this it is especially important
that you use the Countryside Code to guide your
activities in the National Park:
Respect, Protect, Enjoy

Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs

Leave gates and property as you nd them

Keep dogs under close control

Protect plants and animals,

and take your litter home

Consider other people

The elds and fells of the Lake District are
pasture for sheep. Dogs do not have to attack
sheep to cause them harm, particularly from late
autumn through to early summer when ewes are
either pregnant or with lambs.
Please keep your dog on a lead.
Safe and Sound
The weather in the Lake District can change very
quickly and you should always dress appropriately
for your activity:

if you are walking, wear strong boots, take a rain

jacket, some food and drink, a map and a compass

call the National Park Authoritys Weatherline

Service 0844 846 2444 to check the forecast
before you leave

in case of an accident away from the road,

call 999 and ask for Mountain Rescue
K E S W I C K W A L K S
K E S W I C K W A L K S K E S W I C K W A L K S
Catbells and Newlands
A challenging route onto popular fells whose
mineral wealth was mined for more than 800 years.
The walk is steep, rocky and slippery in places:
a map, compass, walking boots and waterproof
clothing are a must. Part of the route is completed
by a trip on the launch; ask TIC staff for a timetable
and take some money for your ticket.
l a r g e e l d s ( F P S P o r t i n s c a l e ) . T u r n l e f t a n d c r o s s
t h e s u s p e n s i o n b r i d g e o v e r t h e R i v e r D e r w e n t .
C o n t i n u e a h e a d o n a r o a d t o t u r n l e f t a t a
T j u n c t i o n .
W a l k a l o n g t h e r o a d f o r a b o u t 8 0 0 m e t r e s
g o i n g p a s t D e r w e n t W a t e r M a r i n a ( t a k e c a r e -
s h o r t s t r e t c h w i t h o u t p a v e m e n t , s o f a c e o n c o m i n g
t r a f c ) . T u r n l e f t a l o n g t h e d r i v e t o N i c h o l E n d
M a r i n e a n d t h e n r i g h t u p a p a t h b e f o r e t h e M a r i n e
s h o p a n d b u i l d i n g s . C a r r y s t r a i g h t o n a c r o s s
F a w e P a r k d r i v e a n d c o n t i n u e a h e a d o n a b r o a d
t r a c k . C o n t i n u e t h r o u g h w o o d l a n d t o e m e r g e o n
a t a r m a c l a n e ( p r i v a t e d r i v e ) . C r o s s t h e l a n e a n d
t a k e t h e w i c k e t g a t e s i g n e d f o r C a t b e l l s .
C o n t i n u e o n t h e p a t h t h r o u g h w o o d l a n d a n d
t h r o u g h a k i s s i n g g a t e i n t o a n o p e n e l d w i t h
g o o d v i e w s o f t h e r o u t e a h e a d u p C a t b e l l s .
C o n t i n u e t h r o u g h t h e n e x t g a t e , o v e r f o o t b r i d g e
a n d a h e a d t h r o u g h w o o d l a n d t o p a s s t h r o u g h
a g a t e o n t o a r o a d .
C A T B E L L S a n d N E W L A N D S -
R O C K S a n d M I N E R A L S
D i s t a n c e : A b o u t 1 3 k m
T i m e : 5 - 7 h o u r s p l u s
w a i t i n g t i m e f o r l a u n c h
G r a d e : S t r e n u o u s
P l e a s e n o t e t h a t F P S m e a n s f o o t p a t h s i g n
3
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S k i d d a w f r o m C a t b e l l s
E x i t t h e M o o t H a l l a n d w a l k a r o u n d
t h e b u i l d i n g t o h e a d d o w n t h e M a r k e t S q u a r e
t o w a r d s t h e P o s t O f c e . C o n t i n u e a h e a d a t t h e
e n d o f t h e p e d e s t r i a n z o n e , a n d s t r a i g h t a h e a d a t
a j u n c t i o n . C r o s s t h e b r i d g e o v e r t h e R i v e r G r e t a
a n d t u r n i m m e d i a t e l y l e f t ( F P S P o r t i n s c a l e ) .
J u s t b e f o r e y o u t u r n , t h o u g h , l o o k f o r t h e P e n c i l
M u s e u m o n t h e r i g h t h a n d s i d e o f t h e r o a d - i t i s
w e l l w o r t h a v i s i t o n a n o t h e r d a y . A l t h o u g h K e s w i c k
d e v e l o p e d a s a m a r k e t t o w n i n t h e 1 3 t h c e n t u r y ,
t h e m i n e r a l w e a l t h o f t h e s u r r o u n d i n g f e l l s w a s
k e y t o t h e c o m m u n i t y s g r o w t h i n t h e 1 6 t h c e n t u r y .
W a d o r b l a c k l e a d ( g r a p h i t e ) w a s o n e o f t h e a r e a s
s u b t e r r a n e a n t r e a s u r e s a n d i t p r o v e d t o b e t h e m o s t
v a l u a b l e t h i n g e v e r t a k e n o u t o f C u m b r i a n g r o u n d .
A s w e l l a s b e i n g u s e d t o c a s t c a n n o n b a l l s i t b e c a m e
t h e c e n t r a l r a w m a t e r i a l f o r t h e l o c a l p e n c i l i n d u s t r y .
B y 1 8 4 0 t h e r e w e r e 1 4 p e n c i l m i l l s a l o n g t h e R i v e r
G r e t a a l l u s i n g w a d f r o m t h e m i n e i n S e a t h w a i t e i n
B o r r o w d a l e . A l t h o u g h t h e S e a t h w a i t e w a d i s n o w
e x h a u s t e d , t h e p e n c i l t r a d i t i o n c o n t i n u e s t h a n k s t o
i m p o r t e d g r a p h i t e a n d D e r w e n t p e n c i l s a r e w o r l d
f a m o u s .
A f t e r a b o u t 4 5 m e t r e s t a k e t h e f o o t p a t h t o t h e
r i g h t , t h r o u g h a k i s s i n g g a t e a n d a c r o s s t w o
C r o s s o v e r a n d t a k e t h e p a t h a h e a d ,
c l i m b i n g b y t h e w a l l t h r o u g h w o o d l a n d
( F P S C a t b e l l s ) . B e a r l e f t u p t h e r o a d ( t a k e c a r e -
s h o r t s t r e t c h w i t h o u t p a v e m e n t , s o f a c e o n c o m i n g
t r a f c ) . C r o s s t h e c a t t l e g r i d , c o n t i n u e u p t h e
r o a d t o t h e S k e l g i l l r o a d j u n c t i o n a n d g o u p t h e
f o o t p a t h s t r a i g h t a h e a d , b y t h e S k e l g i l l s i g n
p o s t . T h e p a t h z i g z a g s u p w a r d s a n d g e t s s t e e p
o n t h e c l i m b o v e r a r o c k y o u t c r o p t o t h e r i d g e
( t a k e c a r e t h e p a t h i s s l i p p e r y , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n w e t ) .
T h e p a t h a t t e n s o u t a l o n g t h e r i d g e , t h e n
t h e r e i s a n a l s t e e p c l i m b t o t h e s u m m i t .
( A g a i n t a k e c a r e a s t h e p a t h c a n b e s l i p p e r y . )
E n j o y t h e v i e w s . A s y o u l o o k d o w n a t D e r w e n t w a t e r
y o u c a n s e e a l a r g e h o u s e o n a n i s l a n d : D e r w e n t
I s l e . I n t h e 1 6 t h c e n t u r y , G e r m a n m i n e r s h a d a
b r e w e r y a n d a n o r c h a r d o n t h e i s l a n d . Q u e e n
E l i z a b e t h I h a d b r o u g h t t h e m i n e r s t o E n g l a n d ,
a s p a r t o f t h e w o r k f o r c e o f t h e C o m p a n y o f M i n e s
R o y a l , t o d e v e l o p c o p p e r a n d l e a d m i n i n g a n d t o
p r o s p e c t f o r s i l v e r a n d g o l d .
Traveline: 0871 200 22 33