ATMC Newlands Round.

We met fellow An Teallach Mountaineering Club members Ian and Ann early in the Newlands valley this morning. It was -6C but the sun was lighting up the tops and a good day looked likely. We headed first for Robinson via it's NE ridge. The ground was heavily frosted in places and care was needed on a couple of scrambles along the ascent.

As we climbed the views got better and better. Neither Ian or Ann had done the round before and they couldn't have picked a better day for it. As we headed for Hindscarth the distant hills around Scafell Pike looked superb in a blue haze.

With no wind we made very good time to Dale Head and amazingly by this point had seen no one else on the hill. This changed as we dropped down to the col at the head of the Newlands valley and two groups passed doing the round in the other direction.

We lunched at the bottom of the descent sitting in the sun, which was surprisingly warm given the ice and frost on the hill, and then headed for the last leg over High Spy and Maiden Moor. The views were again stunning and both Ian and Ann were clearly impressed with the route. On reaching the col below Cat Bells they couldn't resist climbing up it before descending back to Little Town and the cars. After a quick drink in Keswick our friends headed home keen to return for some more Lakeland classic rounds.

On the NE ridge of Robinson.

Susan makes her way up one of the wee scrambles on the ridge.

Susan and Ian on Robinson.

Blue distant hills - descending on route to Hindscarth.

Susan and Ann lead the way to Dale Head.

The Scafell Range from Dale Head.

Dropping off Dale Head above the Newlands valley.

ATMC team on High Spy.

Heading for Cat Bells.

The Newlands fells from Cat Bells.