Lake District
ROUGH, STONY GILL
1
NY232194 Immediately above the car park, take the gravel track to the right, into the upper Newlands valley. After 1km crags are above on the left, as the valley gets steadily wilder. The spur of Castlenook rises on the left, and at its foot the track passes old mines, then dips towards the stream. As the wide track bears up left away from the stream again continue along the stream side, then cross it to the foot of Near Tongue Gill.
2
NY227166 From here, a faint green path slants up southwest. After a stiff ascent (400m height gain) the path crosses the foot of Far Tongue Gill’s v-slot. If you are repulsed (either physically or morally) by the gill above, then follow the old mine path on up to a small plateau, then go up the gentle slopes to left of the gill to Hindscarth Edge (map point 4). Else head up into Far Tongue Gill.
3
NY223159 The V-slot is bounded on the left by broken cliffs, on the right by a steep slope of bare rock, loose stones and heather. Follow the gill upstream, crossing and recrossing as required. It has one obstacle, near its foot: a boulder with the stream coming down both sides. If dry, the right-hand watercourse is easier. Otherwise climb with feet in the left-hand watercourse for a couple of steps, then step right onto a foothold on the boulder itself. The rest of the gill is rough walking, soon at an easier angle of ascent. A little waterfall joins from the left. Eventually the rock walls fall away, to emerge below a steeper slope of grass and bilberry. Go up to right of the stream, to the ridge Hindscarth Edge.
4
NY214157 At the ridge top, cross the shortcut path slanting north to Hindscarth, and join the main Hindscarth Edge path up next to the brink of Buttermere valley – this way gets you the views across to the High Stile ridge. At the slope top a path runs to the right along the broad ridge, north-east towards Hindscarth summit. Along the ridge you pass outcrops of the flaky Skiddaw Slates, as in Far Tongue Gill. The summit itself has very different rocks, as it’s a volcanic feeder pipe of rugged gabbro. The lumpy boulders are good for sitting on, and stones in the summit cairn show black crystals of pyroxene.
5
NY215165 Descend north to the large cairn at the break of the slope. You can follow the clear path down north, but for a more adventurous diversion turn right, contouring east onto a spur with huge drops to its right. This descends to the little poised platform of Squat Knotts, with tremendous views down into the Newlands valley.
6
NY219168 Contour back left around the hollow above Step Gill, to join the main descent path northwards. The ridgeline levels off, and the path passes airily along the top of the Newlands slope, before rejoining the crest along the knobby top of Scope End. At the ridge end the path descends fairly steeply, with some short stretches eroded to bare rock.
7
NY227187 At the top of enclosed fields, the path turns down to the right. It bends back southwards towards Goldscope mine tailings, to join a track behind Low Snab farm. Turn right, away from the farm, and fork down left to a footbridge over Newlands Beck. The smooth gravel track of the outward route is immediately above. Turn left, downvalley, to the walk start near Little Town.