“Interest in the climb quickens at the foot of Aiken Knott. Bracken is succeeded by heather, through which a neat and charming track winds up the narrow ridge to the east top”
A Wainwright
A wonderful narrow heathery ridge links the tops of the Ard Crags and Knott Rigg, a delightful quieter walk above the Newlands Valley, a perfect ridge walk in miniature.
“In fell-climbing (as in other pursuits) there is a difference between achievement and satisfaction. One's sense of achievement is roughly in proportion to altitude gained by effort, but one's sense of satisfaction is not necessarily governed by the same rule. Lonely Ard Crags offers, especially in August, a climb up to a personal heaven of one's very own”
A Wainwright
After meeting at the small car park at Rigg Beck in the Newlands Valley we will follow the path alongside the beck for a short while until an easy route across the beck and up onto the ridge beyond is reached, once on the ridge the bracken covered slopes soon make way to a wonderful heathery ridge as we climb up over Aiken Knott.
Soon the gradient eases as we approach the summit of the Ard Crags, from here on the ridge is a wonderful easy walk, often much quieter than it's more famous neighbours, we cross the north top of Ard Crags before reaching the true summit.
The views over the Newlands Valley are wonderful, from Catbells to Robinson we have a great perspective on the Newlands Horseshoe and to the west the Causey Pike and Scar Crags ridge towers above us.
As we follow the ridge south the fells above Buttermere open up in front of us giving us a good panorama of the Buttermere Fells ridge as we reach our final summit, Knott Rigg.
From the top of Knott Rigg our descent is by the eastern ridge, above Ill Gill dropping down to Keskadale Farm and the roadside below Ill Gill. We now walk back along the lane to Rigg Beck and our start point.
Each participant will be required to bring suitable equipment for their chosen event, please see Kit List tab above.
Where to meet: Rigg Beck, Newlands
Postcode: CA12 5TS
Grid Reference: NY 229 201
Directions
From Keswick:
Follow the A66 west from Keswick, towards Cockermouth & Workington turning off the road at Braithwaite, Turn left as you enter the village, and left again over the bridge and follow the road to the Newlands Valley.
Follow this road, crossing a cattle grid, over the bridge at Stonycroft and continue to a sharp bend on a bridge, there is a small car park next to the bridge, we will meet here, Rigg Beck.
Bus Services
There are no buses along the Newlands Valley.
Stagecoach bus timetables can be viewed here
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A hidden gem Review by Steve
This is a fabulous, relatively low-level ridge walk. We were lucky to have one of those clear, crisp February days when you could see for miles. Great views of the Newlands Horseshoe. (Posted on 26/02/2016)
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