"High Spy" with my little eye...and lucky Lucie.

The cairn that beckoned..."High Spy"

"Once upon a time," wrote Beatrix Potter, "there was a little girl called Lucie, who lived at a farm called Little Town." There is, indeed, a Little Town, in the heart of the lovely and pastoral Newlands Valley, just fifteen minutes from Keswick. And it's very little. It's also the trail head for a great hike up and along the high ridge to "High Spy", in the English Lake District.

The weather today was CAVOK, ceiling and visibility OK - but it was way more than OK. The skies were blue with just occasional clouds passing through. The sun shone brightly, the air temperature was around the freezing mark, the winds were light - a perfect day for being on the hills.

The sun sparkled off the thin ice on the trail.

Gaining elevation, Keswick and magical Derwent Water appear, tiny islands dotting the "blue" waters.

Skiddaw and Blencathra behind distant Keswick.

"Catbells", at 1,481 feet, is one of the most popular hill walks in the country - it's no wonder. A quick climb...and views that will be savoured forever.

The summit of "Catbells" (centre left)

The peaceful Newlands Valley lies far below. The most "direct" route is an impressively precipitous drop!

Evidence of past mining operations on the slopes. 

The 360 degree panorama is simply breathtaking.

Distant trails, across the valley, invite "tomorrow's challenge".

Jagged slices of rock protrude from the ridge.

The cairn at "High Spy", at 2,143 feet, commands a "forever" view.

With the sun due to set at 1603 hrs, there are just a few moments to reflect...

and then it's time to retrace steps,

as shadows of mountains, are cast on mountains.

It is truly a magical landscape.

According to Beatrix Potter, there is a hill behind Little Town, "a hill that goes up, up, into the clouds as though it had no top."

I think Lucie was very fortunate to live at that farm in Little Town. :)


Total km: 11.2
Total ascent: 601 m (1,971 feet)