With a mix of unsettled weather October hasn't been the brightest of months which is understandable given that this is Autumn and we're almost on the cusp of Winter. On the days where the did sun shine I've normally been in work probably dreaming I was somewhere else meaning a blue sky weekend was long overdue.

This weekend we finally got our wish and it didn't take long to come up with a walk because this particular walk, Birketts 'Dale Head Horseshoe' was planned for last weekend only we thought the route deserved a drier, clearer forecast owing to the fact that both Rod and I are particularly fond of the area which is also known as the 'Newlands Horseshoe'

The forecast had stayed true throughout the week giving us our green light with the exception that the forecasters had predicted an arctic blast of cold air which would accompany any brightness also adding that we may even see snow which fell predominantly over the Scottish ranges, well we weren't lucky enough to see snow but we did get our first taste of a severe windchill accompanied by some long overdue sunshine.

I hadn't slept well and was up well before my alarm so after confirming to meet Rod at Gutherscale at 08:15am I thought I'd detour slightly and pay a visit to Castlerigg and maybe get a peep of the sunrise. Having arrived before sunrise and, under quite a lot of cloud cover it looked like I wasn't going to get that 'perfect shot' and so too weren't the fourteen other photographers that I'd counted who were patiently waiting with camera's and tripods at the ready.

After chatting to one local guy, who to be honest was getting annoyed with people who were wondering into his view I walked back to my car, camera in one hand while blowing warm air into clenched fist with the other.

i rejoined the A66 at Keswick and took the left turn sign posted Portinscale and noticed the car behind me did too, it only took a few seconds to confirm it was Rod's car who then followed me through to Gutherscale. Todays official starting point are the parking spaces at Hawes End which have since been double yellow lined meaning the parking spaces at Gutherscalem a little further up the road were the next obvious choice. We grabbed two of three last spaces and were surprised to find the car park looking so busy.

With Winter approaching I've packed a half Winter kit leaving out the likes of spikes, crampons and snow goggles for now but adding my winter gloves, spare base layers, neck gaiter and spare socks, I figured I might just need them after looking at todays forecast. It feels cold and hat and gloves are added from the start, it's pretty calm for now but it wouldn't take long until we feel the affects of the wind and thereafter the windchill. Having locked the cars we struck out for Skelgill Bank and followed a couple who had left shortly before us, I kind'a got the feeling I'd forgot something but after a pat down I couldn't work out what it was, after followng the path we rose steadily which was when I realised I'd forgoten my mobile phone which I knew was laying there on the passenger seat, had it have been out of view I might not have bothered to turn back but I just couldn't take the risk "Rod, give me five mate"

A massive D'oh!! followed mainly due to the fact that I had to de-shoulder my pack and remove my keys from the dry pocket which is tucked away in the inside hood of my pack. Re-shouldred I marched back up the path and linked back up with Rod.

With little height gained and still well below Skelgill Bank we soon started to feel the affects of the wind and more notably, the windchill which already felt well below zero.

Still adjusting to the wind and windchill which was thankfully on our backs we continued along the ridge and started the steep pull onto the summit. Due to the popularity of the fell there are many worn paths to follow and most involve the odd scurry over rock and depending on choice there's also the odd scramble should the mood take you.

Footnote: Please be advised that the rock below the summit is polished and can be treacherous when wet.

For anyone completing the Newlands Round only one thing must occupy their mind once this point is reached which must be the ascent of Dale Head from Dalehead Tarn. The path approaches from the left then tops out on the lower north ridge before continuing towards the summit, and yes, it's as steep as it looks.

We arrived at Dalehead Tarn after crossing Newlands Beck and the first thing that struck us was just how overgrown the tarn was with reeds, here the problem isn't too apparent both further back on the east side the tarn is choked with reed so much so it was difficult to spot the water in between.

Okay, time to make our ascent on Dale Head, hey ho lets go.

Having left Dalehead Tarn we spotted the walker who we had seen ahead of us back at High Spy summit, he seemed to be making good ground during his ascent as was the fell runner and his dog ahead of him. We picked up the path and got our heads down into the ascent noting the new stone steps that complement the ascent all the way to the lower north ridge, the steps although steep, help incredibly with the ascent, we faired well only stopping to hydrate from our bite valves which by now had semi-frozen. During the Summer heat wave I'd have performed back flips to have sipped anything as chilled as the contents of my hydration pack right now.

We ascended the north ridge with, for the last time today the wind on our backs, incredibly once the summit was reached we both noticed there wasn't a breath of wind around as the most surreal calmness descended on the summit, it was strange but no one complained. We arrived at the stone cairn at the same time a couple who had ascended from Honister, they arrived first and were taking selfies with Newlands in the distance before Rod offered to take a proper picture who then obliged.

After taking in the impressive views over Honister and beyond we rejoined the path and started to make our way over Hindscarth Edge where it is said that Borrowdale slate makes way for Skiddaw slate. All we found were a couple of iced up puddles which Rod insisted he walked through. Up ahead two paths can be seen from where the summit of Hindscarth can be gained by, Birkett recommends to take the left path which will not only give you views of Honister Pass down below but also retains that 'ridge feel' before Hindscarth summit is reached.

Left it is.

Having gained Hindscarth summit in full exposure to the windchill we didn't hang around and agreed to see if the north summit shelter would offer any protection from the wind, the distance between both summits was short but it was enough to realise that we were walking heads into the wind, queue the brain freeze.

The wind was blowing from the north and with a north facing shelter we reckoned we'd be best sheltered around the rear of the shelter but me being me I thought I'd try the shelter first, on entering the shelter the wind seemed to follow me in, feeling slightly discouraged I lowered my backside onto a flat stone which left my head just below the top of the shelter wall, by-eck its flippin worked, Rod soon followed.

Continuing along the ridge we re-joined the path and just under half a mile later we took a bearing and found that we were actually stood on Red Knott summit, but initially found no cairn, Rod tracks back just two or three steps and spots the cairn marked by a small cluster of rocks to the left of the path and found we'd walked straight past it.

Red Knott, the slightly trickier cairn to spot owing to the path being lower and off to the right.

Descending Scope End wasn't without its trickiness and we were both thankful that the polished rock we had to scramble down was dry rather than wet, concentration is a must during this descent which is why Rod and I fell silent!

With the descent of Scope End behind us I kicked my feet into the back of our boots and crossed Newlands Beck after passing Goldscope Mine. The sun was now on our backs and the windchill, a distant memory.

I remove my gloves.

Under what felt like a blazing sun we left Newlands behind and made a bearing for Little Town where instead of making our way back to Gutherscale via the old Yewthwaite Mine path Birkett recommends the footpath through the fields below. After passing through Little Town at the end of the lane we turned right and followed the footpath which was flanked by thorn bushes either side. Once Yewthwaite Gill is crossed at a footbridge the footpath opens out into open fields and the views back over the valley explode into view, I hadn't used this footpath before but after today in the conditions we had it comes highly recommended.

After passing through our final gated field Gutherscale Farm is reached and from canopy of trees I took one last view into Newlands. The sound of shots ring out over the valley accompany our half mile walk back to the cars and despite their barbarity I recongnise this as a sound familier to Lakeland. The car parking spaces are as busy as we had left them with one family squeezing their car along side mine who then left with their dog in tow. With my boots replaced for my North Face mid's I shake Rod's hand until next time then drive towards Portinscale while slowing down for walkers who like us couldn't resist taking advantage of this fine Autumn day.