Walking

Stair is a fantastic centre for walking – everything from an easy stroll, to a bracing climb up Catbells, to a challenging full-day fell walk, such as the Newlands Round.

In the Stair Cottage visitor pack you’ll directions for local walks, both gentle and a bit more challenging, that you can take from your front door. Shorter walks include looking for Mrs Tiggywinkle at Littletown and trying out the wonderful food at the tea-room there, or walking to the shore of Derwentwater at Brandelhowe woods to discover the giant wooden hand.

These and more are carefully described on sheets you can take with you for the day. There are walks around the valley that are almost level, walks with small amounts of uphill, and walks with serious mountain walking. There’s nothing like a good day’s walking, then getting back to Stair Cottage and jumping in the whirlpool bath or waterfall shower to ease your muscles before snuggling up in front of the log fire.

The giant Lake District wall map will help you plan your route for the day and there are Ordnance Survey maps on the book shelf to borrow – do please look after these for the benefit of future visitors!

You’ll find framed copies of Alfred Wainwright’s suggested routes from Stair to the summits of Catbells, Causey Pike and Barrow on the walls of the cottage. The Newlands Valley is surrounded by several bigger fells, which you can climb right from the doorstep at Stair if you’re up for a bigger challenge. Try Causey Pike, Barrow, Grisedale Pike or the mighty Grasmoor on one side of the valley, or Catbells, Maiden Moor, Dale Head, High Spy, Hindscarth and Robinson on the other. But remember that weather on the fells can change swiftly so be sure to wear the right footwear and take good waterproofs. Take a map and compass and know how to use them.

Once you’ve had your walk for the day, you might just manage to take the roundabout route from the pack horse bridge via Uzzicar Farm and through a lovely lane to the Swinside Inn for lunch or supper. Ona warm afternoon or evening you can sit in the sun and enjoy the spectacular views of the valley from the lovely terrace.

Newlands Adventure Centre is just over the Newlands Beck from Stair Cottage – experienced guides and instructors can take you ghyll scrambling, climbing, kayaking, walking or abseiling.

Walking World is great website for walkers and features one or two routes in the Newlands Valley.

Go4awalk is another useful site, on which you can download a number of routes for a modest sum. This link takes you to walks in Keswick and Newlands Valley area.

Note that the path to Braithwaite along the banks of Newlands Beck was badly damaged by Storm Desmond in 2019. The path remains closed at the time of writing (September 2021).