Pubs in the Newlands valley by bus and walking
This easy walk takes you from Keswick along country lanes and footpaths to four excellent real ale pubs, which also serve meals. Head west towards the pencil factory, and just over the bridge take a footpath to the left which cuts across a bend in the river and leads to Portinscale. Cross the river again over the miniature suspension bridge and past two large hotels. When you come to the main road through the village, a right turn will take you down to the Farmers Arms, a Jennings house recently refurbished with a modern feel. The main part of the pub is a dining area, but the ‘village bar’ is for drinkers. Beers on sale are Bitter and Cumberland.
Retracing your steps, carry on past the general stores and just after the entrance to Nichol End Marine, two footpaths strike off on the left. Take the right hand path and climb up through the woods and down to where another path joins from the left. A few yards further on and you are at the entrance to Lingholm, and a gate straight ahead is marked ‘Footpath to Cat Bells’. The path skirts the estate through beech, birch and rhododendron woodland. At a clearing, where you can see Cat Bells straight ahead, carry straight on, and when you reach a minor road, turn right and then right again at Swinside Lodge. The road curves left and in about ten minutes you will come to the Swinside Inn. The views across the Newlands valley to Causey Pike are superb. The pub has been refurbished this spring, creating extra rooms, two of which are non smoking areas. Beers are Theakston’s, Cumberland and changing guest beers from the S&N list.
From the pub head downhill and take a right fork onto a track which then snakes round to meet the path along the Newlands Beck. Follow the beck for a mile or so until you meet the road. The Ullock farm road will take you to a footpath back to Portinscale. We keep left over the bridge towards Braithwaite. This delightful village boasts two pubs: the cosy traditional Royal Oak, with a range of Jennings beers, and the Coledale Inn up the hill in what was the original pencil mill, selling Jennings, Theakstons, Black Sheep and Yates Bitter.
To get back to Keswick, you can catch the X5 Workington to Penrith bus which stops opposite the Royal Oak, or if returning on foot, avoid walking along the A66 by crossing over to the side road marked as a cycle path which comes back out opposite the Portinscale junction.
Traveline tel: 0870 608 2 608