Maiden Moor

Plenty of people cross Maiden Moor without noticing they have passed a summit. It is the long grassy stretch of the Newlands Horseshoe between Catbells and High Spy. The main path to High Spy does not even go over the highest point. Near the top, take the right fork, which follows the edge above Newlands and Bull Crag to a small cairn.

Direct ascents start from Grange in Borrowdale or Little Town in Newlands, and both climb first to Hause Gate, the col between Maiden Moor and Catbells. There is a small parking area at Chapel Bridge in Little Town. Many walkers come the Catbells way instead, from the small parking area near Hawse End, and carry on up from Hause Gate. Above the col the path has one short rocky step where it swings right, then becomes a wide eroded scar before easing onto the plateau.

The top is a level grassy plateau, and it is hard to say exactly which spot is highest. Walk out to the edge above Bull Crag for the best of the view, across Newlands to the Coledale fells.

Nobody is sure where the name comes from. Maiden often marks an old hill fort, but no fort has been found here, and it may instead point to games or rituals involving young women.

On the Newlands side, below the col with Catbells, is Yewthwaite Combe, with the spoil, levels and shafts of the Yewthwaite lead mine. It opened in the late 18th century and closed in 1893. Beatrix Potter set The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle here and dedicated it to Lucy Carr, whose father was vicar of Newlands. Mrs Tiggy-Winkle is supposed to have lived in one of the holes in the fell above the mine.