Hindscarth

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Hindscarth
Hindscarth and Robinson from Catbells. By Ann Bowker.
Elevation	727 m (2,385 ft)
Location	Cumbria, England
Range	Lake District, North Western Fells
Prominence	71 m
Topo map	OS Landrangers 89, 90, Explorer OL4
OS grid reference	NY215165
Listing	Hewitt, Wainwright, Nuttall
Translation	pass used by the red deer (Norse)

Hindscarth is a mountain between the valleys of Buttermere and Newlands, in the north-western part of the English Lake District. The fell's name is derived from two words from the Old Norse language, Hind and Skarth, and means the pass used by the red deer. A popular ascent starts from a parking area nearby Newlands Chapel and passes over the Scope End ridge before continuing up crags to the summit. Due to their proximity, Hindscarth and Robinson are often combined into a single walk starting from Newlands. The fell is also part of a longer walk including Catbells, High Spy, Dale Head and along the Littledale Edge ridge to Robinson — the Newlands Horseshoe.

The northern ridge of Hindscarth which falls away to the Newlands valley has at its foot (at Scope End) one of the most famous former mines in the Lake District. The Goldscope mine has been designated as a major national important site by English Heritage who have stated that it should receive priority treatment for its protection and preservation. The mine was opened in 1564 and developed in its early days by German miners, who worked its rich veins of lead and copper. Silver and gold were also extracted, making Hindscarth the only fell in the Lake District that has ever been mined for gold. The mine was considered so important in its early days that it was requisitioned for the Crown by Elizabeth I from its then-owner, the Earl of Northumberland. There are considerable spoil heaps on the Newlands Beck side of Scope End and the shaft inside the hillside was sunk to such a considerable depth that it became uneconomical to pump out the water, leading to the closure of the mine at the end of the 19th century.