Robinson to Dale Head - Photo Gallery

The Batchelor family on tour in the Lake District need an easy start to their annual walking holiday but why do the Hileys and Leaneys want to join in, must be too much age and not enough fitness. We met at Buttermere village with cars having been left at Honister Pass, Lorraine made a surprise appearance but I can't imagine that we will be quick enough for her today.

From the Bridge Hotel we walked back up the road, past the church on the way to Newlands Hause until a signpost promises that Robinson is 1 mile away. It is very warm as we make our way up the steep green fellside and it feels much further than a mile although there are plenty of excuses to rest as we stop and admire the views.

Eventually the hardest part of the climb was over as we reached Buttermere Moss and for once with being able to see where I was I made the reasonably easy detour to the summit of Snockrigg Pike. There is no cairn nor anything else that resembles a summit apart from the view. The valleys of Sale Beck and Gatescarthdale Beck funnel towards Buttermere either side of Robinson between Grasmoor and the High Stile range.

Not only can I see Robinson but the path across to it over Buttermere Moss is very nearly dry, a rare occurrence indeed. The climb up Robinson is nearly as steep as the one earlier but it doesn't seem half as bad. The grass is rougher and in places boulders and erosion forms steps that are somehow easier to climb than grass.

The summit of Robinson is like a small avenue and it felt like a street with all of the people sitting around, lazily passing the time as we ate lunch on this warm sunny day. Lorraine left us at this stage, she had been very patient with the slow place but now had to set off by herself in order to have time to complete her route.

The way over to Hindscarth is obvious, you would have trouble missing it even in bad weather, you can't head directly for it because of the crags in the way so a little detour to the right takes you along Littleside Edge. As you descend there is a fantastic view down between Hindscarth Edge and Fleetwith Pike to Honister Pass. At the col between Robinson and Hindscarth, mainly on the Buttermere side of the fence the heather is in bloom. It provides a splash of purple here and on many of the fells adjoining the bright green bracken from above.

From the col a path slants up to the left making a beeline for the summit of Hindscarth, along the way the Hileys' dogs found a wonderful little stagnant pool in which to lie down. Holly and Leila were suddenly much less popular now that they were wet, dirty and smelly.

The path took us almost to the summit cairn on Hindscarth and again the mood was lazy and relaxed as we attempted but failed to consume the vast quantity of food contained in Jill's rucksacks. The way to Dale Head is obvious, walking over Hindscarth Edge provides exhilaration if you stay on the crest of the ridge and look down into Newlands valley.

The summit of Dale Head is unmistakable, its cairn standing on the edge of the steep slope overlooking its dale. From the summit, head in the direction of Honister and you soon find the path that takes you all of the way down to the Pass. I think we walked the route the right way, the walk to Dale Head from Honister looks tedious and the expressions on the faces of the many walkers making the climb told their own story of pain.

Then back down to Buttermere by car for ice cream.

Andy Wallace 16th August 2003