Name of walk | Robinson, Dale Head and Hindscarth in Rain and Wind. |
Date of walk | 2009-07-23 |
Distance walked (miles) | 9 |
Duration of walk | 6 hours 0 minutes |
Weather | Rain and wind, some mist. |
Peaks on walk | Robinson, Dale Head, Hindscarth |
Walked with | Ged and blind Kas |
Parking | Little Town parking spaces. |
Yesterday we went to Little Town to climb Robinson (2417ft), Dale Head (2473ft) and Hindscarth (2385ft). Heavy rain and gale force winds on the summits were forecast, but as long as we could see where we were going it would be fine. The views on this route are superb on a good day, but the low cloud didn`t look like it was going to allow us to see much on the tops.

Newlands Church, our starting and finishing point.

Low High Snab. (Sounds like they couldn`t make their minds up as to how high it was, but there is a High Snab and a Low Snab too....Maybe Middle Snab would have been a better name?)

Looking up the valley between Hindscarth and Robinson. We would head up on the right between the bracken to High Snab Bank, just beyond the trees.

End of the steep bit now turning off left to meet the ridge diagonally.

High Snab Bank heading for Robinson Crags.

Hindscarth on the left, Dale Head beyond, Little Dale reservoir below.

Approaching Robinson Crags, there are three rock steps each 20 to 30ft high that are very slippery in the wet. Hand holds and knees are needed. There are three people on the first rock step that I can just make out in the photo, we overtook them on the second, and most difficult step as they were being very cautious and we were our usual gung-ho selves. The real skill is in choosing the easiest route up.

Looking back down the valley. Cat Bells peeking out.

View down to Newlands Hause and Crummock Water with Mellbreak behind in the clouds.

View back down the ridge we walked up, with Derwent Water in the distance.

View from Robinson summit down to Crummock Water with Rannerdale Knotts sticking up, and Lowes Water in the distance. Unfortunately all the views south were obscured by cloud so we could not see over to the High Stile range or Haystacks.

The wind was so strong on the edge looking down on Buttermere that you could barely stand, we couldn`t talk to each other because the wind took all sound away. There were waves on Buttermere but due to the wind I couldn`t take a photo. It was raining again too, the wind making the rain feel like needles. It was also very cold. I felt colder here in July than on Grizedale Pike in snow in January! I only had a T-shirt under my waterproof and needed to put my fleece on. Unfortunately there is no shelter from the elements on the route to Dale Head so I did a quick change just a bit further down from where I took this photo. Dale Head is on the left, in the middle is the Honister Pass and Slate Mine and to its right is Fleetwith Pike.

Feeling warm again now. All the photos we took on the summits were snatched between the mist, it was a case of now you see it now you don`t so you had to be quick. Dale Head appears out of the mist.

Looking down the Upper Newlands valley between Hindscarfth and the High Spy range on route to Dale Head.

Ged still refusing to put his trousers on because it is July!! Buttermere on the left, Hindscarf behind Ged and Robinson beyond that.

Dale Head summit cairn. Ged snapped this just a bit too late, the mist obscurring the view behind me.

Finally a clear view over to the High Spy, Maiden Moor and Cat Bells range and beyond.

Another view down the valley. We had lunch here while we waited for the mist to clear enough to take some photos.

We then set off back down on route for Hindscarth. Looking back up to the cairn on the top of Dale Head from Hindscarth.

From just beyond the summit looking down the ridge.

The rain can be seen on the right of the photo, at least we were now out of the wind.

Looking back up the valley. The heather has started to flower, it should be looking good in a few weeks.

Looking back up the Hindscarth ridge on the left and Robinson on the right.

The white building in the middle is the church.

We headed through Low Snab farm, who do pots of tea and homemade cakes, without being tempted and headed on towards the church and back to the car.


