Start point: Chapel Bridge, Little Town (NY 232 194)
Start Time: 06:55
Weather: Sunny spells.
Partly Cloudy Temperature 6 ℃ Feels like 1 ℃ Wind Speed 3.8 mi/h Wind Direction S Humidity 95%
Little Town – Chapel Bridge – Low High Snab – High Snab Bank – Robinson – Littledale Edge – Hindscarth – Hindscarth Edge – Dale Head – Dalehead Tarn – High Spy – Maiden Moor – Hause Gate – Catbells – Little Town
Well it’s been a long time since I did this one! The last time I did this route was in 2003 but of course the fells have been visited since then using different routes. It was longer and tougher than I remember but then again perhaps it is because I have 18 more years in my legs. This is a fantastic round and one that I can highly recommend and the conditions were absolutely perfect for it with fine Autumn weather. As you will see the conditions all around weren’t necessarily so good so I struck lucky today.
For anyone interested, there are two Striding Edge Lake District calendars this year, an A3 one and an A5 desktop version. They are available here and there is a multi-buy discount available for both sizes.
Little Dale pre-sunrise from High Snap Bank. That was a steep climb to start the day!
Fletcher with Robinson (today's first target) behind.
Sunrise over Skiddaw and Blencathra, it is looking like it will shape up to be a good day. We are still in the shade as the sun has not appeared over the Hindscarth ridge to the east. It was about here I realised that I did not have the light gloves on I was wearing earlier so I retraced my steps back to the only logical place they could be which is where the Fletcher photo was taken. Unfortunately I could not see them - I will have to send Louise up to have a look as my man look was obviously not good enough!
Approaching the climb to Robinson.
It's turning into a nice sunrise now on this wide shot.
Close up on Blencathra.
I don't remember this climb being so rocky and a bit of a scramble in places.
Climbing higher and looking back the cloud is already drifting in.
A panoramic from the summit plateau of Robinson.
Robinson.
Fletcher has spotted someone over on High Stile!
Looking down to Buttermere and Crummock Water from the summit of Robinson.
On Littledale Edge, we will follow the diagonal path to the left to climb to the summit of Hindscarth. Firstly, Fletcher has to negotiate the heavy traffic crossing our path.
A little bit of sunshine lights up High Crag, High Stile and red Pike. There were fleeting glimpses of the sun throughout this section and on the exposed parts the wind was quite cool whilst out of the wind it was really quite warm. This made it one of those 'too hot - too cold' walks which was difficult to balance without a load of faffing around with clothing.
The summit of Hindscarth.
On Hindscarth Edge heading for Dale Head, the cloud is starting to build over the Scafells in the distance.
Sunshine over Buttermere.
Fletcher on Dale Head.
A magnificent cairn with a magnificent view - the summit of Dale Head.
The cloud is forming over the Helvellyn ridge now to the east, with a bit of luck we will escape the advancing weather.
Skiddaw and the Newlands valley.
Down at Dalehead Tarn with High Spy beyond. I went to the shelter on the far side of the tarn below the rocky outcrop to the right for a coffee and a think. It was Armistice Day and it was about 11am so it made perfect sense to have a couple of minutes of true silence and reflection on events of the past. We will not forget them.
Onward and upward - the summit cairn on High Spy and it was here I came across the first other peopleI had seen all day.
Derwent Water from Blea Crag, a fantastic viewpoint and worth the slight detour from the main path.
The summit of Maiden Moor with an unimpressive cairn after the edifices that mark the previous two summits.
A panorama of a magnificent view from Maiden Moor. 'It must be something like this in heaven' - Wainwright, Maiden Moor 8
There were lots of people climbing Catbells from all angles and it suddenly got very busy.
Autumn colours at the southern end of Derwent Water.
Well this wasn't here last time I climbed Catbells - a summit column complete with viewpoint marker. This was the only decent photo I could get as I was surrounded by people up here, it was really busy!
Llama drama! No, it is actually Alpaca drama and something you don't see every day and there were two of them climbing from Little Town to Catbells. Apparently it is a thing to walk an Alpaca - who knew?
Nearly back to the car at Little Town with a view to Hindscarth and Robinson. That was the end of a long walk for me but a thoroughly enjoyable one and the weather was pretty well perfect for walking. By the time I had driven round to Thirlmere (which can be no more than a mile away as the crow flies) it was raining and miserable. I could scarcely believe it after being in the opposite conditions all day.
John Atherton says
Great circuit, one of my favourites. The scrambly bit on Robinson used to be less of a problem when I was younger. My last time over Catbells was on Jan 2nd nearly 3 years ago. Posh new cairn but no people about – they were all shopping for trendy kit in Keswick. Hope your gloves turn up!
John A and the Fell Bunny!
Sean says
Hi John – I had forgotten how good it was up there and perhaps I won’t leave it so long next time! I’ll have a look for my gloves next time as well!
Thanks,
Sean
Mick Phillips says
Hi Sean, thanks for this, another favourite round, and I too was surprised how the scrambly bits seem to get harder as one ages. Must get back soon…
Sean says
Yes, strange isn’t it – I can’t remember that bit being anything too drastic yet this time we had to find a way around it!