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Sun15May16 Littledale Edge Walk This route bags 3 Wainwrights - Dale Head,
Hindscarth and Robinson which are interconnected with a ridge called
Littledale Edge. There is nothing of great interest on the
initial 390m climb from Honister to Dale Head and it's an ideal opportunity
to let one's mind wander for a while. Then suddenly to your amazement you are
there at the summit of Dale Head (753m) with utterly breathtaking views of
the Newlands valley. Reputedly one of the best views in the country. Imagine
a massive empty green bath 5 miles long, over 1 mile wide and 550m deep with
you stood at the edge at one end, and you will know how a poor spider feels! The ridge walk is now easy, wide and not
scary but does have a gradual 600m drop to view cars moving like tiny ants on
the B5289 road below. Traversing the ridge west, we take a slight
detour north along a spur to visit Hindscarth (727m) to strike gold with
fabulous craggy views and history. Gold, copper & lead was mined here
from 1564 for Elizabeth I and there are plenty of deposits still down there
but it became uneconomical to pump out the water and the mine was closed in
1893. Please hand any nuggets you find in the spoil heaps to the walk leader. The next part of the ridge descends 150m into
a col before rising 160m to Robinson (727m), with extensive views of most of
the Lakeland mountain peaks. According to Alfred Wainwright the
Buttermere area was purchased by Richard Robinson many centuries ago.
Including this unnamed hill which was then called Robinson's Fell, later
shortened to Robinson. Any onward journey from Robinson is
thwarted by Buttermere Moss, not a good place for walkers apparently due to
deep bogs, so we will return via a dry path pretty much the way we came, but
cut out Hindscarth to get back early for the long Sunday afternoon drive
home. Sleeping over is highly recommended due to
the remote location. See the diary for the Honister weekend accommodation. If
you are coming just for the day then please let the walk leader know well in
advance due to the limited car parking and poor phone signals. Start at YHA Honister Hause, Keswick, Cumbria. The nearest post code is CA12 5XN (Seatoller) but the YHA is 1.3miles west of there. Map: http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=322577&Y=513658&A=Y&Z=120 Distance:
7.0 Miles Walk grade:
Hard.
Newlands
Valley |
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