When the weather is good you can get absolutely epic 360 views from the summit of Robinson in the Lake District and you feel like it’s the centre of the Lakes. You can spot all major Lake District summits including Helvellyn, Great Gable, Pillar, Scafell Pike, Haystacks…the list is endless. This shot is looking North East over towards Catbells, High Spy, Derwent Water, Keswick, Blencathra, Skiddaw and beyond. Robinson is a must-do Lake District summit and read on to learn about my favourite hiking route to tackle this mighty fell….
MY FAVOURITE ROUTE TO THE SUMMIT OF ROBINSON FELL IN THE LAKE DISTRICT
There are plenty of ways to climb Robinson, but starting from Little Town in the Newlands Valley gives you the best circular route in my humble opinion (if you don’t mind a little bit of easy scrambling!). It’s a route that packs a lot into a relatively short distance — steep craggy ground, wide grassy ridges, scrambling which always is a bonus for me and keeps the route exciting. You’ll get expansive views and is definitely one of the Lake Districts best walks.
WALK OVERVIEW:
DISTANCE: 7.5 miles
TIME: 4-5 hours
TOTAL ASCENT: 2688ft
DIFFICULTY: Challenging
ROBINSON WALK MAP ROUTE FROM LITTLE TOWN
Here’s my preferred route to walk to the summit of Robinson from Little Town. It’s best done in an anti-clockwise direction as for the 2 steepest sections I think it’s best to go up via Robinson Crags and down via Scope End (which are the 2 scrambling sections). The route is pretty easy to follow, although you can make your own way scrambling up Robinson Crags. The views from Robinson are pretty special, with the views from Hindscarth being equally impressive. You can view the interactive OS map route by clicking the button above (and find out more on OS maps below if you are interested)
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OUR ROBINSON WALK in the lake district
Even though it’s an excellent walk and a pretty well known Lake District Fell, I don’t think there is lots of info on Robinson compared to other prominent Wainwrights and there’s not many resources to give you a feel for this particular route – so I thought, as ever, I’d share some pics and a little write up, to hopefully inspire you to give it a go and to give you a good idea of what to expect.
I did this Robinson walk in early March with a couple of mates and there was some snow kicking around on the very high fell tops which I always think adds to the drama. More importantly it was a sunny day with not a cloud in the sky (rare I know!) and visibility was good!
Little Town – the start
The walk begins in the tiny hamlet of Little Town in the Newlands Valley, a peaceful starting point surrounded by superb Lakeland scenery. It’s a narrow, largely single track road to Little Town so takes careful driving (there are the odd passing places thankfully). Once at Little Town you have 2 options for parking (both £5 all day – both honesty box style) at Little Town Farm and Chapel Bridge Car Park – which are about 100m from each other (you’ll arrive at the farm first – where there are more spaces than Chapel Bridge).
Right at the start of this walk you can see the major features of the walk mapped out in front of you – you have the summit of Robinson to the right with Robinson Crags and High Snab Bank leading up to it – the summit of Hindscarth to the far left, which we will head to after Robinson and then descend and eventually come down via Scope End which is the smaller peak in the middle of the pic
Walking from Little Town
From Little Town the route heads south-west initially on the narrow and quiet road to Newlands Church, then onto a footpath and steadily gaining height as the valley opens up behind you. The early stages feel quiet and remote, with Robinson rising ahead as a broad, grassy mass, though the rocky skyline of Robinson Craggs hints that the ascent won’t be entirely gentle.
As the path steepens towards Robinson Craggs, the character of the walk begins to change. The grassy slopes give way to rougher ground and scattered rock, and the views begin to expand dramatically. Looking back, the whole length of Newlands Valley stretches out below, framed by familiar fells like Catbells and the distant bulk of Skiddaw on the horizon.
The quaint Newlands Church. At this point you leave the road and it’s all footpaths from here, all pretty easy to follow.
The section of the path that stops tracking Scope Beck and leads you directly up to High Snab Bank is the steepest section of the walk (or certainly feels that way as we are yet to warm up properly – def need to ‘admire the views’ a few times here!).
Looking along to Robinson Crags with Robinson summit in view. It looks imposing but the route here is pretty easy to follow but you will need to do a bit of scrambling wuth yiur hands – although it never feels too exposed or particulary dangerous. It would be tricky with dogs though here.
Climbing Robinson via Robinson Crags
The climb up over Robinson Crags is the most interesting and fun part of the ascent for me. The path winds its way upwards through broken rocky ground, and you have to scramble up but but it’s not difficult, technical or too dangerous. It’s a good place to pause and take in the scenery.
Above: This is the most tricky part to scramble up but it doesnt last long (maybe 5 mins?). There are plenty of hand and footholds in the jagged rock and you just make your way up. There was patches of ice kicking around today which made it trickier than usual but again nothing too difficult as long as you’ve always got a hand and foothold. This is the reason I say do this walk anti-clockwise as it’s much more fun (and easier) going up Robinson Crags than coming down!
After 5 mins or so the fun scrambling section up Robinson Crags is done and the views really open out and are pretty impressive.
REACHING THE SUMMIT OF Robinson
As you get past Robinson Crags and higher up towards the summit, the terrain begins to flatten slightly and open out as the summit plateau of Robinson approaches. On colder days, this exposed top often holds onto winter longer than the valleys below. Even in early spring (such as the day of this walk), patches of snow can linger here, lying in shallow hollows and along the wind-sheltered edges of the plateau.
Reaching the summit of Robinson itself feels surprisingly spacious. At 737 metres it’s one of the highest fells in this part of the Lake District, and the views are superb in every direction. To the west the fells above Buttermere dominate the skyline, while to the north the land rolls away towards Keswick, Skiddaw and Blencathra.
From the summit of Robinson the views west look out over Crummock Water and Ennerdale towards the Irish Sea. Around teh summit cairn you’ll find some shelter from teh wind and is a perfedtc spot to chill, eat some food and soak in the lake District views. It was chilly today and it’s a real treat to whip out my Thermos of Tomato soup to keep warm (I’m developing a bit of a reputation for my Tomato soup haha)
Along Littledale Edge
Rather than heading straight back down the way we came, I do prefer circular routes and this walk continues south-east along Littledale Edge. This is one of those classic Lakeland ridges that feels wild but friendly — broad, grassy and easy to walk, with the land falling away on both sides.
Walking along this ridge gives a completely different perspective of the surrounding fells. Robinson quickly falls behind, while the shapely summit of Hindscarth slowly draws nearer ahead. The ground undulates gently, making for relaxed walking uphill compared to the steeper sections earlier in the day.
The ridge also offers some wonderful views down into the hidden valley of Littledale, a quiet and rarely visited corner of the fells that adds to the sense of space and solitude.
Climbing Hindscarth
The final climb of the day is the steady pull up to Hindscarth. It’s not a difficult ascent, but after already climbing Robinson it reminds your legs that you’ve earned the views.
From the top of Hindscarth, the panorama opens up again — perhaps even better than Robinson in some ways. Derwent Water glints in the distance, the Newlands Valley spreads out below, and the long ridge leading to Dale Head rises just beyond.
It’s a fantastic place to stop for a while before starting the descent.
The northern slopes are still covered in snow so it takes a bit of care decending from Hindscarth today, but thankfully any ice had thawed so it’s pretty easy going. I had actually brought my spikes today but they weren’t needed (alwasy good to pack spikes if you think there is a chance of ice)
On the descent the mid aftrenoon sun was illuminating the northern fells as you walked towards them and this was my favourite vista today with many recogniseable and familiar Lake District peaks in full view.
Descent via Scope End
From Hindscarth the route drops north-east towards Scope End, a broad grassy shoulder that leads back down into the Newlands Valley. This leisurely leg of the walk along the ridge of Scope End really was an enjoybable end to the day out and the views ahead down the valley are superb as you lose height.
Scope End feels like a natural finishing line for the high ground and at the very end it is a bit of a steep descent where you will need to use your hands on occasions. It’s not so bad going down this section but it takes its toll on the knees and I wouldnt fancy going up this part.
From here the path continues steadily downward across open fellside until fields and stone walls begin to reappear, signalling the return to the valley floor.
Before long the roofs of Little Town come back into view, completing this pretty special 7.5 mile circular walk that feels far bigger than the height of Robinson suggests. I highly recommend it especially if you are looking for a quieter walk than the more well known big Lake District fells.
A Classic Newlands Valley Circuit
This Robinson and Hindscarth circuit is one of those walks that quietly delivers everything you want from a Lake District day out — varied terrain, dramatic scenery and a real sense of space. Starting from Little Town keeps the route peaceful, and the combination of Robinson Craggs, Littledale Edge and the climb over Hindscarth makes it far more interesting than simply heading up and down the same path.
On colder days, the patches of snow on Robinson’s summit add a final touch of wildness — a reminder that even when spring arrives in the valleys, the high fells still hold onto winter just a little longer.
It’s a route that shows off the best of the Newlands Valley and one that’s well worth returning to again and again.
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