You can get absolutely epic 360 views from the summit of Robinson in the Lake District. This shot is looking North East over towards Catbells, High Spy, Derwent Water, Keswick, Blencathra, Skiddaw, and beyond. Read oin to learn about my favourite route to tackle Robinson
MY FAVOURITE WALK 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 way to walk to the summit of Robinson from Little Town. It’s best done in an anti-clockwise direction as in 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).
Little Town
The walk begins in the tiny hamlet of Little Town in the Newlands Valley, a peaceful starting point surrounded by classic Lakeland scenery. It’s a narrow road to Little Town so takes careful driving abut there are the odd passing place. Once at Little Town you have 2 options for parking (both £5 all day – both honesty box style) – Little Town Farm and Chapel Bridge Car Park.
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 we leave the road and it’s all footpaths!
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 – def need to ‘admire the views’ a few times!Â
Looking along to Robinson Crags with Robinson summit in view. The path here is easy to follow but you will need to do a bit of scrambling – 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 Craggs is the most interesting an 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.
This is the most tricky part to scramble up but it doesnt last long. There are plenty of hand and footholds in the jagged rock and you just make your way up. There was pathes of ice kicking raound today which made it trickier than usual but again nothinbg too difficult as long as you’ve alwasy got a hand and foothold. This is the reaosn I say do thsi walk anti-clockwise as it;s much mire fun going up Robisn Crags than coming down!
After 5 mins or so the fun scrambling section up Robinson Crags is done and the views 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, patches of snow can linger here, lying in shallow hollows and along the wind-sheltered edges of the plateau.
Reaching the summit of Robinson 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.
Along Littledale Edge
Rather than heading straight back down, the route 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 compared to the steeper climb 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. Derwentwater 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.
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. The descent is straightforward but steep in places, 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. 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 a circular walk that feels far bigger than its distance suggests.
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.
Climbing Robinson via Robinson Crags
The climb alongside Robinson Craggs is the most interesting part of the ascent. The path winds its way upwards through broken rocky ground, occasionally steep but never difficult. It’s a good place to pause and take in the scenery — Buttermere appearing between the folds of the hills, with the High Stile ridge rising beyond.
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