Route: Leaving the car at Little Town Farm (£3 per day) and walking south along the road to the minor road past the church turning right 1km later and contouring on a footpath round the end of the hillside to join the road at Keskadale Farm. 1km further south where the wall runs out, turning left to descend marshy ground and easily cross the stream, climbing up to the ridge. Then pathless, tussocky and steep up Dudmancombe Edge in accord with a Mark Richards Fellranger route. Sadly, finding the hillside at the top of the ridge ridiculously steep, comprising either slippery moss or greasy rock, after trying two approaches, discretion seemed the better part of valour. Crossing east towards an obvious saddle on Blea Crags and the ascending the two rock steps – again rather too smooth and wet – to reach the top of Robinson after two hours. Then along Littledale Edge but cutting a corner left to the summit of Hindscarth and then up to Dale Head. Descending a very steep partially re-engineered path to Dale Head Tarn and then a surprising slog to High Spy and along, in now-still afternoon sun, to Maiden Moor before descending via mine workings back to Little Town.
Conditions: surprisingly hot, cloudless, sunny and still
Pub: Little Town Farm bar/café for Jennings Golden Host. Later a half of Fell Tinderbox IPA at Middle Ruddings, Braithwaite (to change) and then supper with Angie and Al at Fellini’s, Ambleside.
