Route: taking the bus from Lorton to Rosthwaite (almost an hour but still finding the Scafell Hotel sadly closed at 11:45am) and then heading west to walk alongside the River Derwent crossing the New Bridge. Thence taking the second left turn to climb a pitched path to gain Castle Crag and descending to pick up the main northwards path towards Grange. Shortly before the village, taking a track left past Hollows Farm to reach a left turn across grass with a wood on the right to a water works (apparently!) and heading uphill on a clear path to top Cockley How and then by a lovely subtle path over Nitting Haws to reach a gentle upward slope (though it felt like a tedious slog on almost-pathless rough terrain) to reach the ridge and then on to High Spy. Descending to Dalehead Tarn and then by a well-pitched path to the summit of Dale Head. Along the ridge but diverting north to the summit of Hindscarth and then via a diagonal to a surprising final slog up up Robinson. Leaving the summit to descend steeply to Buttermere Moss: often pathless and akin to the Grimpen Mire. Fortunately joining a fine (ex-industrial?) path descending to Buttermere from High Snockrigg and watching the arrival and departure of the 4:24pm bus home as we did so.
Conditions: despite the forecast hail and 0C, at times a hot sunny day giving way to bitter winds on Dale Head
Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere for Mowdy Pale Ale and Jennings Sneck Lifter (alleviating the frustration of a 2-hour wait for the next bus).
