Fleetwith Pike, Dale Head, Hindscarth, Robinson

I thought it was about time I shared one of my walks from last month. Keeping to my plan of walking areas adjacent to previous walks, to assist me in gaining knowledge of the local areas, this walk will meet up with my Catbells/Newlands walk, at Dalehead Tarn.

6.45am. Well it's a shame this light didn't last! From my parking spot at Buttermere, looking up to High Stile and High Crag. Cloud covering the higher reaches.

Over Buttermere by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

The Bridge Hotel in Buttermere, somehow managing to catch a few rays...

Bridge Hotel, Buttermere by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

The path leading out of Buttermere to its lake...

Buttermere by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Sourmilk Gill, descending from a hidden Bleaberry Tarn...

Looking up to Sourmilk Gill by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Walking along the northern side of Buttermere is the perfect warm up...

Dalegarth by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Tunnel by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

The first unhindered view of my first objective. Fleetwith Pike.

Fleetwith Pike by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

A moment for reflection...

A moment for reflection by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

At the foot of Fleetwith Edge. Little did I know how much I was going to enjoy this ascent, despite the hail storm and sudden strong winds which would occur about half way up...

Heading up Fleetwith Edge by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

A memorial and a reminder...

A memorial and a reminder by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Chillin' in front of Haystacks...

Chillin' infront of Haystacks by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Dappled light below Littledale Edge. I'll be over there later. Robinson on the left, Hindscarth on the right. Causey Pike peeping up in the background...

Littledale Edge by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Just before summiting Fleetwith Pike, I take a final look back over Buttermere...

Buttermere and Crummock Water by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Now looking ahead across Fleetwith Pike, to Black Star. Love that name. Love this fell top...

A look along Fleetwith Pike to Black Star by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Above Burnt Scarth...

Above Burnt Scarth by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Remnants of mining past. Honister Quarry...

Honister Quarry by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Honister Crag...

Honister Crag by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Honister...

Honister by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

A glimpse of Via Ferrata on that light coloured ledge...

A glimpse of Via Ferrata by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Getting closer to the slate mine. I hear the sound of a generator coming from the sheds below...

Honister Slate Mine by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Twisties...

Twisty mine roads by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Having passed through the Honister complex, and crossed over Honister Pass, I start my ascent of Dale Head. I (possibly incorrectly) took the path on the left side of the fence. Others appeared from above, descending on the right side. But the left had two advantages. Firstly, it was rockier, and therefore had better foot placements, rather than the plain grassy bank on the right side. Secondly, you could get much better views back to Honister Crag...

Honister Crag by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

The skies to the south...

Looking south from Dale Head by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Having read about the ascent of Dale Head, from Honister, in Wainwright's guide (he says it's a bit easy) I decided at about the half way mark, to take the route towards Dalehead Tarn, which means losing some of my earned altitude, and giving myself the much steeper ascent up the eastern flanks, above Dalehead Crags.

It was also nice to see the tarn again, which I visited in one of my walks last month...

High Spy. Dalehead Tarn, below. by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Newlands Valley...

Newlands Valley from above Dalehead Crags by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Minutes later that view had all but disappeared as the cloud came down.

The rain has pretty much set in, so the photographs become less frequent. I missed getting a shot of Dale Head summit, although funnily enough I did take a photo of the cairn. It's just that it was with someobody else's phone! A group of 4 lads from Richmond who had passed me on my climb from the tarn. I was happy to oblige.

So, onwards to Hindscarth, and a sit down in the summit shelter for something to eat...

Top of Hindscarth by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Now on Littledale Edge. The return view from one of my earlier shots...

Looking back over to Fleetwith Edge, from Littledale Edge by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

The final climb of the day was from Littledale Edge to the top of Robinson. Energy levels were running low by this point and I wasn't expecting it to be as steep as it was, so it was a bit of a trudge!

The top of Robinson...

Top of Robinson by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

The descent to Buttermere. After an initial drop from the summit of Robinson, things level off for Buttermere Moss. Which is mossy...

Buttermere Moss by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

And soggy..

Buttermere Moss by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

The path gains more interest for the final drop to ground level...

Descending to Buttermere by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

A bit too much interest for the wet conditions, actually. There are some really tricky rock slabs covered in lichen and moss, the first of which occurs just as the side of the path drops away. Some can't be avoided, and other are difficult to avoid. You've gotta think about where you're stepping!

Slippery when wet by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

And after the long descent I'm reunited with my van, parked at Buttermere, just above St James.

Another mighty fine walk in the Lakes, and gaining a new favourite fell, Fleetwith Pike. Much fun had.