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Robinson, Hindscarth and Dale Head - A Half Newlands

There's nothing quite like climbing a mountain by one of its ridges, especially one that's narrow, to have the ground falling away on either side, stirring that feeling of height. Now put a few rocky bits on the ridge to add a little bit more interest, and you get Robinson - the first of three Wainwrights on this cracking middle-distance walk.

Wainwright mentions four rock steps on Robinson: three on the end of High Snab Bank, and another higher up. "Three rock steps each 20'-30' high, require concerted action by hands, feet, elbows, etc".

In dry conditions these shouldn't present too much difficulty for the passage of feet give good clues as to likely routes up. A different matter though in the wet, or even after rain when the rock is still wet, they become slick as though covered in ice! Then, the advice might be to ascend via Little Dale and avoid them altogether. Or if still feeling brave find the bypasses at each level. We'll describe them in the route instructions enough for you to find them as we used them due to the conditions and with Jessie the dog to look after it seemed the best idea. Of course, like all these things you have to make your own judgments at the time, even if that means backing off and abandoning the walk. "The landscape watched us arrive and the landscape will watch us leave"... The mountain will be there for another day.

The route also visits lofty Hindscarth and Dale Head, before dropping down beside the fantastic waterfalls of the infant Newlands Beck.

The Newlands Horseshoe usually takes in the six summits of Catbells, Maiden Moor, High Spy, Dale Head, Hindscarth, and Robinson, but it's a long day with over 1100m of ascent and 18.0km (11.2 miles) of walking. Breaking it into two walks reduces the ascent to more manageable proportions.

There is a small parking area beside Chapel Bridge in Little Town where an honesty box currently (June 2012) requires £3 per car.