Robinson

As we climbed the path up to Robinson, we met two Brummies coming down. As well as heavy packs they were carrying various pieces of large equipment in their hands. They told us that they'd been wild camping and had made two ascents the previous evening to take up all the equipment. They even had a fire pit plate. One of them carried a large plastic box and I enquired whether it contained some power tools. He told me it was a gas stove. They obviously didn't like to rough it. We left them to rattle their way downhill.

We waded across the bog that feeds Moss Force and headed up the steep path to the top of Robinson.  It was warm enough to be down to tee shirts. Despite the sun, the view across to Grasmoor and Crag Hill was a little hazy. I was glad to find that my feet were in fine fettle when we got to Robinson's summit. In fact, they felt better than normal. Maybe I should wear one pair of socks all the time?

Hindscarth

Hindscarth is old Norse and means 'the pass used by the red deer'. We didn't see any today though. It always surprises me, and ultimately disappoints me, how far you have to drop down to the pass between Robinson and Hindscarth. The path goes down and down from Robinson, and before you know it, you are  climbing up and up to Hindscarth.

The summit of Hindscarth is crowned with a rudimentary shelter. There is a better built one further along the top before you drop down to the north ridge. We had planned to stop for a break on the summit but the wind was blowing so hard we decided to drop down a bit first. Ten minutes later we nestled ourselves down into a sheltered grassy spot that had a great view across the valley to Robinson's north ridge.

Field Hopping

We continued the descent down Hindscarth's rocky, but entertaining, north ridge. It didn't seem long before we'd reached the valley floor.  There was then some field hopping over to Gillbrow on the Newlands Valley road. We then had a short stretch of road walking to Rigg Beck. Being an Easter weekend the road was actually quite busy and it was a relief to reach Rigg Beck and the footpath to Ard Crags.

It was so warm and pretty near the beck that we stopped for lunch before starting the ascent. Looking across to Catbells we could see lots of people plodding their way up its ridge to the summit. We had some plodding still to do ourselves though and it wasn't long before we were heading back uphill to Ard Crags.

Ard Crags And Knott Rigg

The ridge over to Ard Crags is quite exciting with great views into the valleys on either side of the ridge. I once walked along this ridge on a winter's day and was lucky enough to witness my own brocken spectre.  No ghostly apparitions today though. There's no cairn on the top of Ard Crags. It is a lofty position and it looks almost vertical down the hillside to Keskdale Farm.

The ridge drops down and then continues to  another Wainwright, Knott Rigg. Three women and two dogs had commandeered the summit, but they kindly moved on to allow us to take our Wainwright photos.  The ridge continues right down to where I'd parked the car at the top of Newland's pass. The cross wind did its best to blow us off course but we got down eventually. 

I'd forgotten that I'd been walking with only sock liners. I looked at my feet and found no damage done. In fact, my feet had been cooler too. I might even try the same tomorrow.