The North-Western fells completed again on walk 214

WALK 214: Robinson (2,417 feet above sea level, number 327 of my second round) and Dale Head (2,473′, not included in the numbering for reasons described below). 12 miles, 3,200 feet of ascent.

The upper reaches of Robinson. A chillly walk today, as you can see.

Seeing as my first ever Wainwright was Castle Crag, done when I was about 9 years old, it is volume 6, The North-Western Fells, which helped me get my first impressions of the Lake District all that time ago: and the impressions were good ones, which is why I’ve been going back fairly regularly ever since. It was in the first week of the present project, back in July 2009, that it first featured, on walk 3, with Whiteless Pike opening the account, and it was the first of any of the eight Wainwright volumes that I completed for the first time, on walk 54, April 2012 — which now seems a long time ago.

Despite all these ‘firsts’, this region has nevertheless had to wait until my penultimate walk to be completed a second time, but it’s done now. Robinson — pictured below, as seen on the approach — was the last remaining rebag, and walk 214 saw me walk there all the way from Keswick. This is a long way (7.5 miles to the summit from the bus station) but a worthwhile journey for sure, with excellent views.

Robinson, from Newlands.

Without the summer-only bus service to Buttermere, options for finishing the walk were either, tramp all the way back to Keswick, or head for Seatoller: the point with the latter option being that Dale Head is in the way. But it’s too late in the project to keep it pure, and that’s a fine hill in any case, so that was added to the walk too. (One could also tack on Hindscarth if one were feeling so inclined.) Read all about it and see the usual crop of pictures on the walk 214 page.

As of today, then, I have bagged 327 of the 330 Wainwrights on my second round so have three to go. One walk left, then: and it will bag the three fells pictured here, Esk Pike on the left, Great End, and Seathwaite Fell in front. It would be nice to actually finish on Great End, but as you can see, that’s the one in the middle and so making one of the other two into The Final Wainwright would be more logical. But I might still make it Great End anyway, and I’m sure you appreciate the reasons why. It’ll happen soon, I hope. But not this week; after today, I need a rest.

The three that are left…