Robinson

It's a moderate fell — a broad, grassy whaleback that's a steady rather than fierce climb, though some routes have steep zig-zags and a few rocky steps for interest. Robinson (737 m / 2,418 ft) sits between the Newlands valley and Buttermere.

The main things to watch are the boggy crossing of Buttermere Moss and route-finding on the broad top, rather than any difficult or exposed ground.

Sources: Knowledge.me.uk — Fell Guide: Robinson (opens in new tab)

Two favourites: the High Snab Bank north-east ridge from the Newlands valley (Little Town), a lovely steady ridge rising in steps to the summit; and the steeper climb from Buttermere via High Snockrigg, using zig-zags through gullies and terraces with a couple of rocky steps.

Robinson also pairs naturally with Hindscarth and Dale Head on the Newlands Horseshoe.

Sources: Where2Walk — Robinson from Newlands Hause (opens in new tab)

On its own from Buttermere (about 9 km) allow roughly 3.5–4.5 hours. From the Newlands valley it's a similar half-day; combined with Hindscarth and Dale Head on the Newlands Horseshoe it becomes a longer 6–7 hour round.

Sources: Walkingworld — Buttermere, High Snockrigg, Robinson (opens in new tab)

Robinson is genuinely boggy in places, and Buttermere Moss — the broad, peaty plateau on the Buttermere side — is notoriously wet, with sucking, ankle-deep ground that's hard to cross dry-shod after rain.

Wear waterproof boots, expect to pick your way around the worst, and note it's easy to lose the line across the moss in mist, so carry a compass. In a wet spell, the Newlands ridge stays drier underfoot.

Sources: Knowledge.me.uk — Fell Guide: Robinson (opens in new tab)

Unusually for a Lakeland fell, Robinson is named after a person — Richard Robinson, a 16th-century landowner who acquired the fell after the dissolution of the monasteries. It's one of the very few Wainwrights to carry a plain surname rather than a descriptive Norse or English name.

That quirk often surprises walkers, who expect a 'Robinson Fell' or similar.

Sources: Wikipedia — Robinson (Lake District) (opens in new tab)

Yes, for a fit beginner on a clear day — there's no scrambling on the normal routes and the gradients are manageable. The catches are the wet ground (especially Buttermere Moss) and navigating the broad, featureless summit in cloud.

Choose the drier Newlands ridge in wet spells, wear waterproof boots, carry a map and compass, and pick settled weather for the best of the views.

Sources: Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab)

Wear waterproof walking boots — the boggy ground and Buttermere Moss are wet underfoot — and carry warm and waterproof layers, as the broad summit is exposed. A map and compass matter for navigating the featureless top in cloud, along with water, food and a charged phone.

Check the mountain forecast, and take care on the steep zig-zags and rocky steps on the Buttermere side, especially when wet or icy.

Sources: MWIS — Lake District forecast (opens in new tab)