To the cairn above Swinside on the ridge to Ladyside Pike

A 9km walk at the end of the afternoon of New Year's Eve, arriving home across muddy fields in the dark.

Route: leaving the cottage and walking to Boonbeck and up the road to take the track from Scales to High Swinside Farm. Turning diagonally uphill to cross the road and take an obvious track north east towards a wall. Here walking steeply uphill reaching a snowline. Once the hill eased walking between the wall and a fence, crossing the fence to climb onto an obvious subsidiary ridge and following this round to a tiny but marked cairn. Heading further along the ridge and descending to the east to find the main ridge path and following this back down to the road. Heading back down the road to cross the outward route to Hopebeck and taking the path across fields to Low Swinside and increasing darkness to Boonbeck and home. 

Conditions: cold and frosty with snow on the hills.

Pub? a bottle of Ginger Tom (for T) and then later vodka on a Zoom call with Paul and Katya.

Arnside Knott

A 9km walk with Andrew and Helen.

Route: Leaving the car on the promenade at Arnside and setting off on the coastal paved path but diverting onto the beach to avoid ice and walking round to the cove at New Barns. Continuing first on a rocky path and then returning to the beach to the next cove beyond Blackstone Point. Here climbing onto a path along the very edge of the low cliffs to Far Arnside. Heading inland to Hollins Farm and then uphill onto the Knott. At a junction of paths turning left to cross through a wall and climb to a viewpoint. Then diverting right to the trig point before continuing down hill in the direction of the viaduct and, by minor roads, reaching the car.

Conditions: bright and cold (3C) with clear views.

Pub? Mulled wine on the Arnside pier.

Ling Fell

A short 5km walk on Christmas Day afternoon.

Route: leaving the car in one of two lay-bys (total capacity ~5 cars) on the upper road 200m short of Brumston Bridge and entering the Ling Fell fellside at a gate. Heading uphill left to join a level track heading clockwise round the fell. After about one quarter circuit, heading sharply back right on a clear path very slowly climbing the fell. At about where the map shows it ending, turning left at a clear path crossroads and then following an obvious route (crossing other paths) to the summit. For once, not descending to the Corpse (?Copse) Road but heading south west along the vague summit ridge to a wall/fence and following this increasingly steeply down hill to Bladder Keld above Tom Rudd Beck and following the clear track to join Green Lonning (keeping to the track to the end, rather than keeping to the right of way to reach the start of the greenway, and hence having to climb a gate out of a field). Back along this to join the road and then uphill to the start..

Conditions: a cloudy day with an initial hint of drizzle. Despite the ground being frozen (minus 4C the night before), not cold.

Pub? Later, the full panoply of Christmas meal drinks starting with a Red Christmas (Campari, vodka and orange juice with some additional fizz).

Sourfoot and Darling Fells

A last-minute 7km walk on a very short winter day.

Route: leaving the car on the larger layby by the telephone box beside Loweswater and talking the track uphill to Miresyke and then up to the old fell road. Turning left gaining height to the moorland plateau. At a wide, fenced, straight track, turning right towards Sourfoot Fell, the terrain very wet but easier because frozen. At the end of the fenced section continuing briefly on a track in the grass to its end and then heading in the direction of the summit using sheep tracks, steeply at the end. Descending to find a path to the right/west to the next piece of high ground and then heading in the direction of the summit, crossing a fence and then following parallel to another fence, and then crossing a final one before the fell summit. Here turning left to descend steeply into the comb and take the familiar path back but, for once, taking the upper path at a fork, exploring a tiny subsidiary summit and then descending to the normal tram track to the fell road. Turning right up this and then left on the outward path.

Conditions: bright and cold (1C) with clear views. Soggy under foot where not frozen.

Pub? Much later, bottled Ilkley Bewery Mary Christmas and Titanic Plum Porter.

Brackenthwaite Hows variant

A tiny 5km run to blow away the cobwebs on a wet and windy weekend..

Route: leaving the car at a surprisingly busy Lanthwaite Green NT car park and heading towards the lake but, on the spur of the moment, heading slowly uphill on a broad track to reach the usual junction at the bottom of the wall down from Brackenthwaite Hows and continuing in the usual way, parallel with a wall marking out the boundary, south, joining a bigger track and then diverting off it to drop down to the boathouse and then back to look at the flooded outflow. Retracing the route and then climbing through woods to reach a second slightly lower slowly ascending path to near the south end again and running back, parallel with the boundary wall, up onto the summit and down Robin's Steps to the start.

Condition: initially heavy rain, thereafter mainly holding off.

Pub? bottled Fyne Ales Jarl and a can of 4.7% Aegir Sumbel Porter at the cottage.

Outerside 11km run

A birthday run on the third, but final, dry day in a row.

Route: leaving the car at the eastern foot of Whinlatter and crossing the Buddhist bridge, passing the Coledale Inn and heading uphill on the road towards Stile End. Beyond the road and initial stony track, on open fellside, bearing a slight right uphill (at a walk) to a clear crossroads of paths. Turning right and following a more or less level but narrow and laterally sloping path along the side of the valley around the 300m contour. Despite the indication on the map that it gives up and descends, finding a clear enough path continuing to rise all the way under a sheep fold and then descending and crossing Birkthwaite Beck to meet the path climbing from the valley floor. Following this, at a walk, as it zigzagged steeply and snowily uphill to the pass but bearing left at a fork to climb Outerside. Descending carefully to the saddle before Stile End and heading right on varying paths to reach the main bridleway below Barrow to Stair and then keeping off the road a little longer on a grassy path. Finally climbing west of a wood to descend to Braithwaite Lodge and back by roads to the car.

Conditions: cloudy and chill on the top. Some frozen snow under foot at altitude but sadly the marshy terrain as yet unfrozen.

Pub: the Coledale Inn for a pint of Tractor Shed Mowdy Pale Ale and Alpaca Blonde and surprisingly large ‘light bites’ (to meet the Tier 2 requirement of a ‘substantial meal’ with any alcohol, although the lady behind the bar told us to 'eat as much as we liked' when we arrived).

Grange Fell, Great Crag and Castle Crag

A 16km walk with Ian Wilson on a day of shifting clouds and mist but also unforecast moments of sunshine and patches of blue sky.

Route: leaving the car at the Bowderstone car park (capacity 60 and empty at 9:30am) and heading along a path north above the road but below cliffs to the right to join a path coming up from the road and trend right/east descending into woods and a wall. Here turning right and ascending a path that soon became steep and stepped, slippy in the damp. Arriving at Long Moss, following a clear path right working its way round and then onto King’s How. Descending to the south and backtracking along Long Moss to cross a stile but ignoring the obvious route turning left to follow a wall onto the summit plateau and then across two walls to reach the summit of Brund Fell. Descending a clear muddy path to Puddingstone Bank and then following a marshy path - including the diversion round delicate peat bog - to climb beside Great Crag but turning right on a faint path to reach the summit. Descending south and here failing to take the less attractive (but correct with hindsight) left turn and hence getting a bit lost. On reaching the small unnamed tarn heading confidently to Dock Tarn on very marshy paths and then down the stepped and tricky but not slippy path to Stonethwaite. Along the Cumbria Way to Rosthwaite and by the river to Castle Crag. Descending from the summit again to join the path on the west to Grange and back along the road to the car.

Conditions: very marshy, muddy and occasionally snowy under foot but litttle ice. Clouds bubbling up and then dispersing below us in the valley.

Pub? C19, Tier 2, so two of us shared a large bottle of Fell Tinderbox IPA back at the cottage (and Ian drove back to Kendal

Bleaberry Fell, Low Rigg and the Keswick Railway Path

A nearly 20km walk/run in snow on the first day that the Keswick Railway Path officially opened.

Route: leaving the car in the B&B quarter of Keswick and running along Grizedale Close to Springs Road and along this bending left onto a stony track gaining height parallel to a stream, crossing it left to gain the road and then back at Rakefoot, climbing onto open fellside before taking a gate to the wooded path to Walla Crag. Then across boggy ground, partially improved by a Fix the Fells alluvial subsoil path and then on frozen snow steeply up to the summit of Bleaberry Fell. Continuing first south and then east in deep snow (occasionally sinking to our thighs) and descending just to the left of a stream. Then bending a little north to descend a grassy though stony shelf, finally descending very steeply and wetly to reach a T-junction of walls (where the promised sheepfold did not seem to be, this having always been the grey area of the route. Passing through a hand gate ('No access to Helvellyn') to continue on a welcoming path (finally!), unfortunately uphill of the wall below which the Wainwright route goes (to which no access seemed possible). A bit further on, tracking down the slope to follow the wall and then finding a section already-collapsed and so, without much guilt, popping through and making rather a clumsy business of passing Snipeshow Tarn and even descending Snipes How. Finally gaining the bridleway at ground level and thus the A591, having picked our way to this point painstakingly almost all the way down from the summit. (But made WELL worth it by the sighting of a small posse of magnificent deer at various points, making quick work of the same terrain - and bounding over high walls - whenever we disturbed them.)

Turning right on the road to Dale Bottom, then left on a path through a small caravan site, across a path crossroads, then next right to cross fields to climb to the saddle between High and Low Rigg. Visiting St John's-in-the-Vale church and then turning left opposite to traverse Low Rigg and descend to Tewet Tarn whose perfect reflection of the snow on the hills across had caused an optical confusion. Right along the B road to find a path in woods to the Keswick Railway Path and joining crowds of walkers, runners, skateboarders and cyclists along this back to Keswick, leaving before the end to return to the car.

Conditions: a cold but brilliantly sunny day. Much of the day with extremely wet feet.

Pub? Back to the cottage for tea and shop-bought cheese scones and later the residue of the previous night’s Zoom CAMRA Roger Protz beer tasting beers (Shepherd Neame IPA, Adnams Tally-Ho, Traquair House Ale, Robinsons Old Tom) while talking to Paul and Katya.

Whitbarrow Scar 9+km variant

A 9km run with blue skies and some sun after 36 hours of drizzle and rain during the second coronovirus lockdown.

Route: leaving the car at the side of the quiet road which probably formed the original route of the A590 near the road to Raven’s Lodge and running up this, past the farm and then left along a track under White Scar gaining height. This time, the flat bed of ancient rock was dangerously slippy so progress was possible only at its left hand edge. Shortly after entering a wood and passing a bench, angling right uphill to climb onto the top of the plateau and then through and back through a wall to gain more height to enjoy fine views south over the Kent Estuary. Then taking paths rising gently, with views over the Winster valley and to the Lakeland Fells, to reach the summit. Further north and east to cross a wall stile and, where the marked path turned left, continuing forward to a T-junction. This time simply turning left on a track and descending, ignoring a track to the right, to reach a gate and a T junction. Turning right and following this clear bridleway to its end, very wet and muddy under foot. Once the sense of elevation to the right had passed, descending on a narrow path down to Rawsons farm and then on a track back to Raven’s Lodge and thus the car.

Conditions: blue sky and some sun after a lengthy period of low cloud and rain.

Pub? During the second C-19 lockdown, The Summerhouse for Hawkshead Route 606 and Eden Brewery Emperor.

10km Kentmere run

A 10km run on a warn sunny November Saturday. 

Route: leaving the car parked on the side of the road near the 

Hollingworth & Vose factory and running through the factory yard to take the green valley bottom path towards Kentmere Hall but at a crossroads in the woods near the end, bending slightly left to rise to reach the return path, climbing slowly onto the moors. At the crossroads of paths at a stream crossing, continuing straight on the alluvial soil path (passing bikers, runners and a family out walking with children, dogs and Mary, the 5-month old family cat) to reach a gravel track. Taking the first left but ignoring the second to continue to a footpath descending across fields. Just before Browfoot, taking a permissive path that leads round the farm to join the riverside track to its west. Along past Crofthead and Sawmill Cottage to reach the Hollingworth & Vose factory again and the car.

Conditions: a bright sunny cloudless day.

Pub? On the first week of the second Covid-19 lockdown, a delicious shared bottle of ‘What was and will be’ Brewing’s Patterns Seem to Form in The Summerhouse.

Dorothy Farrer's Wood and Craggy Plantation stroll

A tiny less than 5km stroll on the first (and decidedly undecided) day after polling in the US election 2020 but with lovely autumn colours. 

Route: leaving the Staveley Mill Yard via the footbridge over the River Kent and taking the muddy path towards the sewage works but, at the first flooded field, diverting left through a gate and then through gaps and gates across fields, disturbing several deer, to meet the road opposite the path into Dorothy Farrer’s Wood. Taking this very marshy path and turning left through the first hand-gate and keeping to the left of the woods on clear paths climbing and eventually exiting near Piked Howe, crossing part of Mike’s Wood in the process. Briefly descending the road but bearing right across marshy fields to climb to the corner of Craggy Plantation and entering through a partially wired-closed gate. Continuing along the top of the woods to descend fields to Barley Bridge and back along the road and then riverside path to the outward footbridge.

Conditions: a still (and thoroughly spirit-lifting) autumn afternoon.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for final (£2 a pint!) pre-second lockdown pints of Hawskhead Red and Gold.

Round Bramley Seat to Mosser Fell Road

A 7km run on initially very wet and marshy ground, climbing onto moorland.

Route: leaving the car on the verge by the full layby at the west end of Loweswater and heading west along the road for 200m, then right on a track over a bridge over a stream and at a footpath sign turning left along marshy fields with brimful brooks. After a few fields heading through a wood and then by fields to Bramley and along a metalled road (with an incongruous road sign) to the road near Sosgill. Turning right and keeping on the road to the turn off uphill to Mosser old church (St Michael's) and then negotiating a series of gates round Mosser Gate Farm to the end of the metalled road to join the Fell Road rising to a summit with views of fells to the east and descending. Taking the second right to cross fields on a clear track and then down a stony track to the start.

Conditions: cloudy and breezy, with hints of rain but also brief sunny spells.

Pub? bottled Lidl Woodgate cider at the cottage with lunch.

Rannerdale Knotts run from Lanthwaite Green

A 12km run having both failed to catch the 77 bus (first bus of the day from Lorton to Honister full to its COVID-limited capacity) and then thinking better of trying to park in Buttermere on finding ourselves in a long convoy of traffic heading up the valley not long after 11am.

Route: leaving the car on verge parking near the full Lanthwaite Green Farm car park and crossing marshy ground to the east to gain the higher lateral path below Grasmoor. Continuing to Rannerdale to reach the footbridge, cross the main stream and continue gradually uphill but then, on an impulse, crossing a small stream on the right to take a faint path diagonally back to the summit ridge of Rannerdale Knotts and on to the summit. Then back along the ridge and descending into Buttermere for a pint in a warm, sunny, friendly beer garden at the Bridge Hotel. Afterwards, heading uphill, slower post beer, by Mill Beck, turning left to a junction of paths and heading past Grassgarth Coppice on a scratchy-dead-bracken-riddled path, slowly descending to meet the path climbing to the low shoulder under Rannerdale Knotts. Descending the steps, joining the road for a kilometre and then taking the path just inside the wall on the west side of the road all the way back to the start.

Conditions: a lovely bright autumn day, hot in the full sun but cool out of it.

Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere, for Tractor Shed Mowdy pale ale.

Woodland walk from Keswick (inspecting the works)

A 10km walk near the as-yet-unfinished Keswick Railway Path.

Route: Leaving the car on the side of the road at Briar Rigg and walking east along the road to the old station and the Railway Path and following it nearly as far as the A66 where it was blocked. Taking a footpath north to join another and first exploring the settlement (old mill buildings and joinery) below the A66 before crossing the river and joining a muddy path in trees above the river with views of Low Briery caravan park. Descending to rejoin the Railway Path and explore a stage between two bridges before, again, heading north (on a works track) to reach the footpath again. At a fork, descending on wooden steps to walk along the bank in trees, reach a field and again find the Railway Path, then crossing back on a bridge and heading further east. Where the path was again blocked heading north on a road past Brundholme and climbing to join the woodland track under Latrigg. At one stage detouring right, higher up the fell towards the boundary of access land, to be rewarded by a couple of sightings of a deer but also the task of bushwacking steeply downhill beside the barbed wire fence and much gorse back to the track. Following this to the track down past Spooney Green and over the A66.

Conditions: cloudy with hints of late-afternoon sun.

Pub: Keswick being too busy at 6pm, Middle Ruddings, Braithwaite, for Corby Blonde.

Cunswick Scar, Hollins Lane and Hallgarth

A7km run late on a Sunday afternoon.

Route: leaving the car on Caroline Street, just down from Kendal Green, and running across the Green and up Green Hill to cross Windermere Road and pick up a footpath uphill, meeting the lateral path from Queen’s Road. Along this under Hellsfell Nab doubling back parallel to and then crossing the A591 and then running to the top of Cunswick Scar. Descending on a sometimes muddy path to cross the B5284 and follow paths across damp fields to cross the A591 and descend Hollins Lane. At a slight bend, opposite the entrance to Ellergreen, taking a footpath across fields back towards Kendal to the Hallgarth estate and up and over the hill on a tarmac snickleway to Kendal Green and back to the car.

Conditions: despite a sharp shower while driving to the start, dry and mild throughout (with rainbows!)

Pub: the New Union, Kendal, meeting Anne and Frank, for Thornbridge Jaipur IPA and a taste of Fran and Ian’s tapas at the New Union’s 3rd birthday party.

Running circuit of Thirlmere plus Great How

A 19km run round Thirlmere finished with a weary plod up Great How.

Route: the road across the dam being closed, parking on the A591 near Bridge End farm and running along the road across the dam to find steps leading down to a footpath along the western side of Thirlmere, sometimes a wide gravel path, sometimes trippy by rock or root and slowing the pace to a walk. At Hause Point and at Dobgill Bridge, rejoining the road for 50m or so. At Stockhow Bridge, joining the road round the bottom of the lake to cross the A591 and here finding a signed narrow path (not marked on the map) north to Wythburn church. At the car park heading uphill at a walk and turning left along the wide stony forestry track. South of the straining well, being forced to continue on the initially lower main track rather than join a more level contouring path closed because washed away, presumably, by the 2015 floods. After climbing again, descending to Swirls car park, crossing the road and descending close to the shore (though the lake mainly hidden by trees) and following a clear path, then joining a narrow permissive path through woodlands before rejoining the track and gaining a bit of altitude and arriving at a junction for Great How. Here walking up a stony track then narrow path to the summit, surrounded by trees impeding the view to the lake (but not to the Near Eastern Fells, see picture. Retracing the route to the last junction and continuing along the track east of Great How, taking a permissive path towards the dam road and then back to the car.

Conditions: blue skies and blazing sunshine though the air was cool in the shade

Pub: the King's Head, Thirlspot for Charles Wells Bombardier

Loweswater fells circuit

A fine 15km autumnal round with Ian Wilson.

Route: leaving the cars at Maggie’s Bridge car park at 9am (almost full) and, in a last-minute change of plan, heading west towards the lake and the diagonal upward path through the trees to reach the coffin path. West along this to an exit gate and heading half left, uphill, to pick up a path heading left again, thus south, and uphill to the top of Burnbank Fell. Then along the ridge, much less marshy than sometimes, after a dry September, climbing to Blake Fell. Descending parallel to a fence and possibly missing a chance to cross it and thus wandering a bit further along a lower saddle ridge to find a bit of fence that could be bestridden. Heading back to the main path confluence at Fothergill Head and climbing, parallel to a fence, to the top of Gavel Fell and pausing here. Then down the ridge and up before crossing a stile and cutting a corner to find a path by another fence heading towards Floutern Cop. Having traversed that little tor, continuing on to climb Hen Comb on a clear path and descending the ridge, for the first time, all the way to a final wall, bending right steeply downhill and crossing the beck on stepping stones. To the Kirkstile Inn for a pint in the garden under 3-day old national table service-only restrictions and then back, by road, to the cars.

Conditions: a mere 2C at the start but warmer later, especially in sunny still spells, but cold in the wind. 

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold.

Cycle circuit of Fellbarrow via Rowrah and Dean

A 25 mile trip calling in at the Ennerdale Brewery and the Royal Yew at Dean.

Route: from the cottage taking the Thackthwaite road to Loweswater and slowly ascending Fangs Brow to Lamplugh. Continuing on Sustrans 71 past Keltonfell Top and Kirkland and stopping for a beer at Rowrah. Then on C-roads via Asby, Dean Cross and Ullock to the Royal Yew, Dean, for lunch. Home via Pardshaw and Brandlingill.

Conditions: cloudy with hints of drizzle.

Pubs: The Ennerdale Brewery, Rowrah, for Ennerdale IPA and Blonde. The Royal Yew at Dean for their own (ie Tirril's) Blonde and lunch.

Circuit of Latrigg

An 8km run around and up Latrigg.

Route: leaving the car in the car park between Latrigg and Skiddaw (some spaces at noon on a busy week but a miserable Monday) and running down the Cumbria Way on a substantial path. After crossing the second stream, looking for a left turn onto a level path through trees. At a complicated junction looking for a path marked on the OS map which didn’t exist and thus turning left uphill along the edge of the woods and thereafter aiming not to lose height at various unmarked junctions, eventually reaching an area of cleared forestry and rougher uphill paths before returning to a level grassy path to the end of the ridge. There turning sharp left, running across wet grass and waiting for the main track to join us. Near the summit, leaving the track to climb a grassy slope to reach the path round the edge of the Loughrigg plateau to the summit. Then continuing round on the clear (wheelchair-accessible) gravel path eventually forking right, slightly uphill again and along to descend to the car park.

Conditions: low cloud and drizzle/light rain blown forcefully by the wind.

Pub: Having failed to find anywhere to park near the Keswick Brewery tap, Middle Ruddings, Braithwaite, for Tractor Brewery Mowdy Pale Ale.

Balcony path under Carling Knott and Burnbank Fell

A short 7km walk with Robin and Virginia on a glorious autumn day.

Route: leaving the car at 9:30am in an already fairly full Maggie’s Bridge car park and heading along the lakeshore past Hudson Place and Jenkinson Place, slowly ascending a track onto the shoulder of the hillside. Taking a sharp left rising in the direction of Burnbank Fell and then left to pick up the obvious coffin route. After crossing Holme Beck, taking the path on the left into the wood and descending on a diagonal to the corner of Loweswater and back on the outward route.

Conditions: a warm, sunny (hot at times) and largely still day.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Legendry Ales Session IPA and Loweswater Gold and lunch.

Sale Fell with old Wythop church

A fine 8km run after a last-minute change of plan on a blustery day.

Route: leaving the car on the road near St Margaret’s Church, Wythop, and running along the road for a couple of kilometers to turn left at Wythop Mill to Brunston Bridge and then as far as Kelswick. here continuing to see the remains of the old Wythop church before returning to Kelswick to follow a clear balcony path north, this time cutting right on a smaller path before reaching the ridge end wall to zig zag up to gain the summit via subsidiary western tops. Heading east to Lothwaite and then descending on a large clear grassy path between bracken to close to the church between Routenbeck and Wythop Mill and then almost entirely down hill to the start.

Conditions: cloudy and windy with hints of sun. Afterwards, sitting in the pub garden, warm sunshine.

Pub: the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, for Hawkshead Bitter and brief sighting of a brown squirrel on the feeding box in the garden