Fellside Wood and Old Hutton

A 4km stroll in a brief dry spell in a day of rain.

Route: Leaving the car on the road east of the top of Old Hutton by Fellside Wood and walking south through it. On exiting, turning left on a sodden footpath to the road to turn right. At a farm, turning left on a track and then right to cross fields to Popplemire Lane, rescuing a trapped sheep from a wire fence on the way. Turning an immediate right to cross a field of sheep and climb slightly to the middle of the Old Hutton settlement and then right uphill to the edge of the village. There turning right on a footpath across fields to re-join but slightly vary the outward route so as to visit the millennial four-way seat.

Conditions: largely dry, contrary to the forecast.

Pub: the Station Inn, Oxenholme, for Bowness Brewery Swan Blonde.

7km Kentmere run including the Three Rivers path

A 7km run constituting the end of the NHS Couch to 5km programme. 

Route: leaving the car parked near the Ullthwaite Bridge, crossing the bridge and running along the track past Croft Head and right along a path through the pottery to the Hollingworth & Vose factory. 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, taking the left turn descending the Three Rivers path, to the controversial resurfacing. Past Croft Head and down the road to Ullthwaite Bridge and the car.

Conditions: a brief interlude in the rain on a grey autumnal day.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for Hawkshead Session IPA and Windermere Pale Ale.

Orrest Head

A short walk with Jamie on a Wednesday.

Route: leaving the car in the Booths car park (free for 2 hours) and taking the marked path to Orrest Head, for the first time since access had been improved for wheelchairs, cutting corners on available footpaths to reach the summit. Then heading east off the summit to reach a clearly marked path in a wall corner through Common Wood to reach the A591 a little to the east of the station and back to the start.

Conditions: a dry spell during a generally wet day.

Pub: earlier, the Watermill Ings for Windermere  Blonde, Bit r Ruff and a Winter's Tail and lunch. Later various beers in Indiecraft, Kendal, joined by Anne and Frank.

Midtown Cottages to Buttermere

A spontaneous 7-mile walk to Buttermere with Jamie (Lois only), despite the weather forecast.

Route: Leaving the cottage for a short circuit out via High Swinside Farm and back via the village shop for lunch but, the rain still distant and the air still, continuing on past the summit of the road at High Swinside Farm to join the footpath to see whether it was possible to cross Hope Beck. Having crossed, deciding to duck out of climbing up the Dodd and carry on and following the footpath (very damp in places) all the way to Lanthwaite Green where the rain started to fall beside a barely visible but well-filled Crummock. 

From there following the road down to Rannerdale, round the Knotts (in increasingly blustery wind and rain) and on to Crummock South Beach - briefly trying to find the path to cut the corner but finding the branches a bit low and lively at the wall around Great Wood to make it any fun and returning to the road. Walking on to Buttermere along the road and stopping briefly at the Bridge before catching the next bus back to Lorton.

Conditions: Initially still and dry with high-ish cloud but walking towards a socked-in Buttermere with increasing wind and rain from about half way

Pub: The Bridge, Buttermere, for Tractor Shed Mowdy Pale

Circuit of Grasmere and Rydal Water

A 10km run on Week 9 (the last week) of the NHS Couch to 5km programme.

Route: leaving the car at the Broadgate Meadow car park (£3 for 2 hours) and running south west past Tweedies on the road to the west of the lake. After a short ascent, turning left onto a path down to the lakeshore and along this, climbing on a minor path to the start of Loughrigg Terrace but descending to a shoreline path round Rydal, entering woods at the end to cross the footbridge opposite the Badger Bar. Climbing, at a walk, the steep road at Rydal Mount and turning left on the coffin path, continuing to climb with fine views to the left over the lakes finally descending to Town End and thus to the church. Turning right on the Riverside Path and following this, crossing the Rothay twice to arrive back at the car park.

Conditions: a warm (14C) sunny autumnal day (with lots of people about).

Pub: the Badger Bar, Rydal, for Old School Brewery Badger Beer.