Keswick End-to-End via the Railway Path/Cumbria Way

Inaugural 7.5km New Year’s Eve stroll with pubs

Route: Parking halfway up Church Lane (unrestricted except during Keswick School bus times) and walking up to Crosthwaite Church (dedicated to St Kentigern) but, finding the main entrance closed, retracing our steps to Church Lane and continuing north, with the churchyard to our left, on an unmade track, as far as the railway path. 

Here crossing under the path and turning left to ascend steps to the churchyard and the path and turning left to cross the track again and follow on an increasing path, through trees, on an embankment, for about a kilometre, to Crosthwaite Road.

At the road, turning right to walk down to the Pheasant for a quick half by the roaring fire at opening time. Then continuing down the road and turning left on Brundholme Road, talking the footpath to the right of the road, bearing right and climbing up to follow a section of railway path for less than half a kilometre and then descending to the north edge of Fitz Park. 

There bending left round the leisure centre to the old station to join the crowds promenading along the railway path, heading east over Calvert’s Bridgeand over the A591. 

Descending from the path on the far side and onto a snickleway behind the roadside houses and turning up to slip into the beer garden of the Twa Dogs pubs - but returning on finding no hand-pulled beer on to tempt us in. 

Back at the railway path, crossing underneath it towards St Herbert’s Primary School. Walking round the school and doglegging across Trinity Way and Windebrowe Avenue to reach a deserted circular parking and play area and a gate onto field - unfortunately padlocked!

Thrice thwarted, turning back across the open area and taking another snickleway bearing left to make our way slowly uphill through the estate onto Brandlehow Crescent and Manesty View to Manesty House, turning downhill on a path cutting round left to join Manor Brow.

Once on Manor Brow turning right to walk down to, and cross through, the vicarage/bishop’s house driveway and St John’s Churchyard to the lane leading left and down to Borrowdale Road and, finally, right to walk down to the Wainwright.

After a second drink, walking along Lake Road and Market Place to Booths and the Coop, and then taking the Cumbria Way for less than half a kilometre, through ‘the Hadrows’ to Stormwater Bridge and the road leading back up to the B5289. At the road, doglegging across to follow a footpath round to the left of the ‘new’ detached house (Quinta) and along beside fields to the church music centre and the church itself to return to the car.

Conditions: Rising from 2C with very occasional patches of frozen ground and ice, with a slight breeze towards the end and a light smattering of rain, otherwise grey and settled but with high cloud and all the tops visible.

Pub?: Theakstons Old Peculier at the Pheasant (first stop) and Fell Tinderbox and Strands Brewery IPA at the Wainwright (by happy coincidence joining Maddie and Rob beside the fire).

Sale Fell (Christmas 2025)

A 5km walk with Anne and Frank.

Route: leaving the car at St Margaret’s Church, Wythop, walking in through the left-hand lych gate and across the churchyard to the gate to the left and crossing laterally to a path junction. Turning right there to follow a gentle stream of people heading uphill to the right and then round the hill gaining ground slowly towards the west. At the end of the ridge (level with a wall) turning left uphill on gradually emptying paths to the top. 

Ambling down from the summit towards Bassenthwaite with views of the Dodd and Ullock Pike, to a subsidiary summit and then bearing left to Lothwaite to descend on a large clear grassy path between bracken to cross the stream (Routenbeck?), turn right through the gate and follow the narrow path down the initial path junction and bench, and across to the churchyard.

Conditions: Cool with cloud over Skiddaw and the Solway but otherwise pretty clear views and a little breeze at the very top.

Pub: the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, for Bowness Brewery Swan Blonde, Jennings Castle Bitter and lunch.

Circuit of Grasmere (lake)

A meditative (but also deeply discursive) stroll with Gabi in the Christmas break

Route: Leaving Freda + Ray on Red Lion Square and following the road winding down past the Gingerbread Shop to Red Bank Road. Following that road for about a mile (admiring the shimmering icy moss on the wall-tops), rising slowly uphill, to the footpath down to the lake shore. 

Then walking along the lakeshore path, slowly, stopping to let people and dogs pass and enjoy the sunshine and shadows on the lake, black branches etched against them. Arriving at the footbridge at the far end, crossing that (still slippy with frost at almost-midday), following a path around the little headland and back up to the road. 

Walking along the roadside back to the village, turning in along Stock Lane and back to Freda + Ray.

Conditions: Bright, still and frosty (but no snow visible on the tops) - and warm in the sunshine.

Pub? Back to Freda + Ray for coffee (and flapjack for L)

Aysgarth to West Witton along the River Ure

An 8km damp stroll with Angie and Alistair, the day before T’s 60th birthday, staying at the Aysgarth Falls Hotel.

Route: leaving the hotel and walking down Church Bank to admire the waterfalls, in spate, and then back up some steps to the church, joined by A&A. After looking at the church, continuing east on a footpath across fields, rising and falling with the landscape but generally staying some height above the River Ure before briefly joining the A684 to use a road bridge to cross a stream and then return to the riverside. Pausing to examine the submerged stepping stones before crossing back across sodden fields to join a track heading back to the road but diverting left on a footpath to arrive in West Witton along a narrow snicket.

Conditions: a constant threat of rain but only really a short shower near the end.

Pub: the Fox, West Witton, for Yorkshire Dales Brewery Askrigg Ale and Bainbridge Blonde and lunch.

Binsey

A 5km stroll on a glorious sunny day with views of snow on the hills.

Route: leaving the car at the obvious Binsey car parking area to its south east and walking carefully along the ungritted road to Fell End Farm. Taking a snowy footpath to the right, diagonally uphill across a field and then guessing when to zigzag back left (north) joining a clearer track (disturbing a hare) through what had been a gate in a fence or hedge and then diverting from it directly uphill to a hand gate. 

Turning left on a series of faint snowy footpaths contouring round the hill until, eventually, we passed a more established path rising uphill. Following this onto the shoulder of the hill to meet the familiar path from the north and along this to the summit. Descending at some speed on the direct route back to the car.

Conditions: just above freezing point, bright sun and cold with snow (and ice on the road) under foot.

Pub: the Sun Inn, Bassenthwaite (village), for Wychwood Hobgoblin Gold.

The Dodd (ie Skiddaw’s)

A 9.5km walk on a gorgeous sunny but suddenly cold November day.

Route: leaving the car at the Ravenstone Manor Hotel and walking along the permissive path parallel to the A591 south to the Dodd Wood car park. After a bit of confusion, crossing the beck on a bridge and following a clear marked (in green as the Dodd Summit trail) path, climbing first above the stream (to our left) and then right on a track and left uphill onto a balcony path through trees to the west of the Dodd (above the osprey viewpoint path). At a junction to the south of the Dodd, turning left on a winding path to the summit. 

Returning to that junction and turning left (east) to descend into the saddle between the Dodd and Carlside and descending the valley, northwards, on the left of the stream (Skill Beck) until signed (green still) to turn sharply back right to another footbridge and across a metalled track onto another balcony path through trees, gaining a surprising amount of height but staying on a marked route (now yellow for the Sandbed Gill trail) through dark forest and eventually 50m beyond where the Sandbed Gill trail turned south, turning sharp left down a steep and leafy path to the back gate of the hotel.

Conditions: bright sun but a chilly 4C especially when out of the sun and in a breeze.

Pub: the Ravenstone Manor Hotel for Corby Blonde. 

Mawbray Bank

A 6km run on a blustery and damp day.

Route: leaving the car at the Mawbray Bank car park and heading directly to the shore but, the tide being almost in, finding the ground either stony or very soft sand (the fine firm sand being under the sea) thus reverting to paths on the lower dunes, later rising onto the higher dunes. Continuing to Beckfoot - where the dunes run out - and then running along the stony beach to reach a 3km notional mark. 

Then across rough grass to turn right/south, first on a clear footpath and then along the cycle path, to a car park and then, after a brief overlap with the outward route, diverting away from the shore on grassy, sandy paths to pass the Belted Galloways and, with a few deliberate zigzags, reaching the car park after the intended notional 6km mark.

Conditions: to start with, surprisingly dry and with higher cloud than the very low cloud and drizzle of Cockermouth and Gilcrux. But then light rain arriving.

Pub: the Masons Arms, Gilcrux, for Bowness Brewery Swan Blonde and Stewart Brewey Edinburgh Dry Stout.

Cockermouth run to the Jennings Brewery on a dark autumn evening

A 5km run to the Brewery, an Outdoor Day because the first dark evening run of the season.

Route: from the Rectory, heading north and then left up Vicarage Drive onto Culgarth Avenue to the two short snickets to reach Dale View and along this to the footbridge at Double Mill. Ascending Fern Bank to Parkside Avenue and along this to cross Lamplugh Road onto Brigham Road. Turning right on Dalton Street, left on Henry Street, right on Harrow Road and then left on Fitz Road to the dark track to The Parklands (initially going wrong by following a lit footpath). 

Descending to Low Road to cross the main road bridge over the River Derwent and then, after 400m, right on Sustrans Route 71, over the footbridge and then the complicated route back (via Low Sand Lane) along the riverside path (now dry after Monday’s flooding) under the footbridge, along Waterlooo Street and over the footbridge over the Cocker to Brewery Lane and the Jennings Brewery. 

After a pint, walking to pick up a pre-ordered Fermento pizza and back home.

Conditions: dry and unseasonably mild.

Pub: the Jennings Brewery, for Sneck Lifter and Cocker Hoop. 

Stile End, Barrow Door and Barrow

A 5km walk with Steve and Kathryn on a blustery cool November morning having visited the cottage to view progress on the building works.

Route: leaving the car at the Coledale Inn and walking round the inn and along the road gaining altitude towards the hills. Joining a stony track to a grassy path and then following the ridge to the right, getting steeper to reach the top of Stile End. Descending on a rocky and sometimes slippery path to the pass at Barrow Door and ascending the gentle incline to Barrow. 

Descending the ridge to the crossroads of paths near Braithwaite Lodge. Given the damp conditions under foot, continuing down the farm track to the road and then taking the path by the stream up to the pub.

Conditions: a cool wind, cold on the tops; mainly cloudy but with hints of sun. 

Pub: the Coledale Inn, Braithwaite, for Corby Blonde and lunch.

Sale Fell

A 5km walk post lunch walk with Steve and Kathryn

Route: leaving the cars at St Margaret’s Church (above the Pheasant Inn) and walking through the churchyard to the gate to the left, crossing laterally to a footpath and then heading uphill to the right and then round the hill gaining ground slowly towards the west. At the end of the ridge (level with a wall) turning left uphill on clear paths to the top. 

Thence down to a subsidiary summit and round to Lothwaite and then descending on a large clear grassy path between bracken to the church. 

Conditions: dry but a surprisingly strong cold wind.

Pub: before the walk, the Embleton Spa Hotel for Cumbrian Ales Loweswater Gold and lunch.

6km Cockermouth Run

A 6km run, the third in a week of an informal ‘couch to several km’ programme after, for both of us, a period of illness-induced (Covid then cold etc) indolence. (For that reason, an Outdoor Day.)

Route: from the Rectory, running south on Lorton Road, then left on Strawberry How Road outside and round the cemetery to turn left onto the Sustrans route to reach the Greenway. Turning left and then right on a path over a subtle footbridge back to Sandybeck Way and then left on Horseshoe Drive to Bellbrigg Lonning and then along Slatefell Drive. Following this to the end and then along a path to a footbridge over Bitter Beck to join St Helen’s Street and head east, gradually gaining a bit of altitude before heading back left on Castlegate Drive and right on Beech Lane, climbing to the highest point of the run, and then descending via Isel Road to the Jennings Brewery. 

Then, taking the Waterloo footbridge to Waterloo Street, the footpath along the river and then running along the road to Aldi. Turning left to run most of the length of the Greenway entering the cemetery at the further gate and thence home.

Conditions: despite a forecast of rain, a dry grey day.

Pub? Much later Fyne Ales Jarl at the Bitter End

Ling Fell

A 3.5km stroll on a still, autumnal day.

Route: leaving the car by the side of the road at the entrance to Ling Fell near Eskin and climbing onto the fellside and uphill left to join a track rising gradually round the fell. At its eastmost point, turning sharp right on a gradually rising track heading anti-clockwise back round the fell. Following this, spurning two steeper paths left, until it ended in heather and only then, around 320m, turning left to the top. Then proceeding south-west to the wall and then downhill north-west across a slightly marshy patch before contouring right towards the corpse road and joining it to walk back round the north of the fell and down to the car.

Conditions: cloudy, misty and still

Pub: the Embleton Spa Hotel for Cumbrian Ales, Loweswater Gold.