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.