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.