Foce Siggioli, Il Giovetto and Foce di Giovi

An walk and scramble around the spectacular Pizzo D’Ucello.

Route: From the Rifugio Donegani along route 187, a marked but minor route weaving through trees to reach the saddle at the Foce Siggioli. Then along route 181 under the main mountain with a couple of cabled paths (one up hill in an enclosed chute and one round a spur of hill) to reach Il Giovetto and then Foce di Giovi. An attempt to go further on 179 having been blocked by snow, a descent on route 37 eventually (and obviously incorrectly!) descending on quarry roads through the noisy marble quarry and back to the refuge.

Conditions: Cloudy becoming sunny.

Pub: To the Bar Arianna in Minucianno for bottled Moretti.

Equi Terme to Castellacio

An short post-lunch stroll on wooded paths.

Route: From Equi Terme picking up route 39 on the edge of town to climb gradually up and round the hillside in trees on a stony path, passing Aiola to reach the runied fortification at Castellacio and then back along the same path.

Conditions: Warm and sunny.

Pub: Back home to Il Fortino, Viano for bottled Moretti.

Sergeant Man

An ascent via the tarns with Ian and M.

Route: Leaving the car by arrangement at Tweedies Bar to take the Easedale road to the main pitched path to Easedale Tarn for M to leave a solemn rose at the site of her father's ashes. Then on the path to Coledale Tarn, and round it to find Wainwright's grassy shelf - as wide as an arterial road' - turning up hill on the main path to reach the summit. Back down the main path towards tarns after a short heavy shower.

Conditions: Despite a poor forecast, cloudy with some sun to the top and only a single heavy shower before a warm evening.

Pub: Tweedies for lunch and Hardnott Continuum and Loweswater Gold  before the walk. The Badger Bar for Barngates Tenacious Ted afterwards.

Cycle circuit of the Lyth Valley

A cycle ride and pub crawl on an amazingly sunny spring day.

Route: to Natland, Sizergh and the road to Levens continuing along the W2W route to the Derby Arms. Then on the higher level minor road from Witherslack to Crosthwaite and on to the Punch Bowl at Underbarrow. Then to Crook and initially along the road towards Ings before turning right to climb to a summit and then descend a gated road to Staveley and the Hawkshead Brewery. Back along the higher level 'back' road to Burneside and home through Kendal.

Conditions: blissfully sunny and warm.

Pubs: The Derby Arms, Witherslack, for Stringers The North Will Rise Again. The Punch Bowl at Underbarrow for Cumberland Corby Blonde. Hawkshead Brewery (beer festival), Staveley, for Hawkshead USPA and Black Isle Goldeneye.

Skiddaw via Ullock Pike

A fine high-level horseshoe route.

Route: Leaving the car in the centre of Bassenthwaite, taking paths across fields to join, briefly, the Orthwaite Road and hence to the start of a bridleway onto the fell side. Leaving the gently rising wide path for an undulating trod along the summit of the Watches and thus up to the top of Ullock Pike. Along the ridge keeping close to the edge of Southerndale and via the sloping scree path onto the top of Skiddaw. Down the fence to Bakestall and then Birkett Edge to join the Cumbria Way at Dash Falls and then back across very wet and muddy fields to Bassenthwaite.

Conditions: Initially warm and sunny but, on the top, a bitterly cold day. Lots of blue sky and clear views to Criffel and Snaefell.

Pub: The Sun Inn at Bassenthwaite for Jennings Cocker Hoop (before and after!).

Cunswick Scar and Scout Scar 10km run

A 10km run with Steve M.

Route: Leaving the car at the Riflemans, along Serpentine Road and Queen's Road to the Tramway and then, via the quarry, to cross the golf course and along to the Cunswick Scar cairn. Then back along the ridge, past the car park to the Mushroom. Then to the trig point and a left turn just short of the gate in the corner, down and back along the 'trippy path' to the race course and back down Brigsteer Road to the car.

Conditions: Cloudy and some light drizzle

 Pub: The Riflemans for Abbot and Batemans XXXB.

Steel Fell via Wythburn Dale

A post-flu short walk, the first of the season, after six weeks of rain and heavy skies.

Route: From the Steel End water authority car park at the southern end of Thirlmere, taking the path on the north side of the Wythburn (marshy but frozen) picking a way between areas of frozen surface water, to cross a footbridge to the southern side thence slowly gaining altitude to reach the remains of Wythburn Tarn (pictured). Thence, cutting up to the left uphill, pathless, to reach the summit ridge near two frozern tarns. Along the southern edge of the ridge to the summit of Steel Fell and very steeply down the north east ridge, back to the car park.

Conditions: Bitterly cold and windy in the valley and cold with occasional sun on the top.

Pub: The Traveller’s Rest for Jennings Sneck Lifter.