Circuit of Loweswater

A 7km run with one steep ascent.

Route: leaving the car at the small car park at Maggie's Bridge and running west on a gravel track along the western shore of Loweswater eventually climbing to Hudson Place and descending to Waterend. Back along the road to reach Grange Lane, a long, steep green lane climbing the hillside and then turning right to descend another green lane to rejoin the road and return to Maggie's Bridge.

Conditions: hot and sticky though overcast

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales American Pale Ale and Esthwaite Bitter.

Bushwhacking round the Gorrenberry Estate

A 10km walk on the hills behind Georgia and Mark’s new home.

Route: from Gorrenberry Cottage up the road a little to take a track heading up Bught Shank to pass the memorial to Ken Lyall who bought the original farm with Jane Bower in 2011 to turn it into the Gorenberry Estate ecological project. Then round and down to cross Gorenberry Burn and rise up onto the flanks of Dod Fell, quickly losing the track and plunging into long wet grass to cross under what remains of Dod Plantation, herding some unfortunate sheep out of the way, and then up Braidley Burn to visit Braidliehope, a deserted farmhouse at the top of the valley in need of a keen builder's project management skills one day. Then back down the track to the east of the burn, above an occasional archery range, and down to the road, turning right to walk back up the house past the home of the inventor of garlic ginger marmalade!

Conditions: low cloud hiding the tops but warm enough and dry

Pub: back to the cottage for bottled beer including William Brothers’ Joker IPA and BrewDog Punk IPA.

Fellbarrow

A 14km walk, occasionally running, from the cottage.

Route: from the cottage across field to the pub and then across the Lorton Low Bridge to take the road, then green lane, up High Bank onto the fellside. After 1.5km taking a clear track (though not a right of way) to the ruins at Hatteringill. Then steeply uphill by a wall and bearing right to reach Hatteringill Head. Following paths and then a line of fence through cotton to the summit of Fellbarrow, then running and walking to Smithy Fell and Sourfoot Fell. After a brief look towards Watching Crag, running down a clear zigzagging path into the comb and then across fields to Thackthwaite and back via the road to Lorton, spotting a red squirrel and then pausing for a pint.

Conditions: hot with some hazy sun. Muggy with a hint of rain to come, which never came.

Pub: the Wheatsheaf, Lorton for Ringwood Boon Doggle.

Circuit of Mellbreak

A walk and swim with Mark and Sandra (staying at the cottage) on a hot sunny day.

Route: leaving the car at the Scalehill Bridge NT carpark and taking woodland paths to Crummockwater. Following the path along the west shore overshooting the intended westwards path under the southern end of Mellbreak. Gaining height to a saddle to take a slowly descending path then track along an empty Mosedale to reach the Kirkstile Inn for a pint. Then by paths via Muncaster House to swim in the lake near the pump house and then back to the car.

Conditions: hot and sunny enough to swim.

Pub: The Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales American Pale Ale and Loweswater Gold.

Grasmoor circuit

A surprisingly tough walk from the cottage on a sunny Bank Holiday Monday.

Route: leaving the car at the first of the carparks approaching Rannerdale Knott and heading up the ridge of Lad How rising steeply but on a well-graded path to the summit of Grasmoor. Then back down the broad path to the col and up Eel Crag, descending it on rough scree to Coledale Hause. Up Hopegill Head and along the ridge of Whiteside to descend to the main Grasmoor carpark. Here taking a path across fields and through woods to the shore of Crummockwater and along this back to the start.

Conditions: a hot and sunny though sometimes cloudy and windy day.

Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere for Hesket Newmarket Haystacks and Tractor Shed Mowdy.

Rannerdale Knotts

A short walk with Derek, Jenny and Simone after lunch at the Kirkstile Inn.

Route: leaving the car in the small carpark immediately underneath the end of the fell and walking north east to reach the open end of Rannerdale where the bluebells were just past their best. Up the gently ascending valley (rescuing a stranded Herdwick lamb on the way) to the col at the very far end and turning right to join the ridge. Following this to the summit and then descending on a pitched staircase-like path almost back to the carpark but then turning left to paddle in Crummockwater.

Conditions: hazy and cloudy but with hints of warm sun.

Pub: the Grange Bridge Cottage teashop, Grange – after some car difficulty near the top of Honister Pass – for cream tea, carrot cake, chocolate cake and Victoria sponge!

Kirk Fell from Lorton

A first walk from the cottage.

Route: turning south from the cottage to take the steep road up to the Whinlatter Pass road. Almost opposite, entering access land through a gate and following a track zig zagging up the field eventually directly ascending to the summit of High How. Exiting the field by climbing a short section of wooden fence in the top right corner and then following the line of a collapsed wall very steeply up through gorse before arriving at a more level grassy summit plateau. After reaching the unmarked summit, heading north west to a cairn marked 'pile of stones' on the map and thence down a gentler slope to join a track to the west of Harrot and past a herd of interested cows and calves to reach a C-road. Back along the B5292 to Lorton.

Conditions: cloudy and cool on the top.

Pub: Tweedies Bar, Grasmere for Brewsmith Bitter and Fyne Ales Hurricane Jack.