High Spy

A very wet, truncated, walk with Robin.

Route: Leaving the car parked in a layby in Grange and taking a path opposite the Borrowdale Gates Hotel to rise on a clear route to the top of Cockley How to find the drove road above Nitting Haws. Then up a damp path in a wide grassy amphitheatre to meet the ridge path (from Maiden Moor) and on to the summit cairn. In heavier wind and rain, down to the saddle above Rigghead and then descending a made path to join the Allerdale Ramble route back past Castle Crag and thence to Grange.

Conditions: Initial showers and then persistent rain and strong wind.

Pub: The King's Head at Thirlspot for Cocker Hoop and Sneck Lifter.

Barbon Low Fell

A wet post-lunch walk with Mike and Janet Hornby circuiting Barbon Low Fell.

Route: Leaving the pub at Barbon for a woodland walk by Barbon Beck, crossing it at a footbridge to backtrack down the road before taking a bridleway to Bullpot Farm and then briefly joining a road. Leaving that for a higher parallel path from which a brief diversion on a grassy path led to the summit, and then down to join a green road (Fellfoot Road) laterally back before a short road walk back into Barbon.

Conditions: Initial cloud and then persistent rain.

Pub: Barbon Inn for Ruskin's Bitter (and lunch) before the walk.

The Eskdale Skyline

A substantial 17 mile and nearly 8 hour circuit, starting in Eskdale, from Slight Side on Sca Fell to Crinkle Crags (thus avoiding coverage of the royal wedding).

Route: Leaving the car (90 mins from home) in the new small car park at the start of the terrace route, faithfully along that low level path to Slight Side, then Sca Fell, descending to Foxes Tarn (where the paved route was largely lost in scree) to gain Sca Fell Pike. Deviating from the ridge route to tick off Broad Crag, Ill Crag and Great End before an easy climb of Esk Pike, Bow Fell and the main Crinkle summit. Then down steeply and pathlessly by Swinsty Gill to reach the main bridleway (from Three Tarns) along the Esk to reach the road and back to the car.

Conditions: Initially sun but severe winds; then cloud and stiller; finally sun for the long descent.

Pub: The Woolpack Inn for Hardknott Cold Fusion and Bank Top Barley to Beer and then the Prince of Wales at Foxfield for Foxfield Sands and Wasdale Golden Gill.

Wetherlam, Swirl How and Consiton Old Man

The Coniston Ridge from Tilberthwaite with Ian Lyne based at Fir Bank.

Route: Leaving the car in Coniston, the ground level foot path round the Yewdale Fells to the Tilberthwaite road and the Goldsworthy sheep fold. Then up the south side of Tilberthwaite Ghyll to Steel Ridge and thence onto Wetherlam. Following the ridge past Swirl How, Brim Fell and Coniston Old Man and down the path to the south and back round to the Walna Sca Road (where, by chance, we met A&A).

Conditions: Low cloud to begin with but the cloud lifted off each summit sequentially.

Pub: Sun Hotel for Tag Lag and Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold.

Helvellyn, Seat Sandal and Fairfield

A big walk on a hot day whilst staying at the Travellers Rest.

Route: From the Travellers Rest, a dull tramp up the road to the AA box at the top of Dunmail Raise and then a mile further north on the path a few hundred yards from the road to meet the busy path coming up from the Wythburn church and thence up Birk Side and to the top of Helvellyn. From there, keeping close to the edge, to Nethermost and Dollywagon Pikes and down the main path towards Grisedale Tarn but turning off to contour round to the saddle to the west. Up the slope to Seat Sandal then steeply down and up to Fairfield and then down via Great Rigg, Heron Pike and Nab Scar to the Badger Bar. Back round Rydal and Grasmere on lakeside low level paths.

Conditions: A surprisingly hot, sunny and still day.

Pub: Badger Bar for Hawkshead Windermere Pale Ale.

Stone Arthur

An evening stroll after Chris and Chris' wedding whilst staying at the Travellers Rest.

Route: From the Travellers Rest, 100 yards down the road towards Grasmere and then turning left up a paved track before working up over a rough steep fields to a level track round into the Tongue Gill valley, after which there is a steep climb to the summit. Dropping down the path to the south and then informally off piste contouring back round the hillside to meet the outward path and thus back.

Conditions: A warm evening for the time of year.

Pub: Tweedies Bar for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Buttermere Beauty and Hesket Newmarket Loughrigg.

High Crag to Starling Dodd

A walk to mark the publication of Cicerone's Western Fells Fellranger.

Route: From the main Grasmere carpark to take a path between the Red Pike ascent path and the stroll round the lake, climbing gently into Burtness Combe and then steeply gaining the summit of High Crag via Sheepbone Rake. Along the ridge to High Style, Red Pike and Starling Dodd. Then descending north west to reach the summit of Gale Fell and a rough pathless descent to Scale Force and back to Grasmere.

Conditions: Still, some sun, but cool out of the sun.

Pub: The Fish at Grasmere for Sneck Lifter and a seasonal Hesket Newmarket beer.