Graystones via Terrace Farm and Sware Gill

A spur-of-the-moment Sunday afternoon walk up Graystones from Midtown (Lois only)

Route: leaving the house to walk along the road to take the footpath just beside Oaklands, across the field and through trees across the road to Fernwood. 

Walking up the road beside the cottages and going through the next farm gate on the right to head diagonally uphill east through two more gates and across three fields. After the fourth gate turning left, more steeply uphill, through gorse beside a wall to turn right up the gully of Wythe Gill.

Staying south of the gill to stay dry, on intermittent sheep paths, occasionally following the line of a tumbledown slate wall, to pick a way up the gully and eventually come out onto the tops and walk up a little further to a boulder and a view of the Solway.

From here, eventually, deciding to turn right towards Graystones on a path dipping down and then up to the path turning left to circumnavigate the summit plateau at mid-height and bend round to the acute corner of Embleton High Common (limit of access land). Here following east, above the very muddy path, to the northeast corner of the fell to walk up and across the two summits and down to the wall leading down to Whinlatter.

There taking the steepening path on the far side of the wall and following it down to the lateral path, faint at first, that sets off halfway down the western limit of Darling How Plantation. Following this clear, wide track down to cross Sware Gill on the little rock bridge and carry down almost to the new gate on the pass, before heading uphill again to the walls at the northeast corner of High How.

There climbing over the wall to the summit of High How, walking down the ridge and cutting across fields back to Whinlatter behind Kirkfell House to the farmgate just beside Hole Mire, and dogleg right and left to take the road down past White Ash to High Lorton and walk back to the house.

Conditions: warm sunshine and completely still to begin with, overcast with a light wind most of the time, shower at the end - muddy footpaths and boggy bits

Pub: espresso martini at home at 7pm with T

Brackenthwaite Hows 5km run

A first return to Brackenthwaite Hows in 13 months and the first while living at 1-2 Midtown Cottages.

Route: leaving the car in the car park of the Kirkstile Inn (because at 11:15am on the first Monday in February) and running down the road towards the Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park, but carrying on up the hill to turn right along a track into the woods to reach the start of the small path up Robin’s Steps to the summit plateau of Brackenthwaite Hows. 

Descending south and picking up the path within the wood by its eastern wall to join the small path descending to the boat house. Thence round the lake to the pumping house. Here turning right to follow Park Beck to Park Bridge and back along the road to the pub.

Conditions: not quite as cold as the official 5C. Drizzle easing as we started.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, for Cumbrian Ales Esthwaite Bitter.

Braithwaite to Thornthwaite and Knott Head

A 6km jog (for T becoming very much a trudge).

Route: leaving the car in the car park of the Coledale Inn (11:15am on a quiet Friday) and descending the snicket opposite the Orthodox Church and then across the bridge to turn left up Whinlatter Pass and immediately right on a path past the Hope Memorial Camp and then along the path to the left running laterally north. Running through a number of gates on a muddy path with a small ascent to the left and then descent to cross a track and proceed in the same direction on another track to Seldom Seen above Thornthwaite. 

Here turning left, often at a walk, on first the road past the last house and then a path through the forestry plantation with Comb Beck to the left. On reaching a gravel forest road, turning left to cross the stream and swing back north, east and then south again with wide views of Skiddaw, rising gradually to meet the Whinlatter Pass. Running down the pass to Knott Head and taking a gravel track left, back down towards Hallgarth and turning right on the outward path, staying right to avoid the muddiest stretch near the end and joining the Pass again briefly a little higher up. Back to the pub.

Conditions: 3-4C, windy, damp and unappealing to start with but, in the end, dry, still and brightening.

Pub: the Coledale Inn for Great Corby Corby Blonde. 

Circuit of Buttermere

A 7.5 km walk with Angie and Alistair.

Route: leaving the car at the NT car park (largely empty on a damp January Friday) and walking past the Bridge Hotel and Allerdale Court Hotel to the lake and then via the footbridge to the path on the far, western, side of the lake. 

Along this to the head of the lake and then back first on the road and then on the  re-engineered path on the eastern shore, this time through the tunnel. At the end of the lake, turning right at the fork to head directly to the village and back to the car.

Conditions: a cool feeling 6C and in, while heading south on the west side, a stiff wind. 

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater for Cumbrian Ales, Loweswater Gold and lunch.

Circuit of Cogra Moss from Lamplugh

A 7km run on largely flat ground, the second run in two days after a fallow period, hopefully to start a return to fitness.

Route: Parking on the large lay-by opposite St Michael’s church, Lamplugh, and crossing a ladder stile 100m to the north to take a marshy track along field edges to a gate in the corner. Then turning right to step across a beck on treacherous stepping stones (thus deciding not to return this way), and across another field to join a track, steeply down and up to Dockray Nook. Thence passing Felldyke Bunkhouse on the right, to the track junction above Felldyke to turn left uphill at a junction on a gravel track, at a walk initially, and then, descending slightly, running with the gorge of Rakegill Beck to the left, to reach the dam at the west end of Cogra Moss. 

Continuing straight on a level track anti-clockwise round the reservoir for 3km. Returning, on a newly-made soft gravel path, rising a little, and then descending past the dam. Running back down to Felldyke and, after the bunkhouse, turning left, marked Stegcroft Bridge, through a farmyard with horses, diagonally across one field and then left on a path past two fields to emerge onto the road just south of Inglenook caravan park. Continuing right on the road, past a junction, uphill back to the church.

Conditions: occasional glimpses of sun, cold, dry, still. Soft going across the fields.

Pub: The New Cock and Bull, Cockermouth, for Cumbrian Ales Loweswater Gold and Timothy Taylor’s Golden Best.

Low level circuit of Sale Fell

An 8km jog, walking the up-hills: T's first run in about 10 weeks.

Route: leaving the car opposite the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, and running and then walking up the road to Routenbeck and then past St Margaret’s Church, Wythop to Wythop Mill. Walking left up the hill to the informal car parking area and along the road with Sale Fell to the left to Kelswick and then right on a grassy track to the remains of a chapel and then on a lowly rising path through woods. 

Turning right along an avenue of wind-blown stunted trees and then into the forestry commission land. Descending to a junction and running left downhill and then walking uphill, right at a fork and right onto a path. On reaching a metalled track, taking a slight right turn to reach the road near access to the lake and back along the road to the Pheasant to meet Kate R for lunch.

Conditions: initially cold (4C) with a threat of rain that never arrived.

Pub: the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, for Bowness Brewery Swan Blonde.  

Rannerdale Knotts

An impulse walk on a cold, frosty, sunny day, the first Monday after the Christmas and New Year break.

Route: leaving the car at the NT carpark (plenty of space at noon on a Monday after the holidays) and taking a gate across the road, directly opposite, uphill, trending left, to the start of the Rannerdale Knotts ridge. Following this to the end. 

Returning the same way but staying on the ridge to the very last moment and descending steeply towards Buttermere, then turning left on a path to a stile into the woods by Mill Beck. Following this back to Buttermere village.

Conditions: very cold but bright sun.

Pub: the Buttermere Courts Hotel, hotel lounge area for keg Brixton Reliance Pale Ale.