Wansfell Pike

A convalescent stroll on a grey post Christmas day.

Route: From the Organico's car park along Skelghyll Lane and then the path towards Jenkins Crag, turning left uphill at Kelsick Scar to follow a path past the observatory (pictured) and then wiggling about the hill to the summit. Down in the direction of Stockghyll Force.

Conditions: Damp, warm compared to recent frosts, some spots of ice on the ground still.

Pub: White Lion for Youngs Golden Christmas Ale.

Simon's Seat via the Valley of Desolation

A surprisingly tiring expedition across grouse filled moors on a wintry Christmas Day.

Route: From the Cavendish Pavilion carpark (free on Christmas Day) a short way north along the east back of the river before heading east passed Waterfall Cottage and the path to the Valley of Desolation; dropping down into the valley to cross a foot bridge and then walking along next to the river / waterfalls before climbing out, crossing a wood on a track and then climbing slowly across the moors to the head of a valley and then on to Simon's Seat.

Conditions: Cold, snow under foot and low cloud.

Pub: No pub but on to Nunmill House for a pint of York Terrier.

Helm Crag and Gibson Knott

A cold cloudy snowy short walk from a Grasmere Cottage.

Route: From Chapel Cottage, Grasmere, up the Easedale Road to the old Helm Crag path steeply up the edge of the ridge (much less good than the standard new path). Then on the Gibson Knott and down the old shepherds path (100m after a stone throne).

Conditions: Cold, snow under foot and low cloud.

Pub: Travellers Rest for Jennings Sneck Lifter.

Sergeant Man via Blea Rigg

An almost empty mountain landscape on a bright sunny day with snow under foot, from a Grasmere Cottage.

Route: From Chapel Cottage Grasmere up the Easedale Road before turning off left for the Blindtarn Moss path. A slight navigational error in the snow rationalised an early ascent of Swinescar Pike before Castle How and Blea Rigg and then up to Sergeant Man. Back along the same route to find, successfully, a shed Grivel Spider.

Conditions: Bright sun but a very tiring 8-12 inches of powdery snow drifting to a couple of feet.

Pub: Tweedies Bar, Grasmere for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Langdale.

Great Rigg via Stone Arthur

A quiet cold snowy walk from a cottage in Grasmere

Route: From Chapel Cottage, Grasmere, past the Swan Hotel to climb Stone Arthur and then on to Great Rigg. Down over Heron Pike to the Badger Bar and then back along the old road.

Conditions: Cold. Snow under foot and mist in the valley but clear from Stone Arthur and higher with views over the cloud of high fells.

Pub: Badger Bar for Barngates Chester's Strong and Ugly and Keswick Thirst Run.

Thornthwaite Crag via Threshwaite Mouth

A surprising solitary valley ascent to a magnificent southerly view (pictured). (With Ian Lyne.)

Route: From the Hartsop carppark along Pasture Beck, up a stone staircase to Threshwaite Mouth (and the view). Thence to join the huddled masses at Thornthwaite Beacon, along High Street, up the Knot and then down a diagonal path beneath Brock Crags.

Conditions: Bracing: icy wind and clear views

Pub: Kirkstone Inn, for Tirril Red Screes.

Stand Crags, Little Hart Crag and Red Screes

A day of surprising sun, some autumnal woodlands and rough off path tramping.

Route: From the Brotherswater Inn along Dovedale before bearing south / left along a wall and then up onto the undulating ridge of Stand Crags, crossing Hogget Gill to continue, pathless up another ridge and then east to Little Hart Crag. Thence to Scandale Pass and up Red Screes, again pathlessly cutting a corner to the summit. Then down Middle Fell.

Conditions: Initial hazy cloud burnt off to leave a warm sunny autumnal day.

Pub: Brotherswater Inn, for Barngates Westmorland Gold.

Robinson, Knott Rigg and Ard Crags

A day of mixed weather on a pretty horseshoe. Route 30 from Great Mountain Days.

Route: From the car park at the foot of Ard Crags, by road to Newlands Church and High Snab, up past Blea Crag via rock steps to Robinson. Then down across Buttermere Moss to High Snockrigg, crossing Newlands Hawse and then up Knott Rigg, Ard Crags and Aikin Knot and back down to the car park.

Conditions: Mixed! Initial low cloud and rain replaced by drier windy conditions and some sun.

Pub: Middle Ruddings Country Inn, Braithwaite for Derwent Water Harvester and Loweswater Langdale.

Dow Crag and Coniston Old Man

A fine August Bank Holiday Monday walk.

Route: From the Torver Village Hall car park the bridleway to the Walna Scar Road via the quarry and then the Goat Water path to Easy Gully and Dow Crag summit; round to the Old Man and then across country down to the South West.

Conditions: Fine sun, though some (very high) cloud and great visibility (views of the Isle of Man and Galloway).

Pub: Church House, Torver for Hawkshead Gold and Loweswater Gold.

Bridlington to York

The fifth and final day of the Great Tour of Yorkshire cycle trip with Ian Lyne and Steve Mitchell.

Route: From Bridlington to York via Driffield for coffee, Pocklington for lunch, Stamford Bridge for tea (in a pub, sadly) and thence to York. On Route 1 to Driffield, off piste to Pocklington and then Route 66.

Conditions: A sunny day followed by heavy rain once we had finished.

Pubs: Cross Keys in Pocklington for Skipton Brewery Golden Pippin; White Swan in York for Landlord.

Danby to Bridlington

The fourth day of the Great Tour of Yorkshire cycle trip with Ian Lyne and Steve Mitchell.

Route: From Danby to Bridlington via up a very steep hill (pictured) and then a long slow descent to Whitby for coffee, along a clinker railway line (Sustrans Route 1) to Scarborough for lunch, and Hunmanby on the Yorkshire Wolds for tea.

Conditions: A sunny start followed some cloud and a brief shower and then a sunny afternoon and evening.

Pubs: The North Riding Hotel, Scarborough , for Elland Brewery Faith Healer, Pictish of Rochdale Corn Dolly and Newby Wyke Kingston Topaz; Marine Bar, Bridlington for Landlord and The Prior John for Abbot, Daleside Special and Saxon Hammer

Grinton to Danby

The third day of the Great Tour of Yorkshire cycle trip with Ian Lyne and Steve Mitchell.

Route: From Grinton to Danby along the valley to Richmond for coffee, on minor roads overlapping with the Coast to Coast walk to Danby Wiske for a pre-prandial half, Osmotherley for lunch, followed by a climb and descent to circle round the North York Moors stopping at Great Ayrton for tea and then surprisingly hilly climb on either side of Eskdale (and a dire mile along a track) in the later afternoon to reach the Duke of Wellington in Danby.

Conditions: A sunny start followed by cloud and sun.

Pubs: The White Swan, Danby Wiske, for Blackdog Brewery Schooner; The Three Tuns, Osmotherley for Great Newsome Brewery Harvest Gold. The Duke of Wellington, Danby, for Wharfe Bank Cam Fell, Copper Dragon 1816 and Daleside Bitter.

Grassington to Grinton

The second day of the Great Tour of Yorkshire cycle trip with Ian Lyne and Steve Mitchell.

Route: From Grassington to Grinton via Bucken for a Kitkat (closed teashop), over the pass (Cam Houses) and dropping very steeply down to Hawes for lunch, over Buttertubs and again steeply down to Muker for tea, and along the valley to Reeth for a sundowner before a final mile across to Grinton.

Conditions: Sunny all day.

Pubs: The Fountain, Hawes for Black Sheep Golden Best and Copper Dragon; The Buck Inn, Reeth for Jarrow Rivet Catcher; The Bridge Inn, Grinton for Wychwood Regal (lager), Marstons Long Hop and Ringwoods Triple.

York to Grassington

The first day of the Great Tour of Yorkshire cycle trip with Ian Lyne and Steve Mitchell.

Route: From Bishopsthorpe Road along a busy B-road to Wetherby for coffee; smaller country roads before a final ascent and descent to Otley for lunch; pretty minor roads to Bolton Abbey for tea and then rolling roads as far as Appletreewick for a sundowner and then along the side of the valley to Grassington..

Conditions: Sunny all day.

Pubs: The Junction, Otley for Leeds Pale Ale and Hopback Summer Lightning. The Craven Arms Appletreewick for Heddon Cruck Barn and Pale Ale. Then in Grassington No5 for Ilkley Mary Jane, The Forresters for Landlord and the Devonshire Arms Black Sheep Golden Best and Curwen Yorkshire Gold.

Ben Loyal

A pleasant if stiff route on a deteriorating day.

Route: From a layby near Ribigill Farm on the old road round the kyle, farm tracks becoming marshy paths across a low level moorland, then up a wet peaty path into a coomb towards the Bealach Clais nan Ceap. Then striking steeply up hill pathless to approach Sgor Chaonasaid from the south east and on to the summit An Caisteal where chance led us to the easy route onto the rock summit.

Conditions: Initially merely damp then increasingly heavy rain and low cloud.

Pub: Central Hotel, Thurso for Orkney IPA.

An attempt on Quinag

A quick attempt to do a final walk in the area, en route north, stopped by wind, low cloud and, later, torrential rain.

Route: From the car park on the summit of the A894, a good path for a mile or so leading to increasingly marshy ground as a coomb is reached. Then a steep climb up the south west slopes of the Sail Gharbh with good views back (pictured). Driven back by severe wind at 720m once on the ridge.

Conditions: Initially OK but with strengthening winds, low cloud and heavy rain.

Pub: Scourie Hotel for Isle of Skye: Goat's Toe Ale.

Suilven

Staying in Lochinver, a long walk in to a steep climb on a surprisingly good day.

Route: From a the car park by the book shop at Inverkirkaig a good initial path to the Falls of Kirkaig, then an increasingly marshy path around Fionn Loch, gaining higher ground near Suilven's west end before the steep climb up the side and then, despite the wind, along to the main summit.

Conditions: The forecast heavy storm and 85mph gusts of wind never materialised. Instead a sunny if rather windy day.

Pub: Bottles of Cairngorm Brewing Co: Caingorm Gold and Atlas Brewery: Three Sisters back at the B&B.

Cul Mor

Still en route to Lochinver, a second climb of the day in deteriorating but still mainly dry weather up a clear if marshy track to a fine summit.

Route: From a car park on the A835 near the geological visitor centre, a good dry path for 2km leading to a less clear and marshy path up a broad ridge to Meallan Diomhain. Then anticlockwise round the eastern coomb to the summit, down to a saddle to the west and then picking a way by a waterfall to regain Meallan Diomhain and then down the same way.

Conditions: Some initial cloudy sun, then cloud and light drizzle.

Pub: Much later keg McEwans 80' in the Wayfarer's Bar, Culag Hotel, Lochinver.

Stac Pollaidh East Ridge

En route between Gairloch and Lochinver, a quick dash up the obvious route up to the east end of the ridge of Stac Pollaidh.

Route: From the car park on the loch, a clockwise circuit of the clear path, first to the west and behind the hill, then a steeper climb onto the ridge and slight scramble to the cairn at the east end (ignoring the more difficult main summit to the west).

Conditions: A gap in the rain with some sun.

Pub: No pub because on to...

An attempt on Slioch

Staying in a hotel in Gairloch, an attempt on Slioch finishing in driving rain at Coire na Sleaghaich.

Route: From the Incheril car park along a fair path by the loch crossing one significant stream on stones to a bridge over another major stream. Thence on a rocky muddy path up into the Coire na Sleaghaich aiming at a saddle from Sgurr Dubh but we were driven back at this point by rain, hail, wind and low cloud.

Conditions: Some initial cloudy sun in a freshening breeze. Later, heavy rain and hail and a strong wind.

Pub: Kinlochewe Hotel for An Teallach Ale company An Teallach and Isle of Skye Beinn Eighe.

Red Screes via the north east ridge

A very short very steep pathless ascent.

Route: From the Red Pit car park and initial descent to the north followed by a sharp left turn up the hill and then gentle left again to follow an ill defined North East ridge, pathless and through rocks and bilberries to the top. Then the usual path back to the Kirkstone Inn car park and a descent back to Red Pit.

Conditions: Bright, blinding evening sun..

Pub: All the way back to the Watermill and Ings for Wruff Night.

Bell Crags

A short ascent, two hours there and back.

Route: From the Utilities car park at Dob Gill, an ascent near the Binka Stone up a rough path and through trees to Harrop Tarn then along the Watendlath bridleway out of the trees up to the flat col and then across the moor to the summit. Down by skirting to the north of the woods and a very steep final descent.

Conditions: Warm sun with a cool breeze.

Pub: Tweedies Bar in Grasmere for Cumbrian Legendary Ales: Langdale sitting outside in the sun.

Blencathra via Hall's Fell

A swift ascent cut short by hail!

Route: From the small car park east of the pub at Scales, a short steep ascent before contouring round the bottom of Blencathra to Hall's Fell, an ascent sticking to the very top of the ridge and then down Scales Fell to Mousthwaite Comb and back to the car. (Plans to add Bannerdale Crags will have to wait.)

Conditions: Cloud and some sun giving way to rain.

Pub: The Agricultural Hotel in Penrith, oddly enough, for fine Sneck Lifter.

St Sunday Crag, Fairfield and Hartsop above How

Another high-level horseshoe above Deepdale with Ian (Lyne) and Neil (Simpson).

Route: From the layby at Deepdale Bridge along the road to Patterdale and then the footpath below Glenamara Park, spurning the main path to climb Birks, and then rejoining it to climb St Sunday Crag. Thence to Fairfield, Hart Crag and down Hartsop above How.

Conditions: Cloud giving way to hazy sun.

Pub: The Brotherswater Inn for Barngates Westmorland Gold.

Grey Friar and Dow Crag

A good high-level horseshoe round Seathwaite Tarn from a surprisingly empty Duddon Valley (on a Firbank weekend).

Route: From Seathwaite past Tongue House to ascend via a gentle scramble on the north bank of Tarn Beck (a Mark Richards' route). Thence pathless up the ridge to Grey Friar; along a contouring path underneath Great Carrs and Swirl How to descend to Goat's Hawse, up Dow Crag, Buck Pike and Brown Pike and then down the Walna Scar Road.

Conditions: Some sun but a bitterly cold wind on the tops.

Pub: The Newfield Inn at Seathwaite for Dickie Doodle.

Wansfell Pike and Wansfell

A short stroll on a cold but somewhat blustery Easter Sunday.

Route: From Troutbeck along Robin Lane past High Skelghyll farm and then up through the roads past the aqueduct observatory and onto the ridge to Wansfell Pike. Thence along to Wansfell and down to Troutbeck via Nanny Lane.

Conditions: Sun and cloud but rather chill.

Pub: The Mortal Man at Troutbeck for Taylor’s Landlord.

Loughrigg Fell

A short stroll on a cold but somewhat sunny day.

Route: From the new car park in Ambleside across Rothay Park to join a track via Miller Brow towards Ivy Crag swinging north to reach - eventually - the summit. Down just to the north of Lanty Scar to the Badger Bar. Afterwards the track past Rydal Hall diverting up the hillside to reach the Low Pike descent path at Low Sweden Bridge.

Conditions: Warm in the sun, cold in the shade.

Pub: Post-walk: the Badger Bar for a Keswick Brewery beer (Thirsty Badger?) and Ennerdale Breeze.

Raise, White Stones and Sheffield Pike

A four hour walk on a cold but sometimes sunny day.

Route: From the car park in Glenridding up the track to the dam to inspect - and then reject due to ice - Catstye Cam's steep north west ridge. Instead, a direct ascent up snow to the top of Raise, descent to the top of Sticks Pass, grazing ascent of White Stones and thence to Sheffield Pike.

Conditions: Cold with ice above 600m and decent snow still on the tops of the Eastern Fells. People skiing down the north slopes of Raise.

Pub: Post-walk: the Kirkstone Inn for Tirril's Red Screes.

Red Screes and Wansfell Pike from the Kirkstone Pass

A lengthy walk with Ian Lyne
on a sunny but freezing day.

Route: From the car park opposite the Kirkstone Inn, a steep ascent to the summit of Red Screes, a long descent to the south into Ambleside and then up Wansfell Pike, along the ridge to Baystones, across the frozen bog to the pass and then a final walk along the A592 back to the car park.

Conditions: Very cold with thick waves of ice across paths (and some on the road, which put us off going over into Patterdale) and some snow on the tops (see pic!). Warm sunshine out of the wind, particularly heading up a busy Wansfell Pike. Perfect views to Sca Fell, the Pennines, the Howgills, Ingleborough (with snow) and Heysham!

Pub: Mid-walk: the Golden Rule. Post-walk: the Queen's Head at Troutbeck. Both Robinsons.

Lingmoor Fell

A short but strenuous walk given the ice and Lois’ broken wrist.

Route: From the outskirts of Elterwater via the Langdale timeshares (to minimise ice) to the Cumbria Way route. Thence up to the west of Oak Howe to Lingmoor Tan (pictured) and onto the summit. Down via the quarry.

Conditions: some ice still at ground level and snow higher up. A couple of rain showers.

Pub: Wainwright Inn for Sneck Lifter.

Troutbeck Tongue

A short but epic ascent at the end of three weeks of snow and ice (with Lois bearing a broken wrist).

Route: from Troutbeck church via Troutbeck park up the south face and back down Hag Gill.

Conditions: knee deep powdery snow on the top and fierce northerly gusts.

Pub: post walk, the Queen’s Head for pints of Mr Scrooge and Old Tom.