The North Rim of Langdale

A long day's walk, based at the cottage, spotting Angie and Alistair from the summit of Loft Crag.

Route: Leaving the car at Elterwater and taking the top road towards Chapel Stile to reach the start of the path by Meg's Gill and thence to Spedding Crag and the summit of Silver How. Then pathless over Lang How, Raw Pike, Great Castle How to Blea Rigg. Along the ridge to Sergeant Man and then round the marshy rim of the valley to Thunacar Knott, Harrison Stickle, Pike o' Stickle and Loft Crag. Then down on the west side of Dungeon Gill to Stickle Barn for a quick half and along the Cumbria Way to Wainwright's Inn where we were met by Angie and Alistair.

Conditions: Cool and cloudy but very still on the tops.

Pubs: The Stickle Barn for halves of Barngates Tag Lag and Jennings Tom Fool and later Wainwright's Inn for Hesket Newmarket Loughrigg and Jennings Sneck Lifter.

The Martindale Horseshoe

A surprisingly long but empty horseshoe.

Route: From Martindale church, picking a route onto the ridge of Steel Knotts, Brownthwaite Crag and up onto the broad boggy ridge of the Far Eastern Fells, over Red Crag and High Raise. Then down over Rampsgill Head to pick up the Coast to Coast path (ignoring, today, The Knott and Rest Dodd) to reach Angle Tarn. Round to the west to reach the taller northern summit of Angle Tarn Pikes (like a mini Stac Polly). And then along the two mile ridge of Beda Fell to Beda Head, dropping down to the east just before the very end and then a half mile walk back to the car.

Conditions: Some sun but cloudy and cool on the tops

Pub: The Gate Inn at Yanwath for Barngates Catnap and Tirril Academy.

Portovenere to Riomaggiore

A coastal walk along a ridge of hills descending to the Cinque Terre.

Route: From beside the castle at Portovenere, a very steep set of steps and then a stony path to climb onto the ridge on route 1. Along this past Campiglia and eventually to Telegrafo. Then descending on route 3 to Riomaggiore and then a train back.

Conditions: Warm and sunny though some sea mist.

Pub: A glass of local Cinque Terre rosso at Bar Gastronomia I Quattro Venti, Campiglia.

Viano to Aiola and back

A walk out from Il Fortino on less used local paths.

Route: From the far end of Viano on the lower TL (Trekking Lunigiana) 12 path to the end of the ridge and then down hill through trees on a rough track to reach Campiglione/Vezzanello. Then a spurious circuit of the upper village before descending on the road to regain the proper path at the church. Then across the hillside to reach a road at Terina and then back on tracks to join the road above Monzone. From a footbridge across the river, an ancient pitched path to reach Aiola with a view back to Viano (pictured). Back in the same way but following the correct path from the church to Vezzanello.

Conditions: Warm and sunny.

Pub: A bottle of La Matta amber on a wall in Aiola.

Vinca to the Foce di Navola loop

An walk to the enclosing ridge of the valley above Vinca.

Route: From Vinca picking up route 175 switchbacking first within trees and then across the grassy hillside to approach, though not quite reach, the previous day’s saddle. Then along route 37 to a tall dark forest and through it to reach a windy ridge at Foce di Navola (with views into the next valley sadly obscured by clouds). Then an attempt to reach Foce di Vinca stopped by the third or fourth cabled section of path and so back instead on a poorly marked connection to route 38 and then back to Vinca.

Conditions: Dark and windy to start, some rain later, then dry.

Pub: Bar Sport in Monzone for Moretti on draft.

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.