Harrison Stickle

A short steep ascent with JPS.

Route: From the National Trust carpark, the path out and trending left to rise to a low spur and then right along that past a bench to a style. Not crossing the Dungeon Ghyll but ascending on a discreet pitched path up and round Pike Howe and then to the right of the gorge to climb behind Harrison Stickle and thence to the summit. Descending on the path below Loft Crag.

Conditions: Cloudy and a cold breeze.

Pub: the Stickle Barn for Coniston Bluebird.

Red Screes and Caudale Moor

A surprisingly quiet two pub horseshoe walk.

Route: From a layby (opposite a bus stop) approaching the Brotherswater Inn, a footpath across the drumlins to a footbridge and then a left turn on a more major track. At a wall, a sharp right turn very steeply up hill, drifting left onto the middle of the ridge and then further left to cross a lateral wall before zigzagging to the summit of Middle Dodd. Then on to the summit of Red Screes before taking the steep descent to the Kirkstone Inn for a mid-walk stiffener. Taking the steep and surprisingly rocky footpath behind the pub before turning first north and then east to reach the summit of Caudale Moor. Then retracing our steps and following a couple of substantial cairns to find the ridge of Rough Edge and steeply down to the Brotherswater Inn and, later, the car.

Conditions: Cloudy and weakly sunny with a cold breeze.

Pub: the Kirkstone Inn for Heskett Newmarket Skiddaw and Kirkstone Black. The Brotherswater Inn for Cumberland Breweries Corby Blonde.

Head of Longsleddale 8 mile run

A tough linear run towards the head of head of Longsleddale

Route: from the carpark at Longsleddale church, along the road to Sadgill and then the continuing stony track towards Gatescarth, past Buckbarrow Crag and steepening at a pitched zigzag before easing out into a comb at Brownhowe Bottom to pause at bridge over the stream. Then back.

Conditions: cool, cloudy sun.

Pub: Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall for WPA and Red.

Claife Heights 7 mile run

A hot sticky run on Claife Heights and back along the lake, largely on forest trails.

Route: from Firbank, along Cuckoo Brow Lane past Moss Eccles Tarn over to Scab Moss and then along a forestry commission road down to Wray. Along a metalled road to its end at Beyond Fields and Red Nab then taking the undulating lakeside path before trending to the right up hill to cross the shoulder of the hill and drop back into Far Sawrey behind the pub.

Conditions: hot and sticky with hazy views.

Pub: Cuckoo Brow Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold.

A Coledale Horseshoe via Hobcarton End

A substantial horseshoe on an end of summer day.

Route: From the carpark at the start of the conventional Grisedale Pike route, taking the road up towards the Whinlatter Forest Park, which might have been less busy than normal because of false 'road closed' signs. At the Revelin Moss carpark, taking the forest road to the right and then, in accord with Mark Richards' advice, following it round to the right and then the next left 20 yards later and the next left 10 yards later still up a dark 'tunnel' of trees becoming darker, narrower and damper under foot before reaching the hillside. Then across bare rising ground to the summit of Grisedale Pike. To Hopegill Head and down to Coledale Hause before a brief scramble up a gentle chimney to the top of Ell Crag. Down over Sail to Sail Pass and up to Outerside and Stile End and then down to Braithwaite and back to the car.

Conditions: Cloudy and sunny.

Pub: Middle Ruddings, Braithwaite, for Heskett Newmarket Haystacks and Cumberland Breweries Corby Blonde.

Kendal to Staveley via Paddy Lane, Meal Bank and Potter Fell Road

An 11.7 mile (18.8 km) road run round the Kendal valley.

Route: From home, up the hill to the Station Inn and then along Hayclose Lane and Paddy Lane to cross the A684. Down to Meal Bank taking the rough road through the Dell to cross the river Mint at the mill. Then rising northwards taking the first left bend then right and left along 'Back Lane': in reality crossing a field for 200 yards before a farm track and road to cross the A6. Through Garth Row to cross the river Sprint and rise very steeply up the hill turning before right and then left to reach the Potter Fell Road. Along this eventually to approach Staveley taking the path off the road to cross a foot bridge to the Mill Yard and the Brewery.

Conditions: Cloudy but warm with some sun later.

Pub: The Hawkshead Brewery for WPA and Five Hop.