Old Crown Round

A 24 mile event (for us, walking uphill and running downhill) from Hesket Newmarket with four beer stops on the tops. Ian Lyne and Alison Gilchrist also taking part.

Route: from the official start behind the pub, regaining the village centre and then turning left and left again for Wood Hall. Crossing a field to rise to a stile and then turning left along the wall before bushwacking uphill to find a higher lateral path round the end of West Fell before descending to cross Carrock Beck and strike directly up the hillside in the direction of Carrock Fell summit for the first beer. Running back to Round Knott and then descending pathless, slowly and steeply through bracken to reach and easily cross a very low River Caldew on stepping stones. Then steeply and pathlessly climbing Bowscale Fell eventually gaining the path from Bowscale Tarn. Running down past, but not up, Bannerdale Crags to climb Foule Crag and reach the second beer stop at Blencathra. Then running down across to Mungrisdale Common, turning sharp left and then right to find a path leading to Skiddaw House and a refreshment break. A long slog up Sale How to Skiddaw and a third beer and then crossing a fence further north to run down over Hare Crag before a slow climb to Great Calva. Then running north west to cross the saddle and walking up to Knott and running down to the pass above Gransgill Beck and the Lingy Hut. A gradual ascent to High Pike for the final plastic cup of Old Crown ale and then a 3-mile run down to the road and back to Hesket Newmarket.

Conditions: Warm and sunny at the start giving way to cloud with a gentle breeze on the tops. A torrential downpour after finishing.

Pub: The Old Crown, Hesket Newmarket for Scafell Blonde.

Potter Tarn

A late afternoon swim prompted by Alison Gilchrist (and friends).

Route: leaving the car on the Potter Fell Road approaching Staveley near Hagg Foot and ascending a footpath through a farmyard, briefly on an overgrown and nettle ridden path before joining a broader track up the fellside passing Ghyll Pool to reach Potter Tarn for a swim.

Conditions: Warm sun and warm water in the tarn.

Pub: None but evening drinks at Lesley's new house in Kendal.

Fairfield Horseshoe

A hot summer's day walk with Angie, Al and Jake (from Kendal because Philip's cottage was double booked).

Route: Leaving the car in the lower Ambleside carpark and walking through town past the Golden Rule to take the second left to High Sweden Bridge and then climbing indirectly onto the ridge to pass Low Pike, High Pike, Dove Crag, Hart Crag and Fairfield and then down past Great Rigg and Heron Pike. A detour to the Badger Bar and back through the grounds of Rydal Hall.

Conditions: Some initial cloud but mainly a very hot day but with a cooling breeze on the upper peaks.

Pub: The Badger Bar for Barngates Pale and an embarrassing number of soft drinks. Then The Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for WPA, Cumbrian Five Hop and NZPA.

Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick

Walking uphill with some running downhill on a scorchingly hot and still day.

Route: Leaving the car in a field near the Kentmere church (£3) and taking the road, then track along the west of the valley to reach the outdoor centre underneath Rainsborrow Crag. Then following Fellrangers' Yoke 5 route steeply uphill largely pathless into the comb and then through mine workings to climb left to a path just underneath the ridge and along this to a tarn on the top. Then pathless to the summit of Yoke and on to Ill Bell and Froswick before taking the path round the head of the valley to Nan Bield Pass and then down over the Tongue to the valley whence back along paths to a footbridge over the river and back to Kentmere.

Conditions: Very hot and still even on the tops.

Pub: The Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for WPA and Cumbrian Five Hop.