Eastern Capri

A combination of two walks to the east of Capri, from the Cicerone guide, on a day trip from Naples, mainly on narrow paved, pedestrianised roads / paths.

Route: from the ferry terminus, up a series of steps into the town of Capri before taking the narrow Via Camerelle east from Hotel Quisis past expensive boutiques then doglegging onto the Via Tragara trending slowly south east. A detour down towards the too expensive beach resort and back. Then along the stepped Via del Pizzolungo with views over the sea. Climbing the many steps to reach the Roman grotto and then the cafe Le Grottelle for lunch. Going further east to see the Arco Naturale and then back west as far as Via Tiberio and following this to its (north eastern) end at the Villa Jovis. Taking a woodland path to the north and then descending to reach the Villa Lysis / Fersen and back along the the Via Lo Capo to Capri and a short swim in the sea.

Conditions: hot with cloudy sun.

Pub: Le Grottelle for bottled Nastro Azzurro.

Night cycle ride to Ings

A night ride to the Watermill at Ings, on a new bike, for supper with Chiz.

Route: through town to meet Lois at Applerigg and then via Burneside to the cycle path by the A591, off through Staveley, and then back beside the main road to Ings. After supper, back to Staveley station for the last train home.

Conditions: a mild Autumnal night.

Pub: the Watermill at Ings for Watermill Wruff Night and Windermere Blonde.

Tilberthwaite circuit

A 13+ km hilly run round Holme Fell.

Route: from the carpark by the Andy Goldsworthy sheep pen on the more westerly of the two Tilberthwaite roads, continuing north with a hint of east on a stony track past the disused quarries to the ford giving onto Little Langdale. Backtracking to head east on a tarmac road to Stang End and then round Little Fell (now with the Cumbria Way) towards the A593 but doubling back, gaining and losing height, to reach the main road again a little further west. Then climbing on a stony track before turning right onto a path to, and round,  Tarn Hows. Descending the newish path towards Monk Coniston but turning west to reach High Waterhead and a walled track between fields to a cycle path beside the A593 and back along the gently rising road to Tilberthwaite.

Conditions: sunny and surprisingly warm.

Pub: The Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for WPA and the new 7% IPA.

Clapham circuit

A 10+ km run north and east from Clapham, on the way back from visiting Mij and Grahame.

Route: from the carpark in Clapham, taking the road north and then a track east of the church through two very dark and stony tunnels and then up onto the shoulder of the hillside of Norber. Straight on and down to a crossroads with a minor road, taking a left turn heading uphill, the road becoming a track. On this to a grassy bridleway which turns left and goes uphill again near Crummack. Taking a track (marked on the map and clear on the ground) slightly to the left of the bridleway to find (with a bit of luck in the cloud) a left turn near the summit rising, finally, to a cairn on Long Scar. Then down, grazing the corner of a wall, through the next wall and downhill on a stony walled track (Long Lane) eventually rising to meet the outward path and return through the tunnels.

Conditions: ground level cloud and drizzle with little visibility on the moorland.

Pub: the Bunkhouse Cafe Bar, Clapham, for Skipton Brewery, Golden Pippin and Taylors, Golden Best.

Glencoyne balcony path

A walk on a surprisingly sunny Autumn day with Emma and Nathan (having failed to park in Patterdale).

Route: leaving the car in the Aira Force car park on the A5091 and taking a path through thick bracken climbing very gradually, diagonally south west, to cross a wall and then climb more steeply to reach a lateral wall and path. Along the latter round into Glencoyne valley, with fine views over the lake, and round the head at about 600m on a clear narrow path. Then descending a partly pitched path past the houses at Seldom Seen and down to the lake. North along the road for about 1km before branching left on a track eventually to find the right of way on marshy ground back to the A5091 just short of the car park.

Conditions: sun and cloud.

Pub: The Brotherswater Inn for Barngates Red Bull Terrier

Wild Boar Inn circuit

A hilly 13km run round the Winster Valley.

Route: from the Wild Boar Inn, taking the quiet country road opposite heading south west to a stony track branching half right and rising, gaining a view over the Winster Valley, and then descending, to cross the A5074 onto a bridleway across fields to reach another stony track. Rising to the top of the edge of the valley past a tarn to reach a road. Steeply down hill to cross the river by a ford and then heading north to reach Crag Lane: a walled green lane back to the A5074. Then along a bridleway rising onto moorland before descending into a small valley at Thorneyfields to find an enclosed track northwards to reach the outward road and hence back to the Inn.

Conditions: Sun, some blue sky and clouds.

Pub: the Wild Boar Inn for Wild Boar Inn Mad Pig and Hog’s Head.

Three pub pub crawl to Brigsteer and back

A three pub pub crawl on an autumnal evening, coming back over the Scar in the dark with a Petzl NAO borrowed from Pete Bland.

Route: from Thornton Towers along the roads to Romneys for a pint. Then out and right along Thornleigh Road to take a snicket along the edge of the school playing field to reach Pembroke Court and then onto the grass to climb to Stainbank Road. Taking the signed footpath to the left 100 yards further on to reach Brigsteer Road and then over Scout Scar to Dave’s Cairn. Descending to Barrowfield Farm to find a path through the woods off, and then back onto, the farm track eventually to reach the road above Brigsteer and a descent to the Wheatsheaf for dinner. Then back the same way over the Scar to the Riflemans and then home.

Conditions: Autumnal and showery at the start. Dry and pitch black on the way back.

Pubs: Romney’s, Kendal for Barngates Pale; the Wheatsheaf, Brigsteer for Hawkshead Bitter and Coniston Bluebird; the Rifleman’s, Kendal for Greene King Abbot Ale.

A 16km+ run from round the Kentmere valley from Staveley

A post-10 days of visitors run round the Kentmere valley.

Route: from the Staveley mill yard taking Barley Bridge across the river and running up Hall Lane in a valley adjacent to Kentmere until the road becomes a track. Then, possibly mistakenly, ignoring the left turn, following the track through bike no entry signs to bend left and descend (back on a right of way) a green lane to the road by Calflay Wood. Then along to Kentmere Hall to pick up the rising track round Whiteside End to reach the junction by the most obvious stream. Turning left to descend on an occasionally rough and stony path to the bottom of the valley and joining the quiet road on the west of the river back to the start.

Conditions: one of the first autumnal days, cloudy and with a hint of dampness.

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