Wansfell Pike

A short walk pressed for time on New Year's Eve with Andrew and Helen.

Route: leaving the car on the top road in Troutbeck and walking north to find Nanny Lane, the walled track ascending onto the fellside, turning left on a pitched path to the summit. Descending the south east ridge - rather boggy - to the observatory and then taking a woodland short cut to find Robin Lane, the main track looping round the bottom of the fell to Troutbeck.

Conditions: surprisingly dry after a morning of torrential rain. Low cloud grazing the summit.

Pub: the Watermill, Ings, joining Derek and Naina, for Watermill Wruff Night and Loweswater Gold.

Circuit north of High Newton

An 11km run over Christmas.

Route: from the Crown at High Newton, taking the road north east and then right off it to descend, very steeply, on Tow Top Road to the valley floor. Then north on Tarn Green Road to the left turn 3km later opposite Thorphinsty Hall but turning right off it onto a path through woods rising left to cross the upper road onto a rising metalled track. Turning left off this onto a muddy track to cross high moorland to reach Simpson Ground. Then along a metalled track across a bleak landscape to High Newton Reservoir, descending to the old A590 and back to the start.

Conditions: sunny and warm in the valley; cold on the top.

Pub: the Crown, High Newton, for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold.

Another Kentmere circuit from Staveley

A 15km run on a cool December day.

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 where L took a worrying tumble (the rest of the run thus being in some doubt thereafter). Turning left on a signed footpath to cross fields and join the green track down to the road by Calflay Wood. Then along to Kentmere Hall to take (for the first time in recent years) the lower footpath (muddy in places) along the side of the valley a little above Kentmere Tarn, past the factory and on a narrow path to reach the bridleway which descends from the moors. Along the quiet road on on the west side of the river back to Staveley.

Conditions: cool and cloudy but with hints of sun.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall, Staveley for WPA and Cumbrian Five Hops.

Circuit of Reston Scar and Williamson's Monument

A nearly 10km run on a dismal day.

Route: from the Staveley millyard along the A591 as far as Ings and a right turn up hill towards Grassgarth and onto a stony track as far as a sharp right turn towards Williamson's Monument but turning left, steeply downhill, before it and then back along the road by the river Kent to Staveley.

Conditions: low cloud with the threat of, but no actual, rain.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for WPA and Hawkshead Red.

Lord Hereford's Knob and Nant Bwch

A 6.5-mile walk on a dull but dry Autumn day.

Route: from the chapel at Capel-y-ffin, walking 200m up the road towards the pass and turning off over a stile to a path across a field, past a house and then steeply up a wet stony path onto the hillside ascending in two zigzags to a shelter. Thence slowly along a broad marshy ridge 2 miles to the cairn and fine view over the valley (with 6 paragliders) at Lord Hereford’s Knob. Descending to a saddle to the south west and then south east into the picturesque valley of Nant Bwch keeping part way up the valley side to the right of the stream as far as the first farm. Steeply uphill to find a path slowly descending round the side of the ridge to rejoin the outward path.

Conditions: cool, still but dull.

Pub: Llanthony Priory Hotel for Brains Rev James and Felinfoel Double Dragon.

The Skirrid

A pre-breakfast walk to clear sore heads while staying in a cottage at Llanvihangel Crucorney.

Route: from the cottage at  Llanvihangel Crucorney, past the Skirrid Mountain Inn (Wales’ oldest pub?) and on the Beacons Way past Llanvihangel Court across field and a foolish short cut to join a minor road and then back on the Beacons Way steeply up the Skirrid. Back to the road and then on paths further west via Crossways.

Conditions: cloudy and dull but dry

Pub: not at 10am!