Place Fell via Birk Fell

A shortish walk which felt longer and somehow contrived to make Place Fell seem substantial.

Route: from the car park opposite the Patterdale Hotel (£4.50/day) taking the track, starting 100m further north along the road, across fields and the river to reach the bridleway on the far side. Heading north on this, rising and falling through birch trees between Silver Point and Scalehow Wood but turning right uphill just before the Scalehow Force waterfalls on a sheep track and then cutting right/west across bracken to reach a cairn at Low Birk Fell. Taking our pick of sheep tracks, through patches of snow, to cross Kilbert How on easier ground and approach the distinct ridge of Bleaberry Knott. Here doubling back to try to gain the edge of the ridge before it had gained much altitude and following this (with a view of deer in the distance) to another small cairn on Birk Fell. Descending and then climbing onto the Knight and thence to the summit of Place Fell. Down on the recently-ish engineered path to Boredale Hause and back to the start along a metalled lane.

Conditions: the first sunny day after weeks of rain. Busy round the lake because of half term.

Pub: Brotherswater Inn, Brotherswater, for Wychwood Hobgoblin.

Aira Force and Gowbarrow Fell

A short walk in a break in the rain with Mike and Janet Hornby and their friends Jane Taylor and John Gurd.

Route: leaving the car at the upper Aira Force car park but yomping up the main road to the quarry car park to join the others. Then down a newly made gravel path across a muddy field to meet Aira Beck and follow it down its west bank as far as Aira Force (in spate). From the bottom of the waterfall, down the glen to double back on a path rising out of the woods to a handgate. Then along a gently rising path round the southern flanks of Gowbarrow Fell with fine views across the lake to St Sunday Crag, bending north at the memorial seat and then uphill in increasingly muddy conditions (but with evidence of new path work) to the summit. Swiftly down to the west to the beck leaving the others and following a path above the east bank of the beck to the top of the falls to cross the stone footbridge and climb back up to the car park.

Conditions: despite earlier heavy rain, surprisingly dry and windy with a few hints of sun.

Pub: the Brackenrigg Hotel, Watermillock, for Loweswater Gold and Corby Fox.