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.
