Steeple, Scoat Fell and Pillar from Ennerdale

An almost deserted walk from Ennerdale.

Route: leaving the car at the Bowness Knott car park (free; 1hr 40mins from Kendal) and taking the obvious track along the valley, past the lake, to reach a concrete bridge over the river Liza and then bending left on the far side to cross another bridge over a stream. Heading uphill in a widening gap in the trees, the path weaving left to right but always steep. Once onto the fellside, bending left to cross the flank of the Lingmell, ford Low Beck and then ascend the narrowing ridge of Steeple. Then onto the main ridge of Scoat Fell and along to the rocky summit of Black Crag before climbing onto the Pillar plateau. Descending by heading north west down an initially very rocky and then faint grassy path on the White Pike ridge, fording a stream at the bottom to find a marshy track more steeply down hill, then a forestry track to the west and then another steep path down by the ravine of Low Beck and then back by forestry track to the bridges and a long trek back to the car park.

Conditions: early sun giving way to cloud but still strangely hot and humid.

Pub: Middle Ruddings, Braithwaite, for Fell Brewery AAA and Kirkby Lonsdale Singletrack.

8km run north of Staveley

A surprisingly new circuit on paths, tracks and small roads.

Route: from the Mill Yard, crossing the river by the new footbridge and heading south east over fields to reach and turn right on the back road. Taking a track to a small waterfall and continuing on the right hand side of the stream up the valley before turning left and descending to Birk Field. Joining the (familiar) road and heading past Littlewood Farm to Ghyll Bank and taking a tiny path down a field of damp grass before dog legging left right across another road and following tracks to Elfhowe. Along the track through Scroggs Farm to Hall Lane and back to the start via the footbridge.

Conditions: hot and sunny.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for WPA and 5 Hop.

Pic de la Pena, Tour de Goa and Casteil

An airy circuit above Casteil.

Route: from the rented house in Cornellia-de-Conflent along the red marked hillside walking route through trees to Vernet-les-Bains (though a slight misstep at the start). Descending steeply to the church and then through town to cross the Cady and, at the entrance to the campsite, pick up a yellow marked path climbing steeply up to Pic de la Peña with vertiginous views back south. Following an initially narrow ridge along a number of subsidiary summits to reach the Tour de Goa. Then a left turn down a stony track to the Col de Jou and taking a small path through a gate to the left of the melée to pass through Casteil and eventually along a road to Vernet-les-Bains. After a beer, back along the same footpath above the main road home.

Conditions: very, very hot and sunny.

Pub: C’est Quand Le Bonheur, Vernet-les-Bains, for 25cl of Jupiler.

A walk in Cerdagne from the Train Jaune

A nearly seven hour walk back along the route of the Train Jaune with James, while staying at Corneilla-de-Conflent.

Route: taking the 8:55 train from Villefranche out as far as that train runs to Font Romeu (after a lengthy delay at Mont-Louis waiting for the return train to clear the single track). Then walking 500m to look at the solar power station before turning uphill to the outskirts of Odeillo to find a grassy track over alpine meadows to Bolquere and a tiny weak lager outside a café. Then on over an emptier landscape to reach and circuit the fort at Mont-Louis before entering the walls for lunch. Taking a tiny and uninspiring path in the corner of a field to descend steeply down into the valley and join a more major path to the Refuge La Cassanya. Descending to the valley bottom, shortly after, with views of the Train Jaune suspension bridge (Pont Gisclard) to cross a small river and join the Sentier Botanique back under the bridge and along the side of the valley before dropping down at St-Thomas-les-Bains to regain the train line at Fontpédrouse. Here, although a train was due at 6:25pm, we called for a lift back from Jo.

Conditions: initially cool but sunny all day.

Pub: a bar in Mont-Louis for lunch with rough Catalan red wine (and dry cider for the lady) and then canned Estrella Damm from the corner shop in Fontpédrouse.

Circuit from Corneilla-de-Conflent

A circuit from a rented cottage in Corneilla-de-Conflent to Villefranche-de-Conflent.

Route: from the centre of Corneilla-de-Conflent, leaving the village by the narrow road to the right of the statue to cross the main road and taking a small road on the far side down and across two rivers to reach the far side of the valley. Now taking a marked path climbing steeply through oak trees to reach a dolmen on the top of a low ridge. Here following a track not quite on the summit of the ridge gaining altitude. At a bifurcation, turning sharp back left to gain further height to the Citerne Vauban (old water cistern). Descending on a tightly zig-zagging path to Villefranche and a beer. Then taking a path on the far side of the main road which slowly climbs crossing a narrow swiftly flowing canal and then zig-zags to a summit fort for lunch. Descending and tracking west on a wide plateau to visit first the Cabane d’en Bullas (a pre-Roman stone bergerie) and then a view back over Villefranche. Retracing the route to reach a (pink) marble quarry and then following signs back down the hill to cross a shady stream and regain the centre of the village.

Conditions: hot and sunny. Some breeze at altitude.

Pub: Le Vauban, Villefranche for Leffe Blonde.

Evening cycle ride to Staveley

A 25km evening cycle ride to the Eagle and Child, Staveley.

Route: from home along the canal path to Dockray Hall Road to join the Burneside Road and meet Lois emerging from a Burneside Parish Council meeting. At Bowston taking a right turn across the river to join the back road to Staveley and round to the pub. After a pint or two, back along the direct route (but not the bypass) via Plantation Bridge.

Conditions: Warm light evening cycling out. Just about dark on the return but still not cold.

Pub: Eagle and Child, Staveley, for Kirkby Lonsdale, Singletrack and Allendale, Wolf.