Penrith to Kendal cycle trip

A 67km day trip with Ian Lyne on a short dark damp Autumnal day.

Route: having just made it onto the 10:28am train (maximum two bikes permitted!), setting off from Penrith station at 11am and heading west on the B5288 to Greystoke where the famous (C2C) cycle café was sadly closed. Joining Sustrans route 71 south on minor roads with some very steep ascents past Thackthwaite to Dockray for a pint. Then on in increasingly damp conditions downhill to Ullwaster and along the lake to the Brotherswater Arms for lunch. Then steeply up the Kirkstone Pass and coasting down to Troutbeck. Over the shortcut to Ings and the Beer Hall at Staveley. Then home in the gloom (without lights) via Burneside from 5pm.

Conditions: low cloud and light rain.

Pubs: Royal Hotel, Dockray for Corby Amber and Heskett Newmarket Skiddaw. The Brotherswater Inn for Barngates Red Bull Terrier and OSB Detention, Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for Cumbrian Five Hop, Hoppy Black and WPA.

Kendal to Mabbin Hall Sunday stroll

A 9km Sunday walk to retrieve a car left after (almost) watching, with Simon and Sally, the finale of Nashville Season 3 and making a small impact on a feast of southern-style food and drink!

Route: across the strawberry fields and through Natland to pick up the path towards Cracalt House and hence south to join the route of the old canal, clear in parts and in others a narrow trod across undulating fields. Across the viaduct in Sedgwick and by fields to the road bridge over the A591. Then along the Avenue through Levens Deer Park to Levens Bridge. After 50m on the road, taking a tarmac track up hill to pick up a lateral path and thence to a narrow green lane to Mabbin Hall and the car.

Conditions: a mild autumnal day with some watery sunshine.

Pub: the Hare and Hounds, Levens for Eden Brewery, Rocket and Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Lakeland Gold.

Tiny stroll in Craggy Plantation (again)

A 3.5km walk with Steve, Kathryn, Tom and Alex having not been able to park at the head of Kentmere to do the Raven Crag scramble. 

Route: from the Mill Yard, across the footbridge and north east to join the road bending left to climb towards Craggy Plantation. Entering the woods and, after stopping to try a rope swing on a slippery 45-degree slope, following the path round, gaining height to a view north towards the head of Kentmere. After another pause for more rope swings, leaving the wood and descending steeply across fields to pick up the road at Barley Bridge back to the footbridge and hence the Brewery.

Conditions: mainly cloudy and grey, but warm with hints of sun.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for Cumbrian Five Hop and Windermere Pale Ale (and lunch).

Harrison Stickle

An expedition submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Cub Scout achievement badge (for Tom) with Steve, Kathryn, Tom and Alex.

Route: leaving the car at the National Trust car park at New Dungeon Ghyll (free for members) and heading north west past the pub to cross Dungeon Ghyll, before bending left to climb up to the west of Pike Howe, behind it and back to its summit, Alex scampering ahead. Then on across the grassy shoulder past the steep ravine to climb Harrison Stickle from behind. Then down a clear rocky path to Stickle Tarn and down the heavily re-engineered path mainly on the east side of the stream (full of parties of ghyll-scramblers towards the bottom).

Conditions: initially warm, sunny and still but biting wind and cloudy when on the top and some of the way back down.

Pub: the Stickle Barn, New Dungeon Ghyll, for Tirril Original and Coniston Bluebird XB.

8km run north of Staveley

A short run as part of Lois' ongoing physiotherapy.

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: cloudy but bright. Warm for October.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for the new White IPA and WPA.

Hartsop above How, Fairfield and St Sunday Crag

A fine walk on a surprising warm, still October day.

Route: leaving the car in a handy space at Deepdale Bridge and taking the path rising across the field to join the end of the ridge up Hartsop above How and following this over Gale Crag and Hoggil Brow to the summit. Then on along a minor path slightly to the south of the Hart Crag ridge and climbing onto it from the side. Joining the masses on the top of Hart Crag following round to Fairfield and then down the narrow ridge of Cofa Pike and up to St Sunday Crag. Down on the main path to Patterdale for a pint at the Patterdale Hotel. Afterwards, taking the track on the far side of the river past Crookabeck and Beckstones before crossing fields back to Deepdale Bridge.

Conditions: high cloud with hints of sun. Warm and still.

Pub: Patterdale Hotel, Patterdale for Bitter End Lakeland Golden.

Tiny stroll in Craggy Plantation

A short stroll on a foggy autumn day, mainly as an excuse for a pint in the Hawkshead Brewery.

Route: from the Mill Yard, across the footbridge and north to find - after some looking - the footpath to the right between houses just before Barley Bridge. Steeply up across fields before turning right over a stile into the wood to follow a clear path, gaining height and eventually having views north out of the trees. Descending with the path to pick up the road and back across the footbridge into the Mill Yard.

Conditions: slightly misty/foggy giving way to cloudy.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for Cumbrian Five Hop and Windermere Pale Ale (and lunch).