Grasmoor circuit

A surprisingly tough walk from the cottage on a sunny Bank Holiday Monday.

Route: leaving the car at the first of the carparks approaching Rannerdale Knott and heading up the ridge of Lad How rising steeply but on a well-graded path to the summit of Grasmoor. Then back down the broad path to the col and up Eel Crag, descending it on rough scree to Coledale Hause. Up Hopegill Head and along the ridge of Whiteside to descend to the main Grasmoor carpark. Here taking a path across fields and through woods to the shore of Crummockwater and along this back to the start.

Conditions: a hot and sunny though sometimes cloudy and windy day.

Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere for Hesket Newmarket Haystacks and Tractor Shed Mowdy.

Rannerdale Knotts

A short walk with Derek, Jenny and Simone after lunch at the Kirkstile Inn.

Route: leaving the car in the small carpark immediately underneath the end of the fell and walking north east to reach the open end of Rannerdale where the bluebells were just past their best. Up the gently ascending valley (rescuing a stranded Herdwick lamb on the way) to the col at the very far end and turning right to join the ridge. Following this to the summit and then descending on a pitched staircase-like path almost back to the carpark but then turning left to paddle in Crummockwater.

Conditions: hazy and cloudy but with hints of warm sun.

Pub: the Grange Bridge Cottage teashop, Grange – after some car difficulty near the top of Honister Pass – for cream tea, carrot cake, chocolate cake and Victoria sponge!

Kirk Fell from Lorton

A first walk from the cottage.

Route: turning south from the cottage to take the steep road up to the Whinlatter Pass road. Almost opposite, entering access land through a gate and following a track zig zagging up the field eventually directly ascending to the summit of High How. Exiting the field by climbing a short section of wooden fence in the top right corner and then following the line of a collapsed wall very steeply up through gorse before arriving at a more level grassy summit plateau. After reaching the unmarked summit, heading north west to a cairn marked 'pile of stones' on the map and thence down a gentler slope to join a track to the west of Harrot and past a herd of interested cows and calves to reach a C-road. Back along the B5292 to Lorton.

Conditions: cloudy and cool on the top.

Pub: Tweedies Bar, Grasmere for Brewsmith Bitter and Fyne Ales Hurricane Jack.