(Largely) Off-road run from the cottage to the Kirkstile

A 70-min run from the cottage after church to meet Tim, Angie, Alistair, Robin and Virginia at the Kirkstile Inn for lunch.

Route: heading out of Lorton past Boonbeck Cottages and up the road to Scales, there initially missing a right and left turn onto a green track between fields (but doubling back down to find it) leading south to High Swinside Farm and then briefly down a concrete road, splitting off left on a path (sometimes flooded, sometimes boggy but mainly high, dry and grassy) to contour round underneath Dodd for several km. Cutting down right (east) through fields and finally a wood to reach the road just before it rises to Scales Hill. Then following the road down to the bridge over the Cocker and along to Loweswater and the pub.

Conditions: cloudy but warm and dry with very occasional glimpses of sun.

Pub: the Kirstile Inn, Loweswater, for Cumbrian Legendary Ales American Pale Ale and Loweswater Gold

Whiteside's Dodd

A short steep morning constitutional with Angie and Alistair but without Lois.

Route: from the cottage taking the Boonbeck road to Scales and then west before turning south on an improving track. At High Swinside Farm briefly joining the road to diverge onto a path to ford Hope Beck and then pathless and increasingly steeply up through bilberries to the summit. After a brief pause, heading further south to the saddle between Dodd and the rising hillside to Whiteside to pick a way down through scree to a faint path curving north east. After fording Hope Beck, taking the main path down from Hopegill Head to regain the outward route and hence home at a jog.

Conditions: cloudy but dry.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn (meeting Lois and also Robin and Virginia) for Cumbrian Legendary Ales American Pale Ale and Loweswater Gold and lunch.

Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag

A four hour walk with Angie and Alistair on their first visit to the Lorton cottage.

Route: leaving the car in the National Trust car park to the north of the village and walking past the pubs to the lake shore. Then taking a pitched step-like path through trees to reach the open fellside and continuing up past the tarn to where pitching gave way to a loose scree path to the summit. Then along the ridge to High Stile and High Crag before a steep descent on a very tidy pitched path against a flow of Ironman triathlon runners. At Scarth Gap, taking the path back to the lake and along it to the pub and thence car.

Conditions: cloudy but warm with just a hint of the forecast showers.

Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere for Carlisle Brewery Citadel and Tractor Shed Mowdy

Coniston to Lancaster

The fourth and final day of the 2016 Ring o’ Roses cycle trip with Ian and Steve. 87km including the (short!) train ride.

Route: taking the quiet road along the east side of the lake to Nibthwaite, Spark Bridge and the sadly closed bakery at Greenodd. There taking the new route 700 on a dire path making its way to the B5278. Here deciding to avoid a steep ascent and instead careering along to another sadly closed café at Holker Hall, and again at the garden centre Cark. Instead pausing for a beer at Allithwaite and then waiting for a 14:05 train from Grange to Arnside, only just being permitted onboard. Then climbing to Silverdale, getting a little lost looking for Route 700 around Jenny Brown’s Point, climbing onto the shoulder of Warton Crag before descending for tea at the Carnforth Station Refreshment Rooms. Along the canal to Hest Bank and then on the road and Promenade to Morecambe. Back to Lancaster along a new Green Way cycle track arriving over the Millennial Bridge for beer at the George and Dragon before a circuitous route, again involving the 700 and the canal, visiting Ian’s new house and returning to his old one.

Conditions: initial rain clearing to cloudy morning and sunny afternoon.

Pub: the Pheasant, Allithwaite for Loweswater Gold and Cross Bay Halo. The George and Dragon, Lancaster for Timothy Taylor Boltmaker, Titanic Ale Over, Moorhouse Blonde Witch and Banks Dragon’s Heart.

Shap to Coniston

A long-feeling, 86km, third day of the 2016 Ring o’ Roses cycle trip with Ian and Steve.

Route: taking small roads from Shap to Bampton Grange and by gated roads to Whale and Askham and thence to Yanwath and Penrith. Taking the B5288 to Greystoke for coffee at the Cycle Café. Then in gathering clouds along the route of the 71 grazing the A66 on older roads to north and south before taking the roadside cycle path to Threlkeld for beer outside the Horse and Farrier. Then taking the B5322 through the St John’s in the Vale, then along the west side of Thirlmere and then on the closed temporary road up Dunmail Raise having to lift the bikes over a locked gate. A speedy descent in increasingly heavy rain for tea in Grasmere. In continuing rain, spurning Red Bank and following the main road, then the Under Loughrigg Road to Skelwith Bridge and then to the Waterhead Hotel, Coniston.

Conditions: initially still, grey and cloudy. Later constant heavy rain lasting all night.

Pub: the Horse and Farriers, Threlkeld for Jennings Sneck Lifter and EPA. The Black Bull, Coniston for Infinity IPA, Oliver's Light Ale, Old Man and XB.

Settle to Shap

The second, 77km, day of the 2016 Ring o’ Roses cycle trip with Ian and Steve.

Route: from Settle taking the B6479 north for an early coffee at the Penyghent Café, Horton in Ribblesdale. Then rising gradually to reach the vicinity of the Ribblehead Viaduct, packed with Three Peakers. A further gradual ascent to reach the Dent road and then a speedy descent to the Sun Inn for beer. Afterwards, keeping to the north side of the valley to reach Sedbergh and then on a minor road (the route of the 68) to Howgill eventually joining the A685 into Tebay and then the B6260 to Orton for tea at the Chocolate Factory. Afterwards taking quiet roads (B6261) on high ground to Shap (swimming in the outdoor pool and eating at the Shap Chippy).

Conditions: cloudy but with some sunny spells. A sunny evening for swimming.

Pub: The Sun Inn, Dent for Kirkby Lonsdale Monumental and Tiffin Gold. The Kings Head, Shap for Tirril Ullswater Blonde and a cider called Disco Dudda’s.

Lancaster to Settle

The first, 79km, day of the 2016 Ring o’ Roses cycle trip with Ian and Steve.

Route: starting from Ian's rented house on Bay Horse Drive, Lancaster and taking Blea Tarn Road east to Little Fell Lane and then downhill to Quernmore before a relentless ascent to the tower overlooking the Bowland Hills (Jubilee Tower). After a gradual descent into the valley south east and then slowly following the Trough of Bowland up to the saddle and then a speedy descent for coffee at Puddleducks at Dunsop Bridge. To Whitewell where a closed road forced anther steep ascent and then descent to Clitheroe for beer. Afterwards slowly ascending away from the Ribble for coffee at Garden Makers garden centre just before Wigglesworth and then on via Rathmell as the day deteriorated reaching Settle in a heavy shower.

Conditions: cloudy but warm enough to sit outside. Later cloud increasing and heavy showers at the end of the day.

Pub: New Inn, Clitheroe for Prospect Silver Tally and Bowland Bridge Hen Harrier. The Falcon Manor, Settle for Bowland Bridge Buster IPA and Hen Harrier.

Circuit of Loweswater

A 7km run with one steep ascent.

Route: leaving the car at the small car park at Maggie's Bridge and running west on a gravel track along the western shore of Loweswater eventually climbing to Hudson Place and descending to Waterend. Back along the road to reach Grange Lane, a long, steep green lane climbing the hillside and then turning right to descend another green lane to rejoin the road and return to Maggie's Bridge.

Conditions: hot and sticky though overcast

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales American Pale Ale and Esthwaite Bitter.

Bushwhacking round the Gorrenberry Estate

A 10km walk on the hills behind Georgia and Mark’s new home.

Route: from Gorrenberry Cottage up the road a little to take a track heading up Bught Shank to pass the memorial to Ken Lyall who bought the original farm with Jane Bower in 2011 to turn it into the Gorenberry Estate ecological project. Then round and down to cross Gorenberry Burn and rise up onto the flanks of Dod Fell, quickly losing the track and plunging into long wet grass to cross under what remains of Dod Plantation, herding some unfortunate sheep out of the way, and then up Braidley Burn to visit Braidliehope, a deserted farmhouse at the top of the valley in need of a keen builder's project management skills one day. Then back down the track to the east of the burn, above an occasional archery range, and down to the road, turning right to walk back up the house past the home of the inventor of garlic ginger marmalade!

Conditions: low cloud hiding the tops but warm enough and dry

Pub: back to the cottage for bottled beer including William Brothers’ Joker IPA and BrewDog Punk IPA.

Fellbarrow

A 14km walk, occasionally running, from the cottage.

Route: from the cottage across field to the pub and then across the Lorton Low Bridge to take the road, then green lane, up High Bank onto the fellside. After 1.5km taking a clear track (though not a right of way) to the ruins at Hatteringill. Then steeply uphill by a wall and bearing right to reach Hatteringill Head. Following paths and then a line of fence through cotton to the summit of Fellbarrow, then running and walking to Smithy Fell and Sourfoot Fell. After a brief look towards Watching Crag, running down a clear zigzagging path into the comb and then across fields to Thackthwaite and back via the road to Lorton, spotting a red squirrel and then pausing for a pint.

Conditions: hot with some hazy sun. Muggy with a hint of rain to come, which never came.

Pub: the Wheatsheaf, Lorton for Ringwood Boon Doggle.

Circuit of Mellbreak

A walk and swim with Mark and Sandra (staying at the cottage) on a hot sunny day.

Route: leaving the car at the Scalehill Bridge NT carpark and taking woodland paths to Crummockwater. Following the path along the west shore overshooting the intended westwards path under the southern end of Mellbreak. Gaining height to a saddle to take a slowly descending path then track along an empty Mosedale to reach the Kirkstile Inn for a pint. Then by paths via Muncaster House to swim in the lake near the pump house and then back to the car.

Conditions: hot and sunny enough to swim.

Pub: The Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales American Pale Ale and Loweswater Gold.