Cross Fell

A 17km walk on a lovely August Bank Holiday Monday.

Route: leaving the car by the recycling point in Blencarn and exiting the village to the southeast to take a path across a narrow strip of access land, the path boggy and submerged in parts. Climbing on a clear path through bracken (past attractive Highland Coos) to reach the summit of Grumply Hill and along the ridge to rejoin the valley path steeply crossing Wildboar Scar and then easing to continue up the plateau towards the Pennine Way, the ground becoming very marshy for a mile or so. Climbing northwards on the Pennine Way, the promised paved path sadly giving way again to marsh. Finally reaching a dry stony summit plateau with the recently rebuilt shelter. Descending northwards, again on marshy ground to reach a lateral path, corpse road but with only faint signs on the ground until it became a dry grassy track beneath mine workings (allowing us finally to run for a bit) and hence down to Kirkland. Then taking rather a complicated path round the tarn and back to the start.

Conditions: very sunny, warm and mainly still (but icy wind on the top).

Pub: the White Stag, Dufton for Westgate Brewery Atlantic Hop.

Lyth Valley cycle loop

A short 25km loop into the Lyth Valley from Kendal.

Route: from home into town and up over Scout Scar on the Underbarrow Road to the Punch Bowl at Underbarrow for a pint. Then by the direct toute to Brigsteer and Levens for lunch. Afterwards, over the Sizergh Fell road home via Natland.

Conditions: sunny and warm verging on hot.

Pubs: the Punch Bowl at Underbarrow for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold. The Hare and Hounds, Levens for Barngates Brathay Gold and Cumbrian Legendary Ales Langdale.

Allonby cycle loop

A 50km lollipop shaped loop to Allonby and Gilcrux from Lorton

Route: starting from the cottage and heading directly to Cockermothon the B5292, then out on the A594 to take the first right to Tallentire past Bullgill and Crosby Villa doglegging across the A596 to reach the Solway with views across to Criffle and then north to the Ship Inn, Allonby. After a pint, heading north east to Westnewton, Aspatria, Arkely and hence to the Barn Bistro at Gilcrux for another pint. Then home via Tallentire and Cockermouth with perhaps the best views of the day being back into Lorton Vale.

Conditions: some early sun giving way to cloud.

Pubs: the Ship Inn, Allony for Yates Brewery Solway 4 Hop and the Barn Bistro, Gilcrux for Cumbrian Legenedary Ales Esthwaite Bitter and Eden Brewery Eden Gold.

Buttermere and back by bike

A 25km there and back route to Buttermere on a quiet Monday morning.

Route: from the Lorton cottage along the Hopebeck Road to join the main Butteremere road and along this with fine views over Crummock Water to Buttermere. After a pint in the sun returning but at Hopebeck climbing to the upper gated road to High Swinside Farm before descending to Boonbeck and hence home.

Conditions: a beautiful sunny day.

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

Skiddaw via Ullock Pike

A substantial circuit.

Route: leaving the car by the village Green in Bassenthwaite Village and heading across fields via Burthwaite, Hole House and Barkbeck to reach the start of the ridge but contouring to the right to find a path uphill. Then on a clear track initially below the ridge but then climbing onto it to gain Ullock Pike, Carl Side and then on a steep scree path to the summit of Skiddaw. In order to avoid the knee-breaking descent at Bakestall and then Birkett Edge, instead heading down Blake Hill to Hare Crag in very boggy conditions but eventually reaching the Cumbria Way and along this and across fields back to the start.

Conditions: initial low cloud obscuring the summits rising through the afternoon (though still on the top when we reached it) and some sun, the hills a blaze of heathery purple.

Pub: the Sun, Bassenthwaite for Banks Bassenthwaite Beauty and Ringwood Razor Back.

Quick trip to the Kirkstile Inn

After arriving at the cottage making dubious Welsh rarebit and having an afternoon snooze, a quick cycle ride to the Kirkstile Inn to meet Marion and Terry.

Route: from the cottage turning left at the mid-Lorton crossroads to take the Hopebeck Road, rejoining the main road for the Scale Hill climb and hence to the pub. Returning via Thackthwaite.

Conditions: cloudy but dry. Warm enough - just - to sit outside the pub for a couple of pints.

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