Dowel Dale, Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill

A surprisingly dramatic circuit with two sharp ascents with Kathryn, Steve and the boys.

Route: leaving the cars at Earl Sterndale and heading west across fields to Glutton Grange. There following a grassy track northwest in a shallow valley. Bending west to the quiet road in Dowel Dale and north west to Stoop Farm. Following permissive paths across fields to the start of the steep ridge of Chrome Hill and to the top. Descending the ridge to cross a minor road and then Steve, Lois and I ascending an unpleasant muddy very steep path to gain the ridge of Parkhouse Hill, easing towards the summit. Down the ridge to meet the outward path and hence back.

Conditions: still, cloudy warm.

Pub: Church Inn, Chelmorton for Thornbridge Peverel (and lunch).

Rowtor Rocks and Stanton Moor from Birchover

A circuit in Peak District farmland countryside with Paul and Katya.

Route: taking the track behind the Druid's Inn, Birchover, to spend some time exploring Rowtor Rocks. Then along the track crossing fields to join the Limestone Way on Dudwood Lane and then south west on a track to Bank Top Farm and then descending by Wyns Tor to Winster. Heading north on a narrow paved path across marshy ground then climbing steeply to cross Clough Lane and past Barn Farm onto Stanton Moor (after a short accidental detour). Over moorland to Nine Ladies Stone Circle and then back via the Cork Stone to descend along a track to the start.

Conditions: cloudy with some sun but also the threat of rain later on.

Pub: the Druid's Inn, Birchover, for Oakham Ales Citra and Bishop's Farewell and Acorn Brewery Barnsley Bitter (and lunch).

Matlock pootle

A short Saturday morning stroll with Paul and Katya.

Route: leaving the B&B in Derwent Avenue and heading north on Dale Road to Snitterton Road. Taking the Limestone Way on a grassy path but turning left off it to follow paths - some across fields some muddy in trees - contouring round the hillside with growing views of the cliffs under High Tor. On reaching a road by St John's Church taking a higher path to Matlock Dale and above the complex of Heights of Abraham. Continuing further along the path to reach a crossroad of paths and then descending on slippery leaves to minor roads. Here taking a muddy path back to St John's Church. descending towards the main road but taking a path back uphill to reach the outward route and hence back.

Conditions: surprisingly warm with some sun.

Pub: Twenty Ten, Matlock for Amber Ales BHS and Matlock Wolds Farm Matlock Green and MAD as Azacca.

Hopegill Head

A last minute dash at the end of an Autumn day onto utterly empty summits.

Route: from the Lorton cottage, taking the bridleway to Swinside and thence steeply up the front of the Dodd and then briskly on a clearer path onto the Whiteside ridge turning left to reach the summit of Hopegill Head. Descending at a jog to Coledale Hause. At this point deciding that there was not enough time to make the 6:24pm bus from Buttermere and hence, instead, descending into the Gasgale Gill valley to follow a path washed away in places by the 2015 floods. On reaching the road, deciding, rather than waiting for the bus, to walk home via a path to Low and High Hollins and the minor road via Hopebeck to Lorton, in the deepening gloaming.

Conditions: a surprisingly warm late afternoon/early evening.

Pub: the Wheatsheaf, Lorton for Brakspear Varsity.

Brim Fell

An autumnal ascent of Brim Fell only.

Route: leaving the car on the road past the Ruskin Museum in Consiston and continuing on foot on the road/track towards the coppermines but turning left over the Miners’ Bridge to pick up a good path under the Bell. Accidentally taking a wrong turn and hence finding ourselves at the Pudding Stone and Boulder Valley and so gently climbing on a grassy path to reach Levers Water, bending left to take the pitched path up to Levers Hause and then along to the summit. Descending by picking a largely pathless route towards Raven Tor to find a clear grassy path down a shallow valley to Low Water. Picking up the main tourist path (possibly for the first time ever) to descend to meet the outward path but staying on the south side of Levers Water Beck at the Miners’ Bridge and hence back past the Sun to the Black Bull for a pint and then back to the car.

Conditions: initially a sunny autumn day giving way to cloud and one very light shower.

Pub: the Black Bull, Coniston for Coniston Infinity IPA and Bluebird XB.

Staveley 8km run

A short run awaiting Lois who was at a physiotherapy appointment.

Route: exiting the Mill Yard over the footbridge and heading north east across fields past the sewage works to the track to Side House. For the first time, taking the undulating and muddier path on the left of the stream rather than the track on the right and hence reaching Frost Hole and heading left uphill to the road. Past Littlewood Farm and approaching Ghyll Bank but turning left to descend fields, cross Hall Road and descend again across fields and pretty bridge to Low Elfhowe and then back via Scroggs Farm.

Conditions: a sunny autumn day.

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

20-mile bike ride to Staveley

Looking down the River Sprint running out of Long Sleddale

Cycling to meet a new friend at Wilf's and coming back a longer way than expected.

Route: Taking the most direct (7-mile) route to Staveley, via Dockray Hall Industrial Estate, Burneside and Bowston and looking with horror at the walled up ends of the old bridge on the way into the village from the south. Then setting off back from the Mill Yard via Barley Bridge, along the back road to the Potter Fell Road and staying low as far as Sprint Mill where the thoroughly blocked bridge forced a turning back to take the Garnett Bridge Road. Unable to turn right any earlier, because of more closed roads/bridges, cycling all the way up and over to Garnett Bridge (also looking a bit damaged!) and then back up to the A6 and through Kendal back home.

Conditions: A cold start, particularly in the wind, but hot in warm sunshine when the wind dropped

Pub: Wilf’s for a flat white and fruit scone at 11am with Sue – home for late lunch of lentil soup and home-made bread with Tim in the garden.

Blencathra via Gategill Fell

A fine if short walk on a mainly sunny day.

Route: leaving the car in the car park on Blease Road, Threlkeld, and taking the green track diverting from the road uphill along the beck (Blease Gill). At a gate, continuing straight steeply uphill until the wall on the right turned right. Then heading on a small path through bracken to the obvious boulder of Knott Halloo and then along the ridge and uphill again to reach the main Blencathra ridge. Turing right to reach the summit and then backtracking to descend Blease Fell on the engineered switchbacks and then a delightfully grassy path back to the outward route.

Conditions: the forecast sun present except for 45 minutes of cold wind and cloud on the higher fell.

Pub: the Horse and Farrier, Threlkeld, for Jennings Sneck Lifter in warm (nay, hot!) sun.

Gilcrux beer festival loop

A 38km cycle ride to a mini beer festival and back.

Route: from the cottage to Cockermouth on the Lorton Road then east on the Isel Road following Sustrans route 10 but turning left to cross the river and then left through Isel to Blindcrake. Crossing the A595 towards Parsonby but turning left to Gilcrux just before. After some beer at the Barn Bistro beer festival (and sausage sandwiches) home via Bridekirk on a rutted road climbing over a ridge of hills.


Conditions: mainly cloudy with hints of sun and a couple of light showers.

Pub: the Barn Bistro, Gilcrux for Fallen New World Odyssey Blonde, Fyne Ales Jarl, Ringwood Forty Niner, and Marstons Old Empire IPA.