Balcony path under Carling Knott and Burnbank Fell

A short walk with the Hornbys.

Route: leaving the car at Maggie’s Bridge car park and heading uphill past meadows and High Nook Farm to cross the beck on a small footbridge. There picking up a gently rising wide balcony path above Holme Wood. This time taking a right hand turn just before crossing the stream to descend a diagonal path through trees. On reaching a forest track, turning left to reach the main path through the woods near (though not by) Loweswater. Then back to the car.

Conditions: a cool breeze with some hints of sun.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Langdale, Loweswater Gold and lunch.

Great Sca Fell

A pre-lunch walk on a bright but cold winter's morning.

Route: leaving the car at Longlands (empty at 10am, full by 12:30) and heading east on a level track across grass to the end of Longlands Fell's northerly ridge and then up that (cutting the corner) on a grassy, occasionally marshy, route to the summit. Then down and up Lowthwaite Fell and down again to join a bridleway to Little Sca Fell and Great Sca Fell. Down the ridge to Meal Fell and on to drop down to Trusmadoor and over marshy ground to reach a bridleway back to the start.

Conditions: a low sun giving excellent views but a cold wind.

Pub: the Crown at Hesket Newmarket being closed at lunchtime, the Oddfellows, Caldbeck for Jennings Cocker Hoop and lunch, joined by Mark and Helen Richards.

Circuit of Gillercomb

A short cold circuit but with impressive - if hazy - views back to the Vale of Lorton.

Route: leaving the car on the roadside at Seathwaite and taking a path to cross the river and climb a pitched path with some hand over hand work by the side of the impressive waterfalls of Sour Milk Gill. On reaching level ground heading, pathless, to reach cliffs under a hanging stone and left round the end on a clear narrow path. Then climbing, right, onto the ridge and hence to the summit of Base Brown. Then on in biting wind to the summit of Green Gable (with confusing views of Great Gable behind it suggesting an extra necessary climb) and back to Brandreth and Grey Knotts. Descending by the side of a fence in the direction of Honister until below the main summit massif at which point taking a sheep path round the hillside towards Seathwaite. Then picking a pathless route across marshy ground to reach a ladder stile over the intake wall and pick a steep path through mine workings back to the start.

Conditions: cloudy, dry but with a biting cold wind.

Pub: the Scafell Hotel, Rosthwaite for Jennings Sneck Lifter.

Catbells

A short very blustery Boxing Day walk.

Route: leaving the car on the road to Grange (very parked up!) about 500m south of the end of the ridge and clambouring steeply on to the end of the balcony path and hence onto the recently re-engineered path to the summit, buffeted by strong winds. Continuing south beyond the summit to descend a staircase-like path at Hawse Gate to pick up the balcony path and following this to the end and then back to the car along the road.

Conditions: higher cloud than the previous day and dry but strong winds.

Pub: the Farmer's Arms, Portinscale for Jennings Red Breast and Marstons Owd Roger (including mixing them).

Derwentwater pootle

A short stroll on a dark wet Christmas Day with Mark and Sandra.

Route: leaving the car near Hawse End (on an empty road with pheasants crossing in all directions) and taking the path to the lake shore and along this to Manesty Park where picking small paths uphill to the road and then back to the car.

Conditions: low cloud and then rain.

Pub: Middle Ruddings, Braithwaite for Kirkby Lonsdale Single Track

Circuit of Loweswater

A 7km late morning run, this time counter-clockwise to get the road running over with first.

Route: leaving the car at the small car park at Maggie's Bridge and running back up its drive to the main road and then west as far as the track signposted unfit for motor vehicles. Up this gaining views over the lake as far as the second path to the left and then straight down Grange Lane, a long, steep green lane to dogleg across the road and pick up the gravel path initially uphill and then back round the lake.

Conditions: cold, sunny and bright.

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