Raven Crag (Thirlmere)

A short (6km) walk with a great view.

Route: leaving the car at the small car park by the road junction near the Thirlmere dam and walking north for 200m. Turning left steeply uphill on a small path through trees, twice crossing forestry tracks with the cliff of Raven Crag coming into view towards the top. At the shoulder turning left up a path with very man-made steps and board walk at the top to reach the view over Thirlmere. Descending back to the shoulder and turning left for 200m to reach the rather subtle remains of a fort at Castle Crag. Returning to the shoulder and taking a forestry track slowly downhill to the north above Shoulthwaite Gill (at one point doubling back) and then round to the east of the fell to join the paved road and returning to the car park.

Conditions: unnaturally warm and still for March.

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

Blake Fell via Carling Knott

An 8km walk before meeting friends at the Kirkstile Inn.

Route: leaving the car at Maggie’s Bridge car park and taking the path towards Watergate Farm and thence ascending the diagonal path across Holme Wood briefly joining the coffin track at a gate. Heading 200m towards Holme Beck but turning left a little above it on a faint path to a gate in a fence and then walking up the fellside, pathless, parallel to the fence. On reaching the summit ridge turning left for the view. Then backtracking past the summit of Carling Knott and on to Blake Fell. Descending towards Fothergill Head turning left across a stile to take a good path down the valley towards High Nook Tarn and then back to the start.

Conditions: very warm in bright sun and still on the tops.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, joined by Mark and Georgia, Robin and Virginia, for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold and Mosaic (and lunch).

Causey Pike and Outerside

A pleasing walking circuit on an unpromising day.

Route: Perhaps foolishly leaving the car at the Grisedale Pike car park at the foot of Whinlatter (thus adding a pointless final uphill end to the walk) and descending towards Braithwaite but taking the ‘Buddhist’ footbridge (seeing the back of a departing red squirrel) to pass the Coledale Hotel and footpaths past Braithwaite Lodge and the road past Little Braithwaite to join a riverside footpath to Stair. Ascending initially steeply to gain a contouring path before it turned sharply left up Rowling End (some use of hands necessary on slippery rock). Then along the ridge to climb Causey Pike (again hand work needed at the end) and now in intermittent mist along the ridge over Scar Crags to Sail Pass and down this and then across very marshy ground to climb Outerside. Gingerly down a slippery path to gain the final summit of Stile End and down its northwest ridge joining the outward route just south of the Coledale Hotel, flanked by drifts of snowdrops.

Conditions: initially some warm sunshine and dry if largely cloudy. Later climbing into low cloud and then rain,

Pub: The Royal Oak, Braithwaite for Jennings Cocker Hoop and Sneck Lifter.

Running circuit of Buttermere

A run to redeem an otherwise lazy day.

Route: leaving the car at the foot of the Newlands Pass (spaces on a dull damp day of very low cloud at 4:30pm) and descending to pick up a track through Wilkinsyke Farm to turn right onto the lakeside path, through the tunnel eventually to rejoin the road. At Gatesgarth Farm turning right on a path across the head of the lake to pick up the path back on the south side, then across the valley, through the village and steeply back up past the church to the car.

Conditions: low cloud and drizzle.

Pub: The Bridge Inn, Buttermere, for Jennings Golden Host and Tractor Shed Mowdy Pale Ale.

6.5km circuit of Cragg Farm hill

A short muddy run.

Route: leaving the car at the Mill Yard and exiting Staveley, past the collapsed main bridge (impressive work on which now commencing), to join the Dales Way as far as Cowan Head. Then uphill in a slight valley on a grassy path but on sodden ground, almost joining Winter Lane but heading north west across fields and then on an enclosed muddy track to join the outward route.

Conditions: as the previous attempt, conditions under foot were consistently muddy – soft going!

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for Cumbrian Five Hop and Windermere Pale Ale (and lunch).