Hilbre Island

A short morning walk with Steve Jones across sand for a picnic lunch with cans of Punk IPA.

Route: leaving Steve's house in Moels and heading to the coast turning left along Meols parade as far as the lifeboat station. Then diverting onto the beach and slowly heading away from the coast towards the island on wet sand (water resistant boots proving the correct choice). Around 50 yards from the island, stepping carefully across a final stream of water. After watching seals on a distant sand bank, heading right to the end of the island and a former life boat station for a picnic. Then heading directly back towards the shore at West Kirkby. After a beer, returning along the main road.

Conditions: grey skies and windy but fairly warm.

Pub: the West Kirkby Tap, West Kirkby for Bragdy Heavy Industry Electric Mountain, Bad Co. Comfortably Numb, Neptune Brewery Sea Monkeys, Sppitting Feathures Thirst Quencher, Wantsome Fortitude and Blackjack Sticklebract IPA.

Bowscale tarn

A short stroll with Mike Hornby followed by a swim.

Route: leaving the car on the east side of the road just south of Bowscale farm and taking the track that rises slowly first north and trending west (as the road zigzags east) and following this as it trends upwards and westwards to the tarn. Then walking (possibly the wrong way) clockwise round the tarn on rather wet and marshy ground to find a steeper ingress for a swim. Then heading uphill to find a better track back to the main tarn track.

Conditions: sunny and cloudy. Warm enough to swim despite the cold water.

Pub: the Mill, Mungrisedale for Robinsons Dizzy Blonde, Trooper, and Robohop and lunch, joined by Janet.

Great Borne, Starling Dodd and Red Pike

A  linear walk half way along the ridge from Ennerdale and then back down the valley

Route: leaving the car at the Ennerdale car park (at the end of the road) and walking back along the road to a stile and then up hill to the east, forking right to make our way to the summit of Bowness Knot via a narrow undulating path. Then back pathless and climbing a fence to gain Brown How and then the main path next to Rake Beck, a scramble in places. On the plateau turning right to the stony summit of Great Borne. Then via a slightly marshy ridge descending and ascending with no one in sight to the summit of Starling Dodd. Then a similar descent and ascent to Red Pike. Descending via a route marked by cairns SW, becoming a clear path only after a few hundred metres, down into Ennerdale. Then 4km along the stony valley road back to the car.

Conditions: initially hot giving way to cloud with a threat of rain (arriving only once we were in the pub).

Pub: the Fox and Hounds Ennerdale Bridge for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold and Independent Lakeland Brewerie Entente Cordiale.

High Nook Tarn swim

A stroll to have a swim with Alison Gilchrist as part of her 60 tarns with 60 friends 60th birthday celebration.

Route: leaving the cars at Maggie's Bridge car park (still easy at 11am because of the vile weather) and walking south west on a track to High Nook Farm and then into the comb above and the tarn. Swimming (in T's case, very briefly), dressing, nibbling cake and returning to the car.

Conditions: initially heavy rain giving way to drizzle and then back to light rain.

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

Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks

A fine 15km day walk from Buttermere.

Route: leaving the car in the National Trust car park before Buttermere and walking into the village and then via Wilkinsyke Farm along the north shore of the lake to the foot of Fleetwith Pike. Ascending the ridge mainly on the edge until, near the top, the route cuts a little in to the right, with increasing views back north to Scotland. From the summit descending south-east on a marshy path to quarry works and then down to a stream (which might be difficult in flood) to find a paved and marked route towards Haystacks. Under Green Crag taking a slightly higher path to the right rejoining the main route before the Innominate Tarn and then forking right to stand on all four possible summits. Descending to Scarth Gap and then along the south side of the lake back, via the Bridge Hotel, the car.

Conditions: a warm sunny day.

Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere for Tractor Shed Mowdy, and Heskett Newmarket Haystacks.

Brackenthwaite Hows pootle

A 6km run to redeem an inactive rainy day.

Route: leaving the car at the National Trust car park and zigzagging south and then north to pick up the small path up Roger’s Steps to the summit plateau of Brackenthwaite Hows. Descending south and picking up, for the first time, a path within the wood by its eastern wall to join the small path descending to the boat house. Thence round the lake to Highpark Farm and round the end of Mellbreak before descending to the Kirkstile Inn and then back along the road.

Conditions: grey and windy and threatening rain but not cold.

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

Linton Falls to Burnsall and back

A 10km walk after lunch with Robin, Virginia, Jeff and Susie at the Angel, Hetton to continue Robin’s birthday celebrations.

Route: leaving the car at the Linton Falls car park (£4.50 all day) and heading to the viewing spot for the falls. Crossing a wide spanned footbridge and then turning right to pick up a riverside footpath, the route of the Dales Way, pausing to view the stepping stones to the church at Linton. After 3km spurning stepping stones to cross back over the river on a pedestrian suspension bridge and, with view of Loup Scar, continuing south east to Burnsall for a half pint at the pub. At this point, the party dividing and we, with Robin and Virginia, returning via footpaths across lower slopes to Thorpe and then along the road to a right turn down an overgrown green walled track to reach the B6160 and then a diagonal grassy track back to the start.

Conditions: initially sunny and warm but windy and later cooler with a threat of fine rain.

Pub: the Red Lion, Burnsall for Bradfield Farmer’s Blonde and Ilkley Brewery Mary Jane