Fellbarrow cycle circuit

A cycle circuit to redeem a couple of pints at the Kirkstile Inn.

Route: from the cottage, crossing the valley to take the Thackthwaite road to the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater for a couple of pints (the pub suddenly filled by a wedding party) to avoid a rain shower. Then in improving weather but with beer legs climbing and over the pass to Fangs Brow and Mockerkin. For the first time taking a right turn to cycle the higher road via Sosgill and then keeping close to the fell to pass through Brandlingill and thence back to Lorton.

Conditions: improving weather from showers to blue skies and warm autumnal sun.

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

Hutton Roof Crags

Rather an unsuccessful ~10km run (given the under foot conditions) but with some points of interest.

Route: leaving the car parked on the side of the road in Hutton Roof and heading south to pick up a footpath through a new development of houses to approach but not reach the right to roam land. Along heading south west under Cockshot Hill on soft ground to reach Crag House. Here the thing to do would have been to join the road but, in false hope, heading across fields eventually to join the road just before a car park. Here entering the right to roam land and slowly ascending the hill first through woods near a substantial wall. Eventually, passing through a small gate to reach the summit. Then on in the rough direction of Farleton Knott on a faint path sometimes across lethal limestone pavements and eventually descending a muddy path to reach the road. Turning right uphill for 200m to reach a signed path back to Hutton Roof with views from the edge of the plateau north. Descending past a rock climber's pitch on a lovely grassy path before hitting nettles and a final descent back to the car.

Conditions: warm, cloudy with occasional hints of sun.

Pub: the Kings Head, Burton for Thwaites Lil Bewdy.

Keswick railway path and Latrigg

A gentle 10km pootle on an early Autumn day.

Route: leaving the car in the B&B quarter in Keswick and crossing the footbridge into Upper Fitz Park to pick up the railway path and cycle track behind the sports centre (after watching one of the local rabbits clean its inside leg for some considerable time) and heading towards Threlkeld. Following the track along, spotting a couple of deer in the woods on the south side, to the first missing bridge (post-2016 floods) at NY 28849 24432 and then backtracking to follow a temporary footpath north to connect to a balcony path in Brundholme Woods with occasional views across the river. Trending upwards to join a road and following this east to meet a track doubling back to ascend Latrigg, leaving it to follow the edge and reach the summit. Steeply descending slippery grass and then leaves in the woods to join the Cumbria Way and thence back to Keswick.

Conditons: a mild and sunny day with lots of people out and about.

Pub: the Wainwright Inn, Keswick for Fell Brewery Tinderbox IPA and Ulverston Brewery Laughing Gravy.

Brackenthwaite How run

A 7km Sunday morning run.

Route: leaving the car at the telephone box near the Kirkstile Inn and running past the pub to pick up the track towards Mosedale and Mellbreak and following this up hill towards Mosedale (rather than taking the short cut left hand turn) and then back left along a level grassy path, descending to to Highpark Farm. Along grassy tracks towards the lake but turning left to circuit a mound clockwise and taking a short board walk and grassy track to reach the lake shore further east. Then round the lake to the boat house and uphill into the woods swinging left and then turning right to take a wall side path eventually climbing Brackenthwaite How. Descending west on Roger's Steps to the National Trust car park and back along the road.

Conditions: windy with a threat of rain.

Pub: The Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales’ Loweswater Gold

Whiteside to Whiteless Pike

A 14km linear walk with a bus (Honister Rambler) return trip.

Route: from the cottage taking the Boonbeck road to Scales and then west before turning south on an improving track. At High Swinside Farm briefly joining the road to diverge onto a path to ford Hope Beck and then following along the intake wall on a wet but clear path under the Dodd and Penn. Having crossed Wythe Gill heading diagonally uphill, pathless through bracken following whatever sheep tracks came to hand (not many!). Eventually heading back to the gill and climbing briefly alongside it and then up the higher dry valley on steep tussocky bilberries and mosses to reach the col above Penn and then on to the summit of Whiteside. Then by summit ridge to Hopegill Head, Sand Hill, down to Coledale Hause and then up the enclosed scramble onto Eel Crag to Crag Hill. To Wandope and the down via Whiteless Pike with an hour in the pub before the bus was due (although in fact it was more than half an hour late allowing for ample chat with fellow bus travellers).

Conditons: initially warm and sunny, then cloud with hot sun returning from time to time at the end of the walk.

Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere for Coniston Bluebird, Mowdy Pale Ale and a pint of grapefruit and soda (!).