Mont Saint-Cyr from Cahors

A short 6km walk in the later afternoon of Good Friday.

Route: Leaving the car at the Saint-Georges parking area (free but busy) and walking along the Promenade Jacques Treffel to the Pont Neuf. There turning right along an orthogonal road, going under a railway bridge and crossing a main road to the Cote aux Anes and following a single track path uphill round a large comb onto the plateau overlooking Cahors. Following this to the far side and the Mont Saint-Cyr viewpoint. Then descending left on the GR 36 back to the start.

Conditons: a warm sunny afternoon after a morning of rain and dark clouds.

Pub: Bar des Allees for bottled Grimbergen Blonde.

Prayssac via the dolmens

A second walk, over the ridge to Prayssac, while staying with Andrea and John just outside Castelfranc.

Route: leaving the house and heading north on the D37 to cross the stream at La Masse and follow a road curving up the hillside signposted to Le Quetty. Shortly after Le Quetty, taking the second left turn on a track into scrubby trees to gain a subtle ridge and heading right, north, to examine a dolmen. Then south on the ridge track to another dolmen (de la Bertrandoune), via a gariotte, and descending on a marked Dolmen Circuit track to Niaudon and south along quiet roads to Prayssac. After a beer in a bar and purchasing sandwiches, following the GR36 back onto the ridge and then by stony tracks (and a double gariotte) to Fauteuil de Cesar. Backtracking again to the summit ridge via the Chaos de Roquebert and then on to the outward (westwards) descent but turning east on a new track to rejoin after 1km the outward route to Le Quetty. Shortly afterwards, taking a more direct path off the road downhill back to La Masse and then back along the D37 home.

Conditions: initially cloudy but dry and then some sun.

Pub: L’ecole Buissoniere Prayssac for Leffe Blonde and Tripel Karmeliet.

Castelfranc to Luzech via GR36

A 24km walk from Andrea and John’s house just outside Castelfranc.

Route: leaving the house and walking 400m south on the D37 and then right on the D811 to pick up a road on the left of the road signed to a viewpoint. After 200m, taking a sharp left hand turn on a single track path marked with red and white dashes and following this up hill to the top of an implicit ridge. Following this to three crosses on the hillside (Le Calvaire). Backtracking following signs to Caminel and then following tracks and roads to the Roman ruins at L’Oppidum d’Impernale and then descending a steep ridge to Luzech for a beer in a bar. Returning taking the road signed to L’Oppidum but bending left to rejoin the outward route until turning left off it on the Route 3 descending unmade tracks and paths to walk along the D9 to Castelfranc and then back home.

Conditions: on and off drizzly rain but warm.

Pub: Le Luz d’Olt, Luzech for Grimbergen Blonde and Ambree.

Ullswater shoreline, the Poetry Stones and Hallin Fell

A 5km walk with Mike Hornby

Route: leaving the car (just!) on the hause by Martindale church and taking the footpath by Hallin Bank and Bridge End to join the quiet road to Beckside. Joining a path through woods along the shore of Ullswater as far as the poetry stones. After a short perusal, continuing onward to emerge from the trees and shortly afterwards finding an initially steep path uphill over dead bracken, slackening and trending south west above Swine Slacks and then turning left to climb to the summit with its fine cairn. Descending directly back to the car.

Conditions: warm and sunny with little sign of any remaining snow.

Pub: the Brothers’ Water Inn, Brothers’ Water for Barngates Cracker and Young’s Special (followed by a further half at the Queen’s Head, Troutbeck).

Fairfield via Stone Arthur

A late afternoon walk on a Friday, en route to the cottage.

Route: leaving the car on the A591 just north of Grasmere and heading south to pick up an unnamed road to its east. Taking a footpath signed Greenhead Gill and ascending on a tarmac track by the stream and, on reaching the fellside, taking a stepped pitched path to the left. Swinging right across the fellside and then bending left up the ridge to Stone Arthur. Continuing onwards to reach the main ridge and hence Great Rigg. At this point reaching fairly fresh, soft snow and continuing on to Fairfield. Descending, with care, on what may have been recently repaired but invisible under deeper snow to reach the Grisedale Hause and examining the icier snow-covered steep ascent of Seat Sandal but (with no way of arresting a slip) turning back to take the path towards Grasmere but detouring right over Hause Riggs and down near Little Tongue Gill. Crossing Tongue Gill by a bridge and ascending, briefly, past a disused reservoir to reach a higher track south eventually descending back to the A591 on a rough path.

Conditions: surprisingly still. Cold, clear and still on the top with light blue skies and snow under foot.

Pub: Middle Ruddings, Braithwaite for Cross Bay Zenith IPA.

Serpentine Woods

A tiny 2km pre-lunch stroll on a wintry day.

Route: leaving the car on Queens Road, Kendal and entering Serpentime Woods, climbing and keeping to the right hand, i.e. north, side briefly to emerge to views from the golf course. Descending on the south side and then taking a short snickle way between houses to reach Queen St and thence the Riflemans. Then back along Mount Pleasant to the car.

Conditions: snow under foot but not as cold as expected.

Pub: the Riflemans, Kendal for Greene King Abbot Ale.