Crummock Pootle

A stroll on a lovely warm sunny morning with Angie and Alistair but not Lois.

Route:leaving the car at the NT Lanthwaite Wood car park and walking to the lake, round west to the swimming ‘beach’ and then back to the boat house. Then on obvious paths to the top of Brackenthwaite Hows. Descending a small ridge to find Robin’s Steps and thence back left and right to the start. Then on foot to the pub for lunch and back.

Conditions: a lovely warm sunny morning.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for lunch and Cumbrian Legendary Ales Bloody Crown.

Linear walk from Braithwaite to Buttermere via Gizedale Pike and Whiteless Pike

A 12km linear walk with Angie and Alistair.

Route: having been dropped in Braithwaite by the 10:44am Honister Rambler bus from Lorton, heading first up the road to the quarry car park and then via the initially stepped path slowly up the ridge to Grisedale Pike. At the unnamed next summit deciding to change plans (from a direct walk to Lorton) and descending to Coledale Hause and rising slowly on the re-engineered path to Wandope Moss, Whiteless Edge and down over Whiteless Pike to Buttermere and a pint and then home on the 4:24pm Honister Rambler.

Conditions: a disappointingly grey day with occasional chill wind at the top, sun just failing to break through.

Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere for Tractor Shed Mowdy Pale Ale, a pot of tea and other refreshments.

Cycle circuit of Binsey including Ireby and Glicrux

A 55km cycle circuit on an iffy day.

Route: leaving Lorton and heading north to Cockermouth and then north east on Sustrans Route 10 along the valley above the river but descending to cross the Derwent at Iselgate and turning first right, then left and right to reach and cross the A595 at Bewaldeth. Climbing steeply to reach a road under Binsey and along this to turn left and the descend to Ireby for a pint at the Black Lion (for the first visit). Then west on an initially tiny single track road to Torpenhow, Bothel, Plumbland and Gilcrux for a pint in the Bar’n Bistro. Home via the steep tiny road under Tallentire Hill to Bridekirk and back via Cockermouth.

Conditions: initially dry with almost hints of sun. Later fine drizzle blown by a stiffening wind.

Pubs: The Black Lion, Ireby, for Banks Sunbeam. The Bar’n Bistro, Gilcrux, for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Esthwaite Bitter and Ennerdale Horseshoe.

Winster Valley cycle loop

A 55km cycle loop aimed to coincide with Graeme and Sarah at the Hare and Hounds, Levens, on Froggie’s birthday.

Route: from home along Valley Drive and Burneside Road to Burneside, turning left after the tennis courts on a very steep lane to cross the A591 onto Ratherheath Lane to reach the B5284 and along that to the Sun at Crook for a half. Then continuing along to turn left by the church and follow the valley down turning right to descend steeply and then ascend very steeply past Gilpin Mill to join the A5074 and follow that to Blackwell for a cream tea on the terrace. Retracing steps to Winster to turn right and follow a pleasant undulating road to Bowland Bridge and crossing the valley to Pool Bank and Witherslack Hall to reach the Derby Arms for a half. Then along the cycle route to Levens to meet Graeme and Sarah for a pint and a nibble of pizza. Home via Sizergh Fell, Natland and the British Raj, Kendal, to pick up a take-away.

Conditions: a hot sunny day.

Pubs: the Sun, Crook, for Tirril Windermere IPA; the Derby Arms, Witherslack, for Beer Monkey Bitter Revival and Cross Bay New World Ale Vesper; the Hare and Hounds, Levens, for Barngates Cracker.

The Woodland Hotel via Arnside and the Carnforth Snug

A 60km cycle ride to meet Dick and Ann at the Woodland Hotel.

Route: from home, along the A65 to take a right turn to Crosscrake and right, again, to the canal head, then Viver and Woodhouse. Past Heversham to take the flat straight roads near the estuary and then via Storth to Arnside. Uphill and then down to cross the railway line at Black Dyke and then on the main route to Yealand Storrs, Redmayne and uphill through Yealand Conyers, down through Warton and along to the Snug at Carnforth for a half. Then back hugging the estuary on the flat (rather than the hilly) road under Warton Crag beside Leighton Moss climbing to Silverdale Green and then down hill before the steep pull up to the Woodland Hotel meeting Dick and Ann and having a couple of pints. Home in a sudden rain storm via Beetham, the A65 to Milnthorpe and then the standard Hincaster route where the hill out of Natland seemed more than usually tiring.

Conditons: hot with some sun, muggy and then one brief storm of warm rain.

Pubs: the Carnforth Snug for ELB Foundation Bitter and Hawkshead Iti. The Woodlands Hotel, Silverdale for Old School Brewery Hopscotch and Slater's Haka.

Lyth Valley 40km cycle circuit

A 40km cycle loop after a late start.

Route: from home along Valley Drive and then via Burneside to Bowston where turning right to cross the river and take the back road to Staveley for lunch at the Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall. Afterwards, leaving Staveley along Station Road south towards Crook, doglegging right/left to cross the B5284 and along undulating roads to Underbarrow and then Brigsteer. Then, for the first time, turning right to drop onto the flat, straight road (Brigsteer Causeway) along the centre of the bottom of the valley, turning left to Levens for a half pint and miniature brownie, and then home via Sizergh Fell Road.

Conditions: despite a threat of rain in the forecast and grey sky, warm with high clouds.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall, Staveley, for Hawkshead WPA and lunch. The Hare & Hounds, Levens for half a pint of Fell Brewery Simcoe Eukanot and a Fever Tree Sicilian Lemon tonic (!) with soda water.