Circuit of Buttermere and swim

An 8km run and swim on the final day of a week based at the cottage.

Route: leaving the car in the NT car park just before the village (free to members; about half full at 11am on a sunny Friday) and running down past the pub, to the west side of the lake and hence counter-clockwise round the lake, pausing just after the 6km mark (GR186162) to step off the path and swim for 10 minutes or so (stony entry but swiftly shelving; narrow stony beach). then continuing along the path and back to the car.

Conditions: a hot sunny day.

Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere for Jennings Cocker Hoop.

Cycle to, and swim in, Crummock Water

A late afternoon cycle and swim on a hot summer’s day.

Route: leaving the cottage and cycling to the mid-Lorton crossroads, turning left for Hopebeck rising gently and then descending to the main road. Passing Scale Hill and then turning left to take small roads and leave the bikes locked at Park Bridge and walking a kilometre to the obvious swimming beech for a swim in splendid isolation. Afterwards, cycling on to the Kirkstile for a pint and then returning via the Thackthwaite road.

Conditions: warm and sunny.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Langdale and Loweswater Gold.

Easterly Cockermouth cycle circuit

A 30km cycle circuit on a hot sunny day.

Route: from the cottage, heading north on the Lorton Road but turning right on the small road just before Armaside House and following this to a T-junction with Hundith Hill Road where turning right eventually gaining altitude before a short descent at Wythop Mill and slight rise to continue under Sale Fell, descending to the Pheasant Inn for a half pint in their perfect, shady garden. Then on along the B5291 to look at the bridge over the Derwent before turning right at the distillery and following this undulating road to Cockermouth and the Castle Bar for a pint, then a cycle/book/Sainsbury’s shop. Home, directly, on the Lorton Road.

Conditions: already very warm and sunny at 11am.

Pubs: the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite for Cumbrian Legenday Ales Lowswater Gold. The Castle Bar, Cockermouth for Corby Lakeland Summit.

Scoat Fell circuit from Wasdale

A surprisingly arduous 16km circuit with a sting in the tail.

Route: leaving the car off the road overlooking Wast Water and following the more easterly branch of Goat Gill though bracken and without any trace of a path steeply up hill to the west of Goat Crag to reach a broad summit ridge and hence to the top of Middle Fell. After a short rest, descending a surprising height to cross what might normally be a marshy saddle and make a steep ascent on a grassy but stepped path to the summit of Seatallan. Descending the steep eastern end to the saddle and then trending left to reach a boulder with a cairn on it marking the start of a grassy way to the summit of Haycock. Then following a wall to the top of Great and Little Scoat Fell with views down Ennerdale. Picking a rocky path to the top of Red Pike and then descending a stumbly path to Dore Head. Here ascending half of the necessary altitude on scree tracks before reaching the crux: an 8 foot chimney (at the limits of T’s head for heights). Thereafter, simple scrambling to the ridge of Yewbarrow with fine views to the head of Wasdale. Descending on a ridge path until it tuns right on an ill-repaired path later joining a steep and unpleasant scree-filled gully (with some relief in a path to the right) before reaching first pitched stone steps and than a grassy path to the lake for a quick naked plunge, and then a one kilometre walk on the road back to the car.

Conditions: a warm still day with intermittent breeze, becoming fully sunny at the end. Not a good day for photographs.

Pub: the Strands, Nether Wasdale for Strands Green Bullet.

St Bees to Parton Percy Kelly trail

A 20km linear walk using three of the Percy Kelly trail guides.

Route: leaving the car by Parton station and taking a train three stops to St Bees (£2.50) where first walking to and looking round the Priory. Then returning to the Manor for a pint before walking half a mile to the beach to pick the coastal path (Coast to Coast route - last walked 30 years ago in the other direction). Gaining altitude and passing the bay at Fleswick, the lighthouse and then descending to Haig Pit now on a cycle path. Descending into Whitehaven past the Candlestick with Percy Kelly painted views of the harbour. Spending an hour at the Beacon visitor centre (free with an Art Card) and then having coffee in a Costa before following the Wagon Way on the England Coastal Path and Hadrian’s Cycle Way round to Parton, examining a view back from the shore at the edge of the village, views down to Parton from the allotments and finally the shore beyond the station.

Conditions: a grey day though surprisingly warm.

Pub: the Manor, St Bees for Ossetia, Yorkshire Blonde and Taylors Landlord.

Westerly Cockermouth cycle circuit

A 26km cycle circuit on a damp day.

Route: from the cottage, heading to Low Lorton to cross the river and take the Rogerscale road, bending left at Sandybeck Bridge left again through Brandlingill and then right to Eaglesfield and Brigham and then via Cockermouth Lonning to cross the A66 and visit Cockermouth (for the Castle Bar and the Castlegate House art gallery). Then back along Lorton Road.

Conditions: after a bright start to the day, the whole of the cycle ride took place in initially gentle and then later quite heavy rain.

Pub: the Castle Bar, Cockermouth for Exmoor Gold and Coniston Bluebird.

Cycle ride to Buttermere

A 26km Sunday evening cycle ride to deliver Lois to church.

Route: from the cottage heading north, east and then south onto the Whinlatter Pass and following this beyond the main ascent near the Spout Force car parks. Taking the first right turn onto a c-road descending to cross Blaze Beck and ascending gently for views north over the Vale of Lorton and then descending via two gates to Hopebeck to join the obvious route to Buttermere for evensong at St James' (for Lois) and the Bridge Hotel. Back by the most direct route.

Conditions: after an indifferent weekend for weather (compared with sun and 30+C temperature elsewhere in the UK), a lovely sunny evening.

Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere for Tractor Shed, Mowdy Pale Ale and Jennings Cocker Hoop.

Brackenthwaite Hows figure-of-eight stroll

A 5km walk encompassing lunch with Paul and Katya.

Route: leaving the car at the Lanthwaite Wood NT car park and walking to the lake (shockingly low water levels) and round as far as the swimming beach. Turning right along a slightly raised track and then by the river to join another path to reach Lowpark and Park Bridge and hence to the Kirkstile Inn for lunch. Afterwards, walking back to the car park and on the rising path to gain the faint notional saddle just south of Brackenthwaite Hows and turning left to reach the summit. Descending via Robin Steps.

Conditions: high cloud, dry and warm. “Soft.”

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for Bloody Crown, Langdale, Loweswater Gold and lunch.

10km run in/above the Green Quarter, Kentmere

Contrasting with a previous experience of much the same route in April (‘surprisingly wild and tiring run onto muddy moorland above Kentmere’) a 10km run on a hot and sunny day with a warm breeze.

Route: leaving the car on the road just before the entrance to the Hollingworth & Vose factory and running through the factory yard to take the green valley bottom path to Kentmere Hall. Turning right to the church and down the road to cross the river and take an immediate left. After 100m walking up a steep footpath across a field to dog-leg left-right across the upper Green Quarter road. Then taking a footpath signed to Sadgill initially along Cornclose lane, slowly gaining altitude and the shoulder south of Hollow Moor. On entering Right to Roam land, taking a path south east to a gate in the corner of a wall and joining the main path towards Hall Lane but diverging after a second gate to head south west towards H P Plantation and down to the valley bottom road. This time turning left to cross the bridge and take the footpath on the far side of the river back to the factory and the car.

Conditions: much cloud but sunny and a warm wind.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for Hawkshead Windermere Pale and lunch.

Sherborne to Weymouth (cycle holiday)

A 45km cycle ride on Day 4 of the South by Southwest to the Sea holiday with Steve and Ian.


Route: climbing out of Sherbourne on the A352 and then turning right on the Holm Bushes for Higher Totnell and then back to the main road near Minterne Magna for coffee overlooking the lake and Himalayan Gardens. Descending the main road for a view of the giant at Cerne Abbas and then ascending a hellishly steep c-road to the ridge of Buck Hill and then mainly descending to Dorchester and the The Brewhouse & Kitchen. Following Sustrans route 26 along the A354 slowly gaining height to reach a view of Portland and the sea before a lengthy descent on confusing cycle tracks to reach the sea at Weymouth for a swim before cycling to our guest house on Abbotsbury Road.

Conditions: another hot day, slightly cooler at the coast.

Pubs: Lunch at The Brewhouse & Kitchen, Dorchester for Nine Stones and Maiden Castle. In the evening, The Globe, Weymouth for St Austell Proper Job and Dartmouth Brewery Rail Ale

Bath to Sherborne (cycle holiday)

A 73km cycle ride via Sustrans cycle tunnels on Day 3 of the South by Southwest to the Sea holiday with Steve and Ian.

Route: leaving Bath near the station and via the Holloway and Bear Flat to find the start to a pair of Sustrans cycle tunnels and continue along an ex-railway line cycle track through Midford and Lower Twinhoe. Joining minor roads at Wellow and continuing on ex-railway line near Radstock to reach Midsomer Norton for coffee at a Costa. On past Stoke St Michael and quarries to cross the A361 to Cranmore and then descending on the edge of a valley to Batcombe and lunch at the Three Horseshoes. Then a hellishly steep climb and descent to Bruton and to the Hauser & Wirth art gallery on the B3081. Then further to have tea at the Otter garden centre short of Wincanton. Then on through that town to take flatter roads to Horsington before a steady though gentle climb to Stowell and parallel to the railway to the Half Moon, Sherborne.

Conditions: another hot still day.

Pubs: Lunch at The Three Horseshoes, Batcombe for Butcombe Bitter and Blindman’s Brewery Golden Spring. In the evening, The Digby Tap, Sherborne for Cerne Abbas Ale

Cheltenham to Bath (cycle holiday)

A 77km cycle ride with some steep climbs on Day 2 of the South by Southwest to the Sea holiday with Steve and Ian.

Route: leaving Cheltenham on Leckhampton Road and climbing for 5km though luckily shaded from the growing heat of the day. Turning left near Ullenwood and crossing A436 to inspect what turned out to be an un-navigable muddy track so, instead, heading south east to Cowley, climbing steeply and descending under the A417 and climbing again to Brimpsfield, along Calf Way through Bisley and descending steeply into the valley of Chalford for coffee at the Lavender Bakehouse and Coffee Shop. Slowly ascending out of the valley back onto the plateau and passing Avening to reach the Royal Oak at Tetbury for lunch. Then along the A433 before turning left to Norton to find the Fosse and cross under the M4 to stop at the The Salutation for L and T to have a further beer and watch the England vs Sweden World Cup Quarter Final whilst Ian and Steve drank tea and cycled on. Rejoining the Fosse almost as far as Bath but (L&T) turning right on Steway Lane and descending on a steep rutted grassy road to pick a way on roads into Bath (S&I staying longer on the Fosse and finding a canal path) and the (overpriced and shabby) Parade Park Hotel.

Conditions: another hot sunny day.

Pubs: Lunch at The Royal Oak, Tetbury for Moor Nor’Hop; The Salutation (watching the football) for Tiny Rebel Cwtch and Flying Monk Elmers and, in the evening, The Salamander, Bath for Bath Ales Gem and Prophecy.

Alvechurch to Cheltenham (cycle holiday)

A 78km fairly flat cycle ride on Day 1 of the South by Southwest to the Sea holiday with Steve and Ian.

Route: leaving Ian's house in Alvechurch and heading south west by minor roads under the A448 to reach a craft centre at Hanbury for coffee and cake. Then south via Himbleton and North Piddle to The Pickled Plum at Pershore for lunch. Cycling south but keeping to the north and west of Bredon Hill to reach Tewksbury for tea and to visit the abbey. Then by cycle paths and small roads past Tredington and Stoke Orchard to the outskirts of Bishop Cleeve to join the busy A435 to Cheltenham first visiting Ian's parents and then to an AirBnB on Clare St.

Conditions: a very hot day, after two weeks of similar days.

Pubs: Lunch at The Pickled Plum, Pershore for Dark Star Hophead, Purity Bunny Hop, Abrahalls Lily the Pink and Slack Alice. In the evening, The Jolly Brewmaster, Cheltenham for Bristol Beer Factory Gambler and The Hopshed Frizzle IPA.

Birmingham New Street to Alvechurch (cycle holiday)

A 20km evening cycle ride on Day 0 of the South by Southwest to the Sea holiday with Steve though not yet with Ian.

Route: leaving Birmingham New Street Station and gaining access to the Birmimgham Canal Old Line via Holliday Street and cycling along it roughly South by Southwest for 11km until it entered a tunnel. Joining roads and cycling along Wast Hills Lane to the A441 and the B4120 to reach Alvechurch.

Conditions: after a warm train journey, a warm still evening.

Pub: Joined by Ian, the Weighbridge Inn, Alvechurch for Weatheroak Keystone Hops, Wye Valley Deuce, Hereford Celtic Gold, and Kinver Edge.