Route: from the cottage to Low Lorton along the road, across the river and rising past Low Bank Farm and High Bank on a green road rising onto the shoulder of the hill ominously passing a farmer gathering holly (who might have barred our non-right-of-way). Taking a track south, at first muddy and then grassy to reach open access land. Then steeply uphill to reach Hatteringill Head and descending and ascending to reach Fellbarrow. Keeping to the (undulating) summit ridge to Low Fell and then descending into the comb to the south. Following a sheep track becoming a clear - perhaps ex-tram - track to reach a partially tarmac track down to the road and thence to the Kirkstile Inn. After a pint, along the road to Scales and turning right to reach Robin’s Steps and the top of Brackenthwaite Hows then experimentally descending a ridge north-east bearing left before the end to reach the footpath, cross the road gaining the under-fell path back to High Swinside Farm and then home.Conditions: brilliant low but surprisingly warm sun but with frost under foot.
Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater for Cumbrian Legendary Ales American Pale and Loweswater Gold.
