Wetherlam

A 9km walk on a glorious sunny day with Angie and Alistair.

Route: having picked up A&A in Coniston, driving back to the first left turn to the Tilberthwaite car park and ascending from there on the right hand side of the gorge of Tilberthwaite Gill and then bending right and slowly ascending through Dry Cove Bottom to the start of Wetherlam Edge. Here taking the path to scramble up occasionally greasy and icy rocks and so heading left onto the ridge to regain the sun and thence to the summit. Descending south to Lower Hows and then further south taking a left turn initially on Fix the Fells steps but losing the path and descending across occasionally damp grass to the stepping stones to the west of a small tarn and then left on the main path back to Tilberthwaite Gill descending this time on its west bank.

Conditions: cold but bright sun, with some ice underfoot.

Pub: the Black Bull, Coniston, for Consiton Brewery Infinity IPA, Oatmeal Stout and mulled wine.

Short run to the Stratford Obelisk

An early morning 5km run with James on the last day of a two day visit to Stratford (to see King John).

Route: from 12 St Gregory’s Road, west on Mayfield and Jolyffe’s Park Road to reach Clopton Road and along this to the end (from where Lois took a different route to the obelisk) and then across significant mud to reach a faint path slightly uphill across grass to the corner of the field. Then north again across deep mud to reach a bridleway (crossing ridges and furrows) for 200m before turning right and descending slightly to the obelisk. Then back south past the Welcombe Hotel, through the Dingles, to reach Welcombe Road. At the end, right back onto St Gregory's Road.

Conditions: very muddy under foot, frosty and misty and with the sun just rising as we reached the obelisk.

Pub? Not at 9am!

Whinlatter

A recuperative walk (three days after a visit to Workington A&E on Christmas Eve).

Route: leaving the car at the Spout Force car park and walking 3km up rough forestry tracks into the heart of the Aiken Beck valley. Ignoring the left turn for the Lord's Seat ascent path and following the track swinging to the right, before taking a very overgrown forest track leading to a treacherous stile out of the trees and onto the lower slopes and eventually, on moorland paths, to the summit of Whinlatter. Along the clear ridge path to Brown How and sweeping views of Lorton Vale and then following a clear path round the end of the fell and then back right, descending to the edge of forestry land. This time turning right (not left) and descending beside a fence, climbing over it at the corner to gain a slippy narrow path down through trees and rejoin the outward forest track left back to the car.

Conditions: cloudy with a cool breeze but not cold and dry.

Pub: the Pheasant, Bassenthwaite, for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold and home made crisps.

Balcony paths west of Lorton

A solitary tootle about in the sun, linking old routes to new ones on Christmas Day while Tim was battling the antibiotics back at the cottage

Route: Leaving the cottage (in road shoes!) running down to Boonbeck and up the road to the junction of C roads above the Blaze Beck gorge, there turning right towards High Swinside to take in the views towards Melbreak (in blinding sun). Past the bench on the right getting distracted by a clear grassy imprint leading across the fellside in a SSWesterly direction, going through a gate and contouring round the fell on an intermittent trod as far as the clear path down to High Swinside (right) or up to Ladyside Pike (left). Turning left, lured uphill, to contour back round to the well-defended fence boundary and then loop back down the fell to the original gate, enjoying great views towards Broom Fell and Graystones across the Pass. Rejoining the road back to the fork and then heading on down into the gorge and up the other side to meet Whinlatter and run along it for a few yards to a gate on the left. There crossing into the field to follow a strengthening contouring path (clearly well used but not shown on the OS map) NW above Blaze Beck until the Pass curves back round to bend steeply above the gorge, there rejoining the Pass and running down about a kilometre to a gate on the right just before a ruined building (set into the bottom of a well-built wall climbing the fellside). Squeezing through the gate and following along the wall left to clamber through the ruin and so into the next field and join a clear rising track to the wall/fence corner just northeast of High How, climb over and run down the high rigg and zig zag down on the track to the west to reach the main road. There turning right to follow the Pass again as far as a field gate on the left to run directly down across two fields to the cottage garden, entering by climbing the barbed wire fence.

Conditions: Bright, warm sunshine with wisps of low cloud clearing

Pub? (None available: Christmas Day!) Back at Grasmoor, two bottles of low-alcohol cider (Sainsbury’s and Stowford Press, 0.9% and 0.5%) to rehydrate with a very late and low-key Christmas brunch with T.

Knock Murton

A triumphant return to Knock Murton, with Mike Hornby, summiting for the first time.

Route: leaving the car at the carpark at Felldyke (full, because of runners) and taking the path to and beside Cogra Moss. Just where the water ends, taking a clear but narrow path heading diagonally uphill to reach the saddle down from Low Pen and a wide forest road. There having been no obvious path uphill to the right up to this point, taking an arbitrary line up into the pine forest where the gaps between trees seemed most promising. After a while, trending slightly left but then, as light became visible, right to find a stile through the fence. Then steeply uphill on a clear narrow path to the summit. Continuing in roughly the same direction but following a path initially too much to the left, then too much to the right, before taking a pathless beeline to the corner of the forestry plantation, over a gate, down by a path and then swinging right over dodgy stiles to meet the outward path.

Conditions: initial rain abating but thick cloud shrouding the summit.

Pub: the Royal Yew, Dean, joined by Janet for Teactor Shed Mowdy Pale and a good value lunch.

Buttermere circuit

An 8km run on the Sunday before Christmas.

Route: leaving the car at the NT car park (free to members and almost empty at 11am, two days before Christmas) and running past the Bridge Hotel to the lake and then via the newly reinstated bridge to the path on the far, western, side of the lake. Along this to the head of the lake and then back first on the road and then, for the first time, on the newly re-engineered path on the eastern shore. Taking the higher path doubling back to cross over, rather than through, the tunnel and then back to the pub. Then, at a walk and gifted with rum butter for Christmas pudding, back to the car.

Conditions: a dry spell in an unpromising, cloudy day.

Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere, for Tractor Brewery Mowdy Pale Ale.

Stile End walking ascent and running descent

A 7km birthday walk/run from Braithwaite.

Route: leaving the car parked at the bottom of the Whinlatter Pass and running over the Buddhist bridge, behind houses and past the Coledale Inn to join the c-road heading up hill. At the end of the road, continuing on a clear path turning slightly right to continue, now very much at a walk, to the summit of Stile End. Descending southwest towards Outerside but taking a major but very marshy path left. Then taking a grassy short cut, crossing another path back to Stile End and then going on down to the main descending path just above and parallel with Stonycroft Gill, tricky under foot to begin with but becoming increasingly easier as it swept down and to the left. Just before the road, taking a grassy path on the left but eventually forced on to the road. Then gently ascending on a narrow signed path behind a wood and descending to Braithwaite Lodge just before which turning left into a wood to cross Coledale Beck and retrace the initially outward path.

Conditions: low cloud, breezy and drizzle but mainly dry for an hour or so.

Pub: the Wainwright Inn, Keswick, for Fell Tinderbox IPA and Magnolia Second Chance.

Buttermere evening stroll

A short stroll curtailed by a lack of light in a dry patch at the end of the day.

Route: leaving the car at the NT car park (free to members and empty!) and walking past the Bridge Hotel and then right on the path to Scale Bridge, encountering flooded paths. Once across the brook, turning left and along waterlogged paths and under a dramatic Sour Milk Gill to take the newly reinstated bridge back (dedicated to Lynn). Along the shore to the path along the east side of the lake as far as, and over, the cave, then back though the cave with head torches and to the Bridge Hotel for a beer and then back to the car.

Conditions: after a day of rain, a dry interval but brief because of the light.

Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere, for Tractor Brewery Moody Pale Ale.

Kirk Fell, Lord’s Seat and Whinlatter Top circuit

A solitary 16km walk on a bright day while Lois was at work.

Route: leaving the cottage and walking through the village to High How and then steeply up on a very rough path through gorse, and then pathless on easier ground to the summit of Kirk Fell. On to the subsidiary north sub-summit and then the main summit of Graystones. Descending to Widow’s Hause and up to Broom Fell and then somewhat marshily to Lord’s Seat. Joining a made path and then diverging on a very marshy path to Ullister Hill, descending to another newish made path, turning right and then later left onto a wide forest track. At a junction turning right and losing some altitude before finding a very overgrown forest track eventually leading to a stile out of the trees and onto the lower slopes of Whinlatter. Along to Brown How and then following a clear path round the end of the fell and then back right, descending to the edge of forestry land. Here climbing a fence and heading left down a very rough path to a lower, level forestry road, turning right and then left down through Christmas trees and then left back towards the Spout Force carpark. Taking the path right to Spout Force, crossing the river and visiting the waterfall and then following what may have been a path but if so easily lost back through the trees at a higher level. Eventually meeting the boundary wall and walking steeply up it to the stile and path back to High How and hence home (the possible path left before the end being overrun with brambles).

Conditions: a cold wind but bright sun.

Pub? No but a bottle of Lidl vintage cider at the cottage.

Troutbeck Tongue

A 12km run round and along Troutbeck Tongue with Steve M.

Route: Leaving the car in the lay-by just before the bus stop just before the church at Troutbeck and running through the Limefitt caravan park, past its Haybarn Inn and thus onto the bridleway towards the head of the valley on the eastern side. Ignoring the first footbridge at the end of the Tongue and continuing to the second and then along the valley floor until it rises. Here taking a land-rover track across marshy ground to the top of the low ridge at the back of the Tongue. Turning left onto a narrow path across the marsh and then on a track to a stile. Continuing, rising slowly on marshy ground to the summit cairn. Descending a steep muddy path, at a walk, becoming steepest and muddiest at the very end before turning right, south, on a bridleway, and then left off it on a pleasant grassy path to the valley-bottom road. Along this for 2km and then turning left onto a walled track rising to cross the A592 onto a minor road. After 200m, turning left onto a track at a crossroads and along this back to the church.

Conditions: low cloud and misty but no rain.

Pub: the Watermill, Ings, for Windermere Collie Wobbles, Black Dog IPA and Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby and lunch.

Carron Crag and its environs

A 17km run, (increasingly) walking the (steeper) uphill bits.

Route: leaving the car where the road widens 200m north of High Nibthwaite and running back through the village to take a left turn to pick up the stony track slowly ascending onto the fellside, with improving views over the lake to all the Coniston fells. Passing Low Parkamoor and shortly afterwards entering Grizedale Forest, first on a narrow path later on wide forest roads to reach a crossroads north of Carron Crag. Turning right and immediately right again off the right of way along another forest road. After a left turn taking a stony path uphill to the (today crowded!) summit of Carron Crag. Descending onwards eventually to reach another forest road, turning right and then right again onto a path roughly parallel with the road, then joining it to a crossroads. Here turning left and following the road generally gently downhill, spurning two left turns, and turning left, over a bridge over Farra Grain gill, passed by two large, enthusiastic but apparently owner-less, hounds. Rising at a walk and then descending more steeply down the road, joined by a right of way, to turn right on a softer track that became a path through a wall and then rising, again at a walk, on what seemed a very old footpath eventually emerging from trees, descending damply then climbing under Old Parrock Hill and descending now quite slowly. Just short of Low Bethercar turning right within the Right to Roam land and climbing over a final spur, then down to High Bethecar and then descending on a treacherous path next to Caws Beck to High Nibthwaite and thence back along the road to the car.

Conditions: high cloud, dry and a surprisingly balmy 9C.

Pub: the Ship, Greenodd, for Greenodd Brewery Wanaka Light, Kiln Bitter, Caskade and Greenodd Roundabout.

Circuit of Wythop Valley

A fine 16km circuit of the Wythop Valley on a bright sunny Autumn day.

Route: leaving the car at Brunston Bridge (space for 10 cars) and walking up and along the quiet road almost as far as the farm house at Kelswick, there turning sharp left at a signpost to traverse a gently rising grassy track back to the wall at the end of the ridge, just before which turning right to follow the right hand variant of the path to the summit though switching to the left near the top for views over Bassenthwaite. Downhill in line with the Dodd to a gap in the wall and up to a subsidiary summit and then down to a subtle saddle turning right to take a scratchy path through gorse doglegging right-left to follow a path to Sustrans Route 71. At the edge of the forest plantation (currently felled) taking a path just inside the plantation but exiting to the right on a level path horse-shoeing round the ridge protruding south-west from Ladies Table. At a gate taking an initially subtle path slowly gaining height over the valley through the oak trees of Hagg Wood and targets for woodland archery dotted around. Climbing to a stile on the hillside and then descending on a narrow path to reach the forest road at Beck Wythop. Turning right and following this to gain altitude turning left, right, right and, just before the road re-enters thicker forest to the left, taking a faint track forwards to cross a fence onto the hillside at a stile. Turning left along the fence and then after a while heading half right, pathless uphill to gain the ridge and find the path from Barf to the summit of Lord’s Seat. Descending and taking the ridge to Broom Fell and then down to Widow Hause - where the forest to the left had been felled - and then up to the northern subsidiary summit of Graystones (ignoring the proper summit). Descending almost due north on the left of a collapsed wall, crossing a stile and then an easily climbed fence, staying on the left on a clear path through marshy ground. On the wide valley bottom turning right through an open gateway and then left now on right to roam land easily traversing Tom Rudd Beck to reach dry land under Ling Fell. Taking an initially steep path on the right hand side of a fence, and never far from it, to the summit right where right to the cairn. Descending north-west to find a grassy track leading on to the corpse road and thence back to Eskin and then by road to the car.

Conditions: bright low sun and a cool breeze.

Pub: the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, for Cumbrian Legenday Ales Loweswater Gold and home-made crisps.

Kendal to Underbarrow via Helsington Church

A 12km jog/walk to meet Andrew and Diane at the Black Labrador, Underbarrow, for lunch.

Route: leaving home and descending Oxenholme Road to Murley Moss and along a wet footpath to cross the A65 and join Natland Millbeck Lane, turning left onto the canal towpath (Lois taking a heavy tumble here but bravely carrying on). Across muddy fields to reach Hawes Bridge and then across the A591 to join a faint path uphill keeping a wall/hedge to the right, walking. Across a minor road and then a field with worryingly frisky cows repeatedly galloping towards us. Escaping via a farm yard and turning left along a track across fields to Helsington Church. Then by familiar ways along the edge of the Scar to the path descending to Barrowfield and then via Tullythwaite House to Underbarrow.

Conditions: low cloud and faint drizzle but no rain.

Pub: the Black Labrador, Underbarrow, for Hawkshead Bitter, Windermere Brewery Golden Retriever and lunch with Andrew and Diane who gave us a lift home afterwards.

Stone Arthur

A short 6km walk on a fine Autumn day but both plagued by lingering colds.

Route: Free car parking spaces all being full, leaving the car in the Broadgate Meadow car park (now pay and display, again, and £3 for 2 hours)  and walking to and past the Swan Hotel and 100m up the quiet road before turning left at the end to find a tarmac drive signposted 'Allcock Tarn' rising beside a stream. At the end, bearing left to rise on a paved stone 'staircase' as far as a locked gate into a wood and then, instead, bearing right across the fell, with much evidence of recent elegant Fix the Fells paving work, to reach the ridge and then up that to Stone Arthur. Descending steep and pathless north-west down a grassy slope towards Tongue Gill to pick up the path down from Grizedale Hause and along above the valley before turning right through a boggy field to Winterseeds and then left along the main road back to the start.

Conditions: sunny but cool in the wind.

Pub: Tweedies, Grasmere for Fyne ** and lunch.

Lorton to Braithwaite traverse via Lord’s Seat

A 15km linear walk to get the Middle Ruddings Beer Festival (both battling colds).

Route: leaving the village to the south, climbing to cross Whinlatter Pass and thence over High How to the easterly path, rather prickly with gorse in places. Entering the forest at a stile and continuing along an ancient-feeling forest track, overgrown in parts, following it right and downhill to cross the stream and rise to a T-junction. Turning left on a forest road, ignoring a left-hand tun onto a bridleway but following along Aiken Beck, crossing it at a bridge and then when the track bends right, taking a smaller path straight on gaining altitude to reach a made path and follow it left to Lord’s Seat. Retracing the route and taking a marshy path to the more northerly ‘Mound’ on Ullister Hill, then on and down and up to Seat How. Continuing straight ahead on a path marked on the map but with very little evidence on the ground. Turning right onto the lower of two forestry tracks but finding the Two Gills path downhill, crossing another track to reach Comb Beck and following it to Thornthwaite. Turning right on a track heading south through woods then bearing south-east on an enclosed path along the edge of a field before turning left to cross a field to Lanefoot Farm and then right along the top road to the rear entrance of Middle Ruddings for a beer. Afterwards, walking to the 4:37pm bus in Braithwaite.

Conditions: mainly completely still, with cloud above the tops and occasional spits of rain but clearing to some sun.

Pub: Middle Ruddings for Dudda’s Tun Original Cider and Garden Cider Raspberry and Rhubarb.

Kentmere Pike via Wrengill Quarry

A fine 11km walk on an initially sunny Autumn day.

Route: leaving the car just short of Hallow Bank, Kentmere, on High Lane just before the bridleway to Sadgill and taking that bridleway over to Long Sleddale and then the long, stony road up to the head of the valley. After a signpost in an enclosed area, taking a gate to the left and then a faint path to the River Sprint and into quarry workings, always keeping to the right. After passing a waterfall, looking for a way to ford the stream but being forced to continue past another fence crossing the way and another 200m before it was possible to do so (the gill being high). Then backtracking, climbing the (previously encountered) fence at a fence-wall join (alongside which a direct route goes to the summit) and moving pathless and across marshy ground to reach the Steel Rigg-Raven Crag ridge with views down the valley. Staying to the right hand/north side of a marshy comb to make a beeline steeply uphill to the summit of Kentmere Pike. Descending the summit ridge taking the first, fine diagonal short-cut with wide-open views to the right to reach Hallow Bank and thence back along the road, 400m, to the car.

Conditions: sunny though with a bitter wind, giving way to cloud with a threat of rain from the north.

Pub: the Eagle and Child, Staveley, for Jennings Sneck Lifter and a bowl of nachos and cheese.

The Helm

A short 6km walk on a wet Sunday evening (5pm) after all else had failed.

Route: leaving the house and heading uphill through the station, past the Station Inn and along the road behind/to the east of the Helm to the start of a footpath round the south end. Here, for the first time, taking a path through bracken on the Friends of the Lake District-owned side, up the end of the Helm (perhaps 30m to the east of the familiar path), but kept away from a direct route to the summit by a small cliff. On reaching a fence, climbing to the ridge and then back to the summit. Then along the ridge, on the east side, descending to the Station Inn and then home.

Conditions: low cloud and constant drizzle.

Pub: the Station Inn, Oxenholme, for Moorhouse Blonde Witch and Settle Brewery Blonde.

Yew Crag

A short 5km circuit on a wet low cloud day.

Route: from the lower NT car park for Aira Force taking the path eastwards just under Green Fell though spurning the higher level fork left for rather an awkward muddy and stony path through trees down towards the road but staying just inside the fall as war as a stile back from the road on the right. Turning left and climbing on a zig-zagging path (looking like a Victorian path to a viewpoint), slipping through a gap created by a rock flake up rock steps, and then keeping right on a path. Crossing a faint traversing path and continuing to the cliff. Where a rock overhangs, ignoring the older way bearing right. Instead, keeping left and clambering up a shallow gully lined with tree roots. At the top bearing left and right on a faint path leading past a rocky crest to a stile in the cliff-bounding fence. Turning left on the Watermillock path to descend to meet the outward path but bending right up hill to look at the falls (in superlative form) before returning to the car park.

Conditons: low clouds and intermittent rain.

Pub: the Watermill, Ings, for Watermill Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby and Ruff Justice.

Workington to Seaton circular saunter

A 10km stroll on a cycle track and riverside footpaths.

Route: Leaving the car at Workington station (free parking) and heading east round by the stream on quiet streets to the edge of the commercial area to pick up Sustrans Route 71 crossing the river on a foot/cycle bridge (2011). Carrying on on an ex-railway line through woods, bending right to avoid Route 72, through Seaton, until the path was parallel to Camberton Road. Here climbing steps on the left then to cross over the path on a new wooden footbridge, cross the road, with views of the fells, and descend a narrow muddy track to the high bank of the river. Here negotiating a very wet and muddy field corner on planks and then continuing on drier ground to reach Seaton Mill and its long weir (complete with heron) just before Barepot. Continuing towards Workington, under the A596, to reach the outward cycle bridge and heading to Carnegie Theatre and Arts Centre for the Workington Beer Festival. Thence back to the start.

Conditions: cloudy but not cold.

Pub: The Workington Rotary Oktoberfest Beer Festival at the Carnegie Theatre for Ennerdale Bridge The Harbour Master and Westgate Atlantic Hop.

Brackenthwaite Hows limp

A tiny stroll on a gorgeous day because T had a cycle holiday tendon injury.

Route: leaving the car at the Lanthwaite Green National Trust car park and walking along the road past Scale Hill to find the footpath on the right. After 200m, ignoring the footpath but keeping to a clear track inside the right-to-roam land to reach a gate and then along a path to the familiar ridge to the summit of Brackenthwaite Hows. Descending the ridge to the south but detouring to bushwhack to a subsidiary summit in trees and then down onto the main path. Descending to the lake shore near the boat house and round to near the pumping station but avoiding spray from the breakers on the lake by heading along the canalised inflow, briefly spotting an otter crossing the path and entering the river. Thence to the Kirkstile Inn for a pint and back along the road to the car park.

Conditions: brilliant sun, warm (21C) but very windy.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, for Session IPA.

Southport to Preston

A 37km/23 mile addendum to the Monmouth to Mersey cycle trip, having lost both Ian and Steve.

Route: leaving the Leicester Guest House, Southport, and taking a wide pavement cycle path beside the coast road and then a C-road to Hesketh Bank. Heading south through Tarleton to join a very busy A59 to Walmer Bridge, stopping at Tootsies Ice Cream & Coffee House for coffee. Then on a quieter road to Longton and then on well-constructed cycle paths to enter Preston via quiet streets and a park and over an historic footbridge near the New Continental, stopping for a pint after cycling up to the station and back through the park to pick up train tickets home. Then heading home on the train.

Conditions: sunny but cool.

Pub: the New Continental, Preston, for Marble Brewery Pint.

Bickerton to Southport

A 95km/60 mile fourth day of the Monmouth to Mersey Cycle Trip.

Route: leaving Angie and Alistair’s house and heading north east over Harthill, descending to the Cheshire plain, joining a busy A41 and then passing through Bruera and Saighton to reach Chester for coffee in a Caffe Nero. Then taking obvious roads to Upton to find the Sustrans Route 56 along an overgrown concrete path through Chester Zoo, along the Shropshire Union Canal and then on a railway track-side cycle track, minor roads and one very muddy farm track via Capenhurst, Willaston, and Raby for a beer at the Seven Stars in Thornton Hough. Then via Brimstage, Lever Causeway and Tranmere descending in traffic to reach the Birkenhead Ferry terminal at Woodside for coffee while awaiting a ferry to Liverpool. On the other side saying goodbye to Ian. Following a pavement cycleway on the very busy A5036 past endless warehouses, factories and docks (some derelict, some active) to join a cycle path at Seaforth round Marine Lake but coming to a halt where blown sand had covered the track. Thus detouring via Little Crosby and Hightown to pick up a track-side cycle path to Formby and, after a bit of confusion, a stony track through trees in the company of a small-wheeled bike aficionado to reach the narrow pavement-based cycle track along the Coast Road to find the Leicester Guest House in Southport.

Conditions: initially low cloud and drizzle, giving way to sun, but very blowy by the sea.

Pubs: at lunchtime, the Seven Stars, Thornton Hough, for Brimstage Brewery Trapper’s Hat (1.5 pints each!). In the evening, the Tap and Bottles, Southport, for Fierce Split Shift American IPA and Thirsty Farmer Nottinghamshire Craft Cider.

Church Stretton to Bickerton

An 89km/55 mile third day of the Monmouth to Mersey Cycle Trip.

Route: leaving the Victoria House B&B and heading north on the B5477 through All Stretton, turning right to cross the railway line and A49 to join the start of a Roman road. Making swift progress to Pitchford and Atcham to have coffee at the National Trust property Attingham Park (£5 cyclist entry for non-members to use the café). Then picking up Sustrans Route 45 to Shawbury for a beer at the Fox and Hounds. Continuing along the 45 to just south of Marchamley but detouring east and west to turn a steep hill into a smoother gradient. Descending to Prees and leaving the 45 to pick up the B5476 and, in gathering gloom and drizzle, proceeding at speed to Alderford Lake for tea and crumpets. In rain, crossing the centre of Whitchurch to head north east to Marbury and then Buckley, picking up Sustrans Route 56 to Bickerton to stay with Angie and Alistair.

Conditions: initially sunny though cool but becoming murky and then wet around tea time.

Pubs: at lunchtime, the Fox and Hounds, Shawbury, for Rowton Blonde. In the evening with Angie and Alistair, the Cholmondeley Arms for Cholmondeley Best, Salopian Shropshire Gold and Weston’s Old Rosie.

Ledbury to Church Stretton

The 83km/52 mile second day of the Monmouth to Mersey cycle trip with Ian and Steve.

Route: leaving the Talbot Hotel and heading north through Ledbury to pick up the B4214 and continue along this, gently undulating but then climbing gradually but more substantially for a view over the plain and then descending at speed to cross the A4103. Immediately afterwards, tuning right to take minor roads along the valley of the River Frome to Bromyard for coffee and cake at Flowerdews (next door to the Time Machine Museum of Science Fiction - which replaced the Teddy Bear Museum in 2005 - complete with TARDIS and dalek). Then continuing along the B4214 with no significant hills to Tenbury Wells for beer at the Kings Heads in bright sun. Crossing the Teme and taking a sharply rising minor road to Greete and Caynham before descending to Ludlow to source underwear for Dr Lyne and pick our way through the very busy food festival, cycling round the castle to join the B4361 and then the pavement of the A49 for coffee outside the (monstrous) Ludlow Farm shop at Bromfield. Then taking a route further east than Sustrans Route 44 to Norton and then significantly uphill to Upper Dinchope, curving round the hill to Westhope, Halton and Ticklerton always expecting then to descend but, instead continuing to climb to Hope Bowdler before a final descent to Church Stretton and the Victoria House B&B.

Conditions: a second warm sunny day.

Pubs: (at lunch time) the Kings Head, Tenbury Wells for Ludlow Blonde. Afterwards, the Stretton Ale House, Church Stretton for Salopian Oracle and Thundering Molly Cider.