Circuit of Loughrigg with a minor variant via Fox Ghyll

A 9km run made difficult by the warmth and the previous night's DLitt celebration at the Pheasant.

Route: leaving the car in the White Moss car park (£2 per hour) and crossing the road and then the river on a footbridge and along woodland paths climbing to reach the start of Loughrigg Terrace. Along this and then the higher track, at the end, through trees to reach the summit of Red Bank. Descending, left, to reach a track round the north of Loughrigg Tarn. Partway along taking a footpath on the left across fields to meet a stony walled track rising and turning to circumnavigate the hillside but this time ignoring the route to Lily Tarn and instead continuing on before turning left before a gate to take a very rough path slowly descending via Fox Ghyll to the Under Loughrigg road and along this towards Grasmere. Turning left, before the road re-crosses the river, onto a rising road then shady track to reach views of Rydal Water. Taking the lower lakeside path back to the initial woods and thus recrossing the footbridge and back to the start.

Conditions: cloud giving way to hot sun.

Pub: the Watermill, Ings, for Windermere Brewery Bad Dog IPA

Dearham, Crosby and Gilcrux cycle pub crawl

A 48km three-pub cycle pub crawl.

Route: leaving Lorton, having to circle around via the church to avoid a closed road, crossing the river and heading west on minor roads to Eaglesfield, Brigham and Great Broughton where sadly the target (community-run) pub was closed (until 5pm). Thus heading on, gaining height to Broughton Moor to reach the Commercial Inn at Dearham for a pint sitting outside while hearing the life story of a friendly passer-by. Then heading north west, descending and re-ascending to cross the River Ellen and briefly join the A596 and get to the Stag Inn at Crosby for lunch. Then via Allerby - to minimise time on the main road - and back across the river and railway climbing back up to Gilcrux for a half and a chat with Hal. Finally home on the most direct route via Tallentire and Cockermouth.

Conditions: initially cloudy with hints of sun becoming sunny and warm.

Pubs: the Commercial Inn, Dearham, for Keswick K21; the Stag, Crosby, for Crop Circle and the Bar'n Bistro, Gilcrux, for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Vanilla Oatmeal Stout and Brakspear Jericho Pale Ale.

Haystacks

The 10km walk-out after staying for two nights at Black Sail Hut with Anne and Frank.

Route: heading south-east from Black Sail Hut on the lefterly of two paths, eventually crossing Loft Beck and then ascending the stepped (CtoC) path beside it to the plateau. Here, leaving that path and crossing 50m of marshy ground to reach a hand gate and pick up a faint but clear path beside a fence wending its way close to the edge of the slope down to Ennerdale and almost joining the obvious path at Innominate Tarn but, in fact, remaining apart until near the summit of Haystacks. Descending the better, though still scrambly, path to Scarth Gap and then back down to the path to the west shore of Buttermere and thence back - because of the missing bridge at Buttermere Dubs (by the lake) - via Scale Bridge to Buttermere.

Conditions: initially dry, then low cloud and rain, giving way to sun and even warmth in the pub garden.

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

Pillar, Scoat Fell and Steeple

A fine 14km walk but in mainly low cloud and rain with Anne and Frank.

Route: from Black Sail Hut crossing the footbridge and heading up Black Sail Pass, turning right at the crossroads of paths at the summit on an initially scruffy small path. Following this behind Looking Stead. Having almost passed the obvious combe on the right, taking a small path marked by a cairn right and almost immediately awkwardly downhill on a rough combination of muddy path, rock and scree. Then following this High Level Route over another awkward descent before it becoming an easy grassy path beneath cliffs above and with views over Ennerdale. At Robinson’s Cairn, both Pillar Rock but also the route over Shamrock Traverse coming unnervingly into view. However, although the path is airy and two sloping rocks - slippy in the wet - had to be carefully negotiated, no real difficulties being encountered.
At the top of the Rock, heading upwards on a steep but mainly clear path to reach the summit. Then along the initially wide ridge west, with no visibility, descending steeply and blindly into Wind Gap, up onto Scoat Fell and a small sharp descent and ascent onto Steeple, suddenly enjoying clearing views over Ennerdale. Descending the gentle ridge to find a faint path to a stile and then down a wet marshy path in the trees to a forestry track. This being preferable to the path, following it 2km to the footbridge and then back along the main rough road to the hut.


Conditions: rain beginning almost immediately with wind and low cloud, clearing to sun at Steeple.

Pub: bottled Jennings Cocker Hoop at Black Sail Hut.

Buttermere to Black Sail Hut

The 8km walk-in to two days at Black Sail Hut with Anne and Frank.

Route: having left the car at the cottage in Lorton and taken the bus to Buttermere for lunch at the Bridge Hotel, walking along the east side of the lake to Gatesgarth and then over Scarth Gap to Black Sail Hut.

Conditions: some initial sun then clouding over.

Pub: before the walk, the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere for Jennings Sneck Lifter and a light lunch. Afterwards, bottled Ennerdale Blonde and Jennings Cocker Hoop at Black Sail Hut (£4.25).

5km variant Brackenthwaite Hows run "round the Horn"

A random variant 5km run on a sunny morning after a week of rain and also after Brackenthwaite Hows had been front page news because of the National Trust purchase. That said, the car park was empty at 9:45am.

Route: leaving the car in the Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park and taking the steep shortcut to reach the start of the small path up Roger’s Steps to the summit plateau of Brackenthwaite Hows. Descending south and picking up the path within the wood by its eastern wall to join the small path descending to the boat house. Thence round the lake and round the peel hillock (the "Horn") before taking the raised wooden walkway to join the path by the stream to Park Bridge and, for Tim, straightforwardly back along the very minor road via Muncaster House to the start. (Lois chose instead to detour through the Lowpark farmyard, back along the bridleway to the bridge and later branch left off the road to Muncaster House to take the footpath to Gillerthwaite across a couple of fields and follow the drive out to join the Loweswater road at the defibrillator, turning right back to the car park.)

Conditions: sun and cloud.

Pub: later, on the way to Ged's 80th birthday party, the Old Crown, Hesket Newmarket, for Hesket Newmarket Scafell Pike Blonde and Haystacks.

10km on-road circuit of Lorton Vale

An on-road 10km circuit from Lanthwaite back to Lorton after a day of rain.

Route: leaving the car at the Lanthwaite Green NT car park (free to members) and running north, back along the main road over Scales Hill, past the turn off to Buttermere and turning right, uphill on the road to Hope Beck and along to the crossroads in the middle of Lorton. Turning left to Low Lorton, over the river and along to road past Thackthwaite and then the first left to cut the corner back to the start.

Conditions: after a day of rain, drizzle at the start but becoming dry with even hints of shadows by the end.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Session IPA.

Kendal run from Alexander's

A fine summer's evening 5.5km run with, sadly, an element of trespass.

Route: leaving the car at the Castle Green Hotel and running up Sedbergh Road making some use of its rough margin. Turning right on a track to Birk Hagg farm and then keeping right to use the track over the Lakes Line railway. Turning left on Valley Drive and then via a paved path through urban parkland to the Heron Pub. Up the hill on Esthwaite Avenue, turning right onto Silver How Close and right on an obscure snickleway to the grassy area marked as 'dog walking area' on the map. Here, illegally, turning left and across barbed wire and two fields to rejoin a right of way left descending to turn left on Parkside Road. Through the graveyard and up past the castle, descending to Castle Road, then joining Sedbergh Road, under the railway line and back to the start.

Conditions: during an otherwise wet and miserable June week, a fine sunny evening.

Pub: Alexander's, Castle Green Hotel, for Handsome Brewery Stranger.

High Cup Nick

Given the lack of visibility. rather a disappointing 14km walk with Anne and Frank.

Route: leaving the car near the pub in the village centre in Dufton and heading south east along the road to Town Head and turning left up hill on a road signed Pennine Way and High Cup Nick. At Bow Hall, the road becoming a stony track through fields and reaching moorland 1km later. At a complicated sheep fold, taking a hand gate and heading roughly orthogonally away from the wall on a smaller path and then regaining the main track and heading into cloud. At a stone marked with an arrow, following the arrow to a higher path easily crossing a stream and walking on grass round to the top of the valley of High Cup Nick with no views whatsoever. Not fancying the route down into the valley (steep, stony path with water cascading over it), retracing our steps but taking the lower path and thus getting more involved in crossing the stream. Regaining visibility at the sheep fold.

Conditions: from about the 400m contour, no visibility and for a time wind and rain.

Pub: the Stag Inn, Dufton, for Allendale Pennine Pale and Fell Crag.