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.
