Brackenthwaite Hows stroll followed by swim

A walk taking in a novel path and a swim from the pebbly beach under the north end of Mellbreak.

Route: leaving the car at the Lanthwaite Wood car park (half empty at 9:30am) and climbing Robin’s Steps to the summit of Brackenthwaite Hows (spotting a path to the right before the deer gate), descending to the second deer gate and here turning right to take the new path. Then back through the first gate again and on the lower path through waist high damp bracken. Down to the first shoulder and back to Crummock and along the shore to the pebbly beach for a cool swim. Then back to the car.

Conditions: after days of sun, a cloudy morning.

Pub? drinks with Midtown cottage neighbours.

Binsey and a swim in Bassenthwaite

A stroll on impulse, driving back after lunch at the Drover’s Arms, followed by the 6th swim of the week.

Route: leaving the car at the obvious Binsey car parking area to its south east and taking the main path up but diverting, twice over, to shallower paths to the left before finally turning right to reach the actual summit.

Afterwards, parking on the roadside between Cottage Wood and Herdwick Croft (by the bridge over the River Derwent) and dropping down by a rough path to a clear gravel path running parallel to the lake, some 30m from it. Turning right and going another 100m before turning left on a vague path to share a small point of departure with another swimmer. After a long shallow walk on shifting stones, finally swimming.

Conditions: sunnier than earlier - and hot in the sun - though with a cooler air temperature.

Pub: earlier, the Drover’s Arms, Monkhill (here). Later, Fyne Ales Jarl at the Swan Inn, Cockermouth.

NHS couch to 5km run from Burgh by Sands

A 5km run and walk on flat and largely dry land.

Route: leaving Burgh by Sands at the crossroads, heading north through North End and rising slightly to 27m before descending. Where the road turned right leaving to the left on the right-hand track of two to cross a couple of stiles onto the marsh (dry, today) and walk out to the Edward I monument. Then heading roughly west, about 100m from the field boundary of the marsh, over undulating ground until about 60m from a lateral hedge. Turning left to a stile, across a field and at a complex junction taking the leftmost option (signed Byre End, which we passed on the route out) but rejecting the initial plan as the path was too overgrown. Instead trending half right to exit the field, cross another and join track back to the village (arriving by Midtown Farm), turning left to walk back along the road to the car.

Conditions: cooler than of late (15C) with cloud and only some sunny spells.

Pub: the Drover’s Rest (Tom and Becky’s pub), Monkhill, for Totally Brewed Guardian of the Forest Session Pale, Cross Bay IPA and lunch.

Swimming out from Fall Crag

A short afternoon swim out to the middle of Crummock Water

Route: Making use of verge parking south of the Lanthwaite Green layby, just past the field gate with the red-painted 'Keep Out' sign, and then walking down to the hand-gate just past the private wood with the picture-postcard view of the lake. Turning right to walk steeply down towards the lake, with the wood boundary on our right. Reaching the fence turning left to walk along the lower path and just through the hand-gate into trees again, turning down to take up a pitch beside a handy fallen tree (directly under Fall Crag). After a swim out into the middle of the lake, walking back up to take the higher path along the field back to the car.

Conditions: Hot sun with a very gentle breeze

Pub: Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold and Grasmoor in the garden of the Kirkstile Inn.

NHS couch to 5km from Baggrow and later swim in Bassenthwaite

The start of week 3 of the NHS couch to 5km and later swim in Bassenthwaite.

Route: leaving the car at the Grey Goat and heading past Gallowhow to the B5299 on a green lane. Joining the road heading east for 500m and then turning right and descending on an initially overgrown but pleasant hedged track to the Peel tower at Harbybrow and then along fields to the outskirts of  Blennerhasset.

After briefly regrouping in Lorton, driving to the north of Bassenthwaite Lake, parking near the bridge over the outflow, and walking along paths to find a grassy but quite place to enter the lake. Swimming out and round the obvious red buoy (about 200m from the shoreline) and back.

Conditions: hot (22C) and sunny.

Pub: after the run, the Grey Goat, Baggrow, for the first pint we’d drunk of Lakes Brew Co Pale Ale; after the swim, a single-scoop-flake from Lucchini’s van on Whinlatter.

Balcony path under Carling Knott and Burnbank Fell and swim in Loweswater

A 7km walk with Glen and Fiona (and Meg) with a swim in the lake near the end.

Route: leaving the car at 2pm at the laybe near the phone box at Waterend and talking the path down across fields and up to to Hudson Place turning right to pass Jenkinson Place, slowly ascending a track onto the shoulder of the hillside. Taking a sharp left rising in the direction of Burnbank Fell and then left to pick up the obvious coffin route. After crossing Holme Beck, taking the path on the left into the wood and descending on a diagonal to the corner of Loweswater and back along the lake shore. Near the rentable Botha, L and T stopping for a swim in not too cold water with a fine steep slope into it. Then following along back to the start for bottles of Glen’s fine home brewed beer from their motor home.

Conditions: a warm sunny afternoon.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold, Esthwaite Bitter and supper.

Buttermere-based NHS couch to 5km and swim

Combining the final run of week 2 of the NHS couch to 5km programme with a swim. Also using the new free Cockermouth to Buttermere shuttle.

Route: On exiting the bus, starting the app and heading down the west side of the lake on what turned out to be more undulating paths than memory had suggested. At the bell midpoint in the session continuing until the lakeside smaller path variant re-joined the main path and heading back towards the village using the warm down walk to head round the top of the lake and down the east side to a secluded swimming spot for a short cold swim.

Conditions: some sun though not while swimming.

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

A swim in Crummock

T’s first swim of 2021 (L having swum in the sea off Pebble Beach, Stokes Bay, Alverstoke the day before).

Route: leaving the emptying car park at Lanthwaite Wood (after 4:30pm) and walking to the normal protruding beach on the west side for a short swim.

Conditions: water cold, naturally, and cooler than the Solent, but some sun peaking out after a mainly cloudy day.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Esthwaite Bittter.

Cockermouth town centre including railway path (3rd NHS couch to 5km run)

A 4-5km walk and run.

Route: leaving the car immediately outside The Swan and heading south on Lorton Road to Strawberry How Road and left on a path to join the railway path heading back towards the town. Having crossed the river, descending the steps to run on Rubbybanks Road beside the Cocker (there seeing a heron) and through yards to Main Street, turning left and then right to look at the viewpoint at the river confluence. Then along Waterloo Street, Main Street, Crown Street and left on Horsman Street to join a footpath to reach the railway path. Along this to Lorton Road at a walk and back along Lorton Road to the pub.

Conditions: cloudy with sunny spells but warm.

Pub: The Swan, Cockermouth for Jarl, then the Castle Bar for Thatchers cider and a jolly time in a sunny backyard with Dick and Ann.

Kendal riverside (first NHS Couch to 5km run)

The first attempt at a return to exercise via the NHS couch to 5km programme. Hence walking, then running and walking with a warm-down walk at the end.

Route: leaving the car opposite the Aga shop in Kendal and walking briskly north on the path by the river to cross the A6 (Station Road) and follow the path by the river to cross the Kent on the footbridge and return through the industrial estate on Mintsfeet Road and Shap Road to St George’s Church and along the river onto Little Aynam, past the Barrel House and Factory Tap, along Aynam Road to cross the Lound Road bridge and then walking back along the river to the start.

Conditions: the slight threat of rain unrealised, a warm humid cloudy day.

Pub: the Handsome Brewery Snuff Bar for Handsome Hound IPA and Blonde and T’s first ever go at pulling a pint.