Blake Fell from Felldyke

An 11km walk, taken from Lakeland walker, on a blowy day.

Route: leaving the car at the Felldyke car park south of Lamplugh and continuing south up hill on the road for 1km. Beyond Knock Murton, taking a wide forestry track east, parallel to a raised disused railway line. At the entrance to the forest leaving the track to take a narrow path to the right between the trees and a fence, after a while gently rising. On a saddle, getting a view of the return path 20m to the north. Climbing steeply to the summit of Low Pen and then rising gently to High Pen. Then following the obvious route next to a fence round to the summit of Blake Fell in increasing wind. Descending and then quickly climbing to the top of to Sharp Knott before back-tracking and taking a very steep downward path north to meet a forestry track through a scrubby area of recently felled trees. Following this round the hillside for 3km under High Pen and Low Pen and then descending diagonally right on a narrow path to reach the track by Cogra Moss to the car park.

Conditions: cloudy and grey with a stiff wind.

Pub: the Punch Bowl, High Broughton, for Coniston Brewery Special Oatmeal Stout and Weetwood Southern Cross.

Three lanes and three pillars under Wansfell

A 9km walk to find the second Thirlmere survey pillar on the slopes of Wansfell.

Route: leaving the car in the car park at Brockhole (£3 for 2 hours) and crossing the A591 to take Wain Lane past Middlerigg Tarn uphill doglegging right-left across the C-road to take a track to Robin Lane. Heading west but diverting over a stone stile to examine the unenclosed pillar (nevertheless probably a survey pillar given the location of Manchester Water Company gates pointing towards it from the return path) marked on the map at GR340 502. Then past High Skelghyll to Skelghyll Wood. Immediately on entering the wood, turning half right, pathlessly, on a leaf strewn hillside, crossing fallen trees until the pillar came into view, dramatically on a raised bit of ground in trees. After examining it, considering scaling the wall by a Manchester Water Company gate (locked) to get onto open fellside but instead following the line of the wall tentatively round to meet the normal path and the ladder stile to the familiar (original for us) pillar. Leaving it via another Manchester Water Company gate and descending pathlessly to the extension of the normal path. Turning left on this to reach familiar territory and the outward track. This time, however, descending on Skelghyll Lane and Mirk Lane to the start.

Conditions a grey day, 5C but with high cloud.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for Hawkshead Mosaic and Millyard Mild.

Brackenthwaite Hows variant saunter

A variant stroll to redeem the day after lunch at the Kirkstile Inn.

Route: leaving the car at the NT car park and, to spare T’s sore calf muscle (post cramp attack two days earlier), taking the higher initial path rising above the lake to reach the saddle immediately to the south of the grassy summit region. Then heading north but staying out of the summit area on a narrow path still within trees to arrive just above Robin’s Steps. Heading right through the deer gate towards the summit but turning left on a faint path downhill to reach the faint summit (more apparent in reality than on the map or Google Earth) which mirrors Pickett Howe. Heading east off this and descending to run parallel to a wall now down at ground level and across a marsh to just before Pickett Howe Farm. Here turning uphill and then along a rising ridge to the summit. Descending to cross the outward path and continue nearly as far as the exit to Lanthwaite Green Farm but bearing right and north on the other main descending path back to the start.

Conditions: high cloud and very occasional glimpses of sun.

Pub: before the walk, the Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold and an impromptu lunch.

Helsington Church and Scout Scar from Brigsteer

Another 7km variant on a familiar route with Helen and Andrew just after New Year.

Route: leaving the car in a large layby (space for 10+ cars) north of the village and walking back, south past Brigsteer on the lower road but branching left on a footpath signed St John’s Church just beyond the village. Uphill across a couple of fields to turn right on a track and then, rather than branching diagonally left off it across the large field to Helsington Church, staying on the track to climb more slowly and overshoot the church and then backtrack to it. Then turning right and following the angle of a sign but with no trace on the ground, to walk through muddy fields to reach the Brigsteer Road near the normal Scout Scar parking spot but climbing a gate to enter the Scar, climb the Escarpment and head left, west to the Gate-in-the-Corner, Dave’s Cairn and the descent to Barrowfield Farm. Right, then left, to take a footpath descending through trees and across a wide green field. Climbing another stile to head into trees again and following the path on west to a crosspaths among felled trees, there turning left along a forestry track and following it a km or so south back to the parking area.

Conditions: cloudy but dry until the very last moments, contra the forecast.

Pub: The Black Labrador, Underbarrow (5th in a recent national top ten for pub Sunday roast dinners), for lunch accompanied by Thwaites Wainwright and Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery Pennine Ambler. 

Walk to Cunswick Hall and back

A 10km walk on a chill but sunny day.

Route: leaving the car at the start of the Tramway in Kendal and walking along it, under Kettlewell Crag, up and across the golf course and over the A591. Bending left and south to reach the crossroads at the start of Gamblesmire Lane and descending this to turn right through the farm to Cunswick Hall to pick up a volume of poetry by local Lake poet Margaret Cropper of Burneside (1886-1980), from her nephew Sir James. Continuing north to the path between Ash Spring Wood and Cunswick Tarn, to the top of Cunswick Scar and then back to the bridge over the A591. Turning left round Helsfell Nab and back into Kendal via a path between allotments and down the Windermere Road to the New Union for a beer. Afterwards, returning to the Tramway via Maudes Meadow and two steep cobbled snickleways.

Conditions: 2C, thus cold especially in the wind, but bright and sunny.

Pub: the New Union, Kendal, for Lakes Brew Co Pale Ale and Northern Monkey Brew Co Underdog.

Hopebeck and High Swinside by road

A 7km road loop a bit late in the day, inspired by the North Lakes New Year Half Marathon (Lois only).

Route: From the cottage north along the road, up to the Pass and down to the Tenter Lane new building project to photograph progress, and on round the village to Hopebeck Lane. Following this to Hopebeck, planning to go on to loop round by Turner How farm (following the NLNYHM route) but, weather driving in from the south, deciding to turn left and head up to High Swinside. There carrying on to the junction of the Boonbeck to Blaze Bridge road and turning back down that road for home.

Conditions: Initially just windy but with rain increasing off and on and fair lashing my face on the final stretch back in the almost-dark.

Pub? Tea and Christmas cake at home

Sale Fell

A short 5km walk with Angie and Alistair to blow the cobwebs away on New Year’s Day.

Route: leaving the car at St Margaret's Church (above the Pheasant Inn) and walking through the churchyard to the gate to the left, crossing laterally to a footpath and then heading uphill to the right and then round the hill gaining grounding slowly towards the west. At the end of the ridge (level with a wall) turning left uphill on clear paths to the top. Thence down to a subsidiary summit and round to Lothwaite and then descending on a large clear grassy path between bracken to the church.

Conditions: very, very windy but warm.

Pub: the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, for Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Loweswater Gold.