Great Cockup, only

A 10km walk up Great Cockup and descending via Trusmadoor and Chapelhouse Reservoir.

Route: leaving the car at the marked car parking area at the northeast end of Over Water (empty but space for ~8 cars) and walking 2km along the road past Orthwaite to reach a track leading into right to roam land. Climbing to turn sharp left along a quad-bike track and following this to the right at a fork but almost immediately turning further right on a clear path up the ridge. Where the path entered bracken, taking a subsidiary but still clear path higher and to the left skirting the patch of bracken. On gaining a sort of shoulder above Orthwaite Bank, entering bracken but on a distinct path and then climbing above the bracken onto the shoulder of Great Cockup itself. Passing a fine stone grouse butt to reach the summit ridge (slightly higher but with less good views at the far end). Descending into Trusmadoor and turning left, but keeping on the right hand side of the initial valley so as to anticipate the final direction, crossing occasional marshy patches. After 2km, reaching Longlands (the final 100m not as marshy as a previous experience) turning left on the road uphill and then right on a path to cross the dam of Chapelhouse Reservoir and head left and uphill on a road before descending to the car.

Conditions: Cloudy. Initially 15C but warming up later. Almost dry underfoot.

Pub: the Sun Inn, Bassenthwaite (village), (under new management) for Marston’s Bassenthwaite Beauty.

High Rigg

A short 5km mini-adventure with a largely dry ghyll scramble and head-high bracken.

Route: leaving the car parked at Rough How Bridge (officially limited to 2 hours but surely not policed thoroughly) and walking north along a path at the edge of the valley and below the fell, joining a paved track, as far as the road to Dale Bottom. Turning half right through bracken but with some indication of a historic path to reach the narrow gully of William’s Beck and following this steeply uphill either on rocks in the bottom or just to one side until, it transpires, just short of a fork in the stream. Taking an easier path rising steeply on heather to the left to reach a small subsidiary summit. Continuing pathless another 50m through bracken to find the merest hint of a path (marked on the OS map) east, which, on reaching the stream again, joined a larger path heading north. After 200m turning right on a yet clearer path towards, then round and then onto the summit. Then taking the ‘ridge’ path south as far as the marsh before Moss Crag and deciding to taking a path downhill to the right in now head-high bracken eventually reaching a lateral wall and a clearer path. Descending to a gate and - perhaps foolishly - turning left through it, to the right of a tiny tarn and then losing all trace of path (though marked in green on the OS map). Thus merely roughing it downhill through bracken to join the end of the outward path and back to the car.

Conditions: a pleasant 20C sunny day.

Pub: the Horse and Farrier, Threlkeld, for Tirril Borrowdale Bitter.

Watch Hill

A tiny walk up, and run down, Watch Hill.

Route: leaving the car at GR 137312 at a lay-by at the intersection of the Cockermouth to Embleton road with the road to Setmurthy Common and taking the hand gate to a clear path making very gradual progress up the ridge towards Watch Hill. However, following the path on lower down into the woods and taking the righter of two forks to follow a path in a clear part of the woods until it descended to a rough forest road. Following this east to a small path on the right through older deciduous trees, gaining ground to the summit tree-free. From here on a lower path to the end of the ridge and the spot named ‘Watch Hill’ overlooking Cockermouth. Then running downhill, L spurning the conventions of clothed modesty, back to the road and thus the car.

Conditions: 20C after the two-day heatwave and cloudy but hot running down.

Pub: the Swan Inn, Cockermouth, for Fyne Ales Jarl.

Back o' Harrot: In search of the Corpse Road

A 10-mile walk/run by Lois, only, between Lorton and Bassenthwaite Lake Station Café looking for the path of the Corpse Road from St Cuthbert's, Lorton, to the old Wythop Church (Kelswick Chapel)

Route: Starting from Midtown Cottages, heading along the road to join the B5292 north for a kilometre, then turning right up the lane to High Armaside and following it north to Harrot Fell Farm. Here taking the bridleway tracking east and southeast round the northern end of Harrot (resisting the footpaths up to the summit in order to find the Corpse Stone but in vain). Keeping on with the bridleway to its conclusion (on the OS map), through the double gates of a cattle pen, and then over a further stile, then initially following a hedge on the right and then dipping down to the left to cross a feeder gill of Gray Beck to come alongside a fence climbing to a 5-way junction of walls and fences at the westernmost tip of the access land. 

Tracking the northeast boundary of the access land, pathless, looking for ways to cross over to Long Fell or Embleton High Common but thwarted by high barbed wire topped new fencing so reaching the apex of the sector of inaccessible land just down from Graystones and crossing a mysteriously low fence to run down across Wythop Moss just outside the boundary of access land, almost due north, with only one moment of sinking into the marsh! Crossing right through the boundary wall after about a kilometre and running down to Bladder Keld and the path running round the base of Ling Fell. Taking this to run west and north up the Tom Rudd Beck catchment to where the path splits and the start of the Corpse Road curves away to the right, then east and up to a gate onto Ling Fell. Following the CR north and east round the northern slopes of Ling Fell and down to the gate onto the road, then following the road east to Eskin, north to Brunston Bridge and east up to the Kelswick Farm gate onto Sale Fell.

From here following the road up to the turning right onto the track to the ruins of the old Wythop  Church/Kelswick Chapel and, after a pause for prayer, carrying on along the footpath round the base of Sale Fell to the east to reach Wythop Woods and follow forestry tracks north and then eventually switchbacking down to Routenbeck. Here turning right to run down the road to the Bassenthwaite Lake Station Café.

Conditions: Overcast for almost all of the 3+ hours but about 20C, very dry underfoot for Wythop Moss, and deserted - met only one person and her 4 dogs around Tom Rudd Beck. 

Pub: Lake Station Café for lunch with Tim, Frank and Gwenneth (tap water and coffee for Lois, Gwenneth and Frank, Tractor Shed Mowdy and Malbec for Tim).

A third swim in Crummock water

A swim at the end of - probably - the hottest day of 2022.

Route: leaving the car at the defibrillator short of the Kirkstile Inn and walking over fields past Gillerthwaite and Muncaster House and then down a green track towards the pumping station but, after a bridge, bearing right and then right again round the inside of the peel to swim at the stony beach. Afterwards, walking past High Park and Low Park to the Kirkstile Inn for a pint and then back to the car.

Conditions: the unpleasant heat had been partly relieved by a breeze and the swim took place without sun and in gusty conditions, though still 28C.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, for Cumbrian Ales Langdale. 

A second, 8:30am, swim in Crummock Water in the 2022 heatwave

A swim before long-forecast record-breaking heat of the hottest day of 2022.

Route: leaving the car in the Lanthwaite Green car park (already over half full around 8:30am) and heading along the riverside root-paved path to and round the lake shore a little beyond the familiar protruding beach, over a final footbridge. Wading back to swim from the previous beach. Afterwards, simply returning to the car park.

Conditions: in fact, mainly overcast although already 23C, the water as cold as the day before.

Pub? back to the cottage for breakfast. Much later after shopping in heat rising to 32C, the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite for Cumbrian Ales Loweswater Gold and homemade crisps, indoors to escape the breeze-less heat outside.

A swim in Crummock Water

An evening swim on the warmest day of 2022 so far.

Route: leaving the still 3/4 full car park at Lanthwaite Wood (around 6:15pm) and walking round the shore, over the peel and to the stony cove at the far side for a swim. Afterwards, taking the path via High Park and Low Park and then the c-road to the Kirkstile Inn for a pint outside. Later walking back to the car along the road.

Conditions: the air temperature still around 29C but the water cold and cooler than Potter Tarn a week earlier all the sae.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Ales Langdale

The Twelve Apostles from the Cow and Calf rocks on Ilkley Moor

A 5km walk on a hot sunny day with Ian Rawe, Andrew and Helen.

Route: leaving the car at a car park by a café on the moor road just under the Cow and Calf and climbing up onto them. Then, continuing along to an obvious highpoint and then cairn on Ilkley Crags. Deciding here to continue on a muddy track to join a stone flagged path to the Twelve Apostles. Retracing the route, pausing for Ian to rescue a lamb stuck in mud and then diverting right to take a more direct route, just to the east of the Cow and Calf, and back.

Conditions: hot and still, a couple of days before a forecast heatwave.

Pub: Bar T’at, Ilkley for Kirkstall Three Swords, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, Ilkley Mary Jane and Saltaire South Island and lunch, joined by Neil Sedgley.

Scout Scar saunter

A 5km Sunday morning stroll with Kathryn and Alex.

Route: leaving the car at the usual parking spot and following Lois’s preferred route north, gradually climbing to the gate in the corner. Along the broad ridge to the trig point, then to the Mushroom. Then back along the cliff, past Dave’s Cairn and, 200m later, bending left back to a lower gate, climbing onto the escarpment ridge and back to the start.

Conditions: a 20C hot sunny and still day.

Pub? Home for brunch with Buck’s Fizz.

A swim at Potter Tarn

A post-lunch stroll to a swim, with Kathryn and Alex, on a hot summer afternoon.

Route: leaving the car on the back road to Staveley, a little to the north of Hagg Foot and heading west along the road and then right uphill to Sidefoot and along the green track beyond the waterfall. Taking the right hand turn up the fell to Potter Tarn for a swim. Descending via Ghyll Pool and the overgrown path to Hundhowe and then to the road.

Conditions: a hot, still summer afternoon. The water: not cold.

Pub? Beforehand, the Watermill Ings for lunch and Windermere Golden Retriever.

Wansfell Pike and Wansfell from Troutbeck

A 10km walk with Kathryn and Alex on a blisteringly hot day.

Route: Leaving the car parked on the main road by the church at the bottom of Troutbeck, walking up the steep road to take Robin Lane round to the south of the fell, keeping with the lower track round to High Skelghyll. On entering the wood, taking a path rising diagonally eventually to reach the observatory and the ridge to the summit. In the new tradition, taking a path to the left and higher than the previous normal route, gaining the ridge sooner. Thence along the occasionally boggy ridge to Wansfell and then down the path to the very stony Nanny Lane and back to Troutbeck, descending on paths to the church.

Conditions: a sunny day with an almost cloudless blue sky and ridiculously warm for late November

Pub: the Watermill, Ings, for Windermere Golden Retriever and lunch.