Lanthwaite Wood to the Kirkstile with the de Souza-Brazils

A 2.5 mile walk (turning into a frog march) to meet Tim for lunch at the Kirkstile with Steve, Debbie, Jules and Max (photos courtesy of Steve)

Route: Debbie having squeezed into the last proper parking space just after 11.30am on August Bank Holiday Monday, heading straight up from the car park gate to Robin’s Steps in the usual way to bear east through the woods and up to the subsidiary summit and then on to the true summit. 

Then heading south to the pass crossroads and following the edge of the wood round to the east and south again, taking the path above the beck back down the boathouse and the short of Crummock Water. From there taking the main path north parallel with the shoreline to the head of the lake to hug the shore all the way round to the pump house. Here making a direct beeline west to Park Beck and following it (roughly) all the way to Low Park Farm to take lanes north and north west to St Bartholomew’s church and the Kirkstile Inn.

Conditions: Largely overcast but surprisingly sticky on the ascent

Pub: Kirkstile Inn! (for their Eskthwaite Bitter and Life of a Mountain)

Variant figure of eight circumnavigation of Ling Fell and Sale Fell

An 11km walk passing time before an expected meeting with the de Souza-Brazils.

Route: leaving the car near the old school at Wythop Mill and walking west on the road to join Green Lonning. Near the end, popping into the field to the left so as to keep the altitude and walking south east parallel with Tom Rudd Beck, thus circling Ling Fell (finding the previously unexplored section of path from 6-5 o’clock only a bit marshy). Returning to the ‘entrance’ to Ling Fell and taking the higher road east to the end of the hanging valley, turning left and then climbing steeply up onto Lothwaite at its east end. Then walking over Lothwaite, Rivings and Sale Fell, descending the ridge, turning left onto the balcony path but taking a short cut back onto the road and, after a final road-ascent, descending to the car.

Conditions: warm with some sun, later turning cloudy (with rain coming in after we had finished).

Pub: the planned post walk meet-up having been hampered by the surprisingly slow rate of progress of the de Souza-Brazils (in fact, not simply strolling to the Castlerigg Stone Circle as thought), first cheese scones and tea back at the cottage and then later Loweswater Gold at the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, with the others.

Tallentire Hill

A 10.5km walk up a tiny hill mainly to justify the re-opened Barn Inn at Gilcrux.

Route: leaving the car on the road by the Inn and heading north to a junction, left on a road and then right onto a shaded track to Ellenhall. Briefly joining the road and then turning back east across, and at the edge of, fields to a concrete farm track back to the road. Then continuing on another concrete farm track very gently uphill, then across a field into trees and turning right. Here the going getting more difficult with nettles and overgrowth for 200m to a field. Leaving the right of way to climb to the summit to look at a substantial lateral radio transmitter. Continuing, still off any right of way to join another bridleway to the east and heading south to a small conifer plantation. Crossing this to regain the bridleway, across a field and then along another overgrown walled track to near the summit of Tallentire Hill. Trespassing briefly through a gate to the trig point. Then continuing on to the very minor road back to Gilcrux. Diverging from this on a track on the right until it became too overgrown so heading south across fields, back to the original road.

Conditions: a surprisingly warm sunny day.

Pub: the Barn Inn Gilcrux, now under new management, for Keswick Brewery Thirst Run and Simcoe (after a couple of failures).

Brunt Knott with a Potter Tarn swim

A 12km walk and a swim on a 29C day with Paul Taylor.

Route: leaving the car at the Staveley Mill Yard and heading across the river and north to Hall Lane and left on the track to Scroggs Farm. Then up the road to Elfhowe and taking the right hand route down to the river (where a highland cow was sheltering from the heat under the bridge) and then up to cross Hall Lane and further up to Ghyll Bank. Then, for the first time, taking the track past Brunt Knott Farm and on at a diagonal onto the fell. On reaching a track left off the bridleway, taking it and then following obvious paths eventually to the summit of Brunt Knott. Descending on an initially clear path towards the ridge wall towards Ulgraves, crossing marshy land to reach it and continuing on its left hand side. Thinking we were about level with Ulgraves but in fact nearly 1km short crossing through a broken wall and over a barbed wire fence (a better alternative next time!) to reach a sort of summit (though not the right one!) and then continuing largely pathless in the direction of Gurnal Dubbs, luckily finding a gate to reach a clear track to the tarn. Spurning it as a swimming preference (reedy at the east end and with rough types where the swimming was better) to descend for a ridiculously warm swim in Potter Tarn. Returning to Staveley via Frost Hole and the road by Craggy Plantation.

Conditions: blazing sun and 29C but an occasional civilising breeze.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for Five Hops, WPA and a cold buffet lunch.

Dent

An 8km walk on an unexpectedly wet day, in search of views but in vain.

Route: leaving the car in a layby at Wath Bridge on the way out of Cleator Moor (space for ~8 cars but also space across the river), crossing the river and walking 1km southwest on the c-road. At Black How, joining the Coast to Coast by turning left on a forestry track uphill to a fork, in increasing drizzle. Turning left and then right onto a path out of trees by a fence to the marshy summit. At this point, the rain becoming harder. Continuing without views, descending steeply into Uldale, turning left along Kirk Beck to Nannycatch Gate. Abandoning plans to climb Flat Fell and instead heading left along the valley bottom bridleway, in heavier rain, crossing puddles to reach a steeply descending c-road back to the start.

Conditions: initially cloudy and grey but turning wetter.

Pub: the Keekle Inn, Keekle, (for the first time) for Cumbrian Ales Loweswater Gold.

Two equally-enjoyable expeditions from Buttermere

A 4km lakeside saunter for T and a glorious 4.5km run over Rannerdale Knotts for L.

Routes:
For T, leaving the car at the NT car park (almost empty at 6pm) and heading north into the woodland and then via pathless meandering to high points and views on Long How before descending to the shore. Then back over Nether How past the campsite to the pub.

For L: from the NT car park turning left up the road to take the track shortcutting the road-bend opposite Wood House, then rejoining the road as far as the bridleway leading up opposite the beach at the east end of Crummock Water. Running along and gradually up through the bracken to turn right, and then right again up the newly-made steps climbing steeply up to the higher shelf west of Rannerdale Knotts and walking up through the crags to the summit from there. From the top picking a way along the ridge through the knotts and then running along the clear path down Low Bank, encumbered only by occasional freshly-shorn sheep to the junction of paths at the top of Rannerdale. There turning right to run down to the road, and there left to run into the village and down to the pub.

Conditions: cloudy but with bright hints and later even a little sun.

Pub: the Buttermere Court Hotel (née Fish), Buttermere, for Corby Eachy of Bassenthwaite and Lakeland Summit.

Cockermouth stroll

A 4km stroll round Cockermouth, glancing at future housing possibilities.

Route: leaving the car on Windmill Lane and heading east, trying to cross to the railway path first at Meadow Bank Close (because of a path marked on the map but no longer on the ground) and then Bellbrigg. Heading west on the railway path, turning left just before the bridge over the River Cocker and following a path under new housing and then across fields, trying some new outdoor exercise equipment, to and over the bridge. Turning left through Double Mills, past the beach (with permitted access) and following the path until it ran out (in accord with the map). Retracing the path and heading through the park to Rubbybanks Road. Detouring via a snickleway to the B5292 to shop for lunch and then directly across the footbridge to the Swan Inn.

Conditions: some initial brightness giving way to darker clouds.

Pub: the Swan Inn, Cockermouth, for Fyne Ales Jarl (what else?).