Circuit of Loweswater to Kirkstile Inn

An 8km sunny stroll with a pint in the middle.

Route: leaving the car at the layby near the phone box at Waterend and talking the path down across fields and up to Hudson Place turning left and downhill to walk alongside the lake and on to the car park at Maggie’s Bridge. Walking up the track to the road and down to the Kirkstile Inn, pausing at the village hall to admire the view. After a pint sitting in the sun, retracing the route but continuing on the road, briefly joining the lakeside path on the north side of the lake then climbing up the bank to reach the green lane ascending under Low Fell. Taking a sharp left to descend to Miresyke on a rough stony track and then down the paved track to the start.

Conditions: a cool air temperature but warm in the sun on a bright sunny autumn day.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, part way round, for Cumbrian Ales, American Invasion.

Raven Crag via Middlesteads Gill

An 11km walk partly influenced by the supposed closure of lakeside car parks (which turned out to be open) and an eccentric route suggestion from Mark Richards.

Route: leaving the car at Rough How Bridge (parking limited to 2 hours but surely not enforced) and taking the track to Shoulthwaite Farm and then the broad forestry track south-east to the road and along to the first supposedly closed car park. Taking the shoreline, once being pushed back onto the minor road, as far as the Armboth car park (south of which the road was closed). Taking Mark Richards' preferred route directly uphill to the right of Middlesteads Gill, keeping close to a fence on his advice, supposedly to avoid the shoulder-high bracken. This proving utterly false the fence was nevertheless helpful as a handhold given the loose but invisible path below. 

On reaching the gorge at the top of the stream probably getting a little lost and staying on (although well below the ridge of) the High Tove - High Seat grassy plateau. Eventually re-entering forestry land on a clear track to the main junction just north of Raven Crag and taking the stepped path to its summit. Continuing north on the forest track, afterwards, descending and, having turned east, finding a tiny path left back down to Shoulthwaite Farm and thence the car.

Conditions: a lovely autumn day with cool air though warm in the sun and while fighting uphill in bracken.

Pub: the Horse and Farrier, Threlkeld, for Tirril Ullswater Blonde and Dungeon Ghyll Stout.

Exploring two woods and the hill above Cowan Head from Staveley

A 6km walk from Staveley before meeting the de Souza-Brazils for a beer.

Route: leaving the car at the Mill Yard and heading on the path south-east of Staveley Park towards the sewage works but diverting for a tour of the walled-off innominate woods accessible through a gate from the track. Then continuing to the back road and turning immediately off into Beckmickle Ing (Woodland Trust) and following small trippy paths parallel to the river as far as the Hagg Foot bridge, crossing the bridge and then turning left to Cowan Head. For the first time taking the first path on the edge of Cowan Head up steps, through a gate and turning right to go gently uphill, initially with the boundary wall and then bearing left up the slope. Eventually leaving the right of way to stand on top of what may have been the highest rocky outcrop. (Time being short, no further investigation of the rocks to the south was possible.) From here descending to rejoin the right of way and then a paved road south of Cragg Farm, bending round and then turning off right onto a familiar path and down through fields to a half kilometre of overgrown path between walls/hedges leading back to the Dales Way and into Staveley.

Conditions: cloudy, warm and very humid.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for ITI and Five Hop.