Blake Fell from Waterend with Steve & Kathryn

A 12km walk on the Loweswater fells with Steve and Kathryn (L; Tim at home ill)

Route: from just by the defribillator at Waterend, walking down and across the plain of the restored Dub Beck, and up to turn right just before Hudson Place to cross a field, turn right alongside the fence to cross the next couple of fields and then track left up the hillside to join the main track from Fangs Brow. Following that south and, where it bends south east, carrying on up the fellside on a grassy path to the first ‘pile of stones’ and then bending south and south west to the summit of Burnbank Fell. 

From there following the ridge fence down and up, due south, past another pile of stones to the summit of the walk at Blake Fell, and taking a breather and shelter from the wind, briefly, in the summit cairn. Then continuing on south-south-east, roughly along the fence line, down and up, to the cairn on Gavel Fell summit. From there retracing our steps to cross a stile and walk north-east over a little craggy top and then down the flanks of Gavel Fell, skirting Black Crag, to join the bridleway above Whiteoak Beck and then the track down, right to High Nook Farm. 

From the farm, taking the permissive path on the north side, across fields and into woods, down to Watergate Farm and along the side of Loweswater back to Hudson Place and then on to Waterend.

Conditions: Almost constant sunshine and a stiff breeze, very slowly clouding over by the end of the walk. Very very dry underfoot after a long, hot, dry spell.

Pub? After first trying the Royal Yew, Dean and the Trout, Cockermouth, ending up at the Cumbrian Baker for bacon sarnie, hot cross buns, hot chocolate, coffee and tea

6km run round the north east side of Cockermouth

A 6km early evening run round the north east side of Cockermouth across a new-to-us footbridge.

Route: from the rectory, running through the cemetery to the gate onto Sustrans Route 71 and then left across the new road bridge on Sandybeck Way. Following this round to take the third left connecting - for pedestrians only - to Ullswater Drive. Turning left from this onto Swinside Close and via a path to Loweswater Close and via Gable End to Slatefell Drive. Following this to the end and then along a path to a footbridge over Bitter Beck. 

Turning right onto St Helen’s Street and then back along Castlegate Drive to Beech Lane, climbing to the highest point of the run and then descending via Isel Road to the Jennings Brewery. Keeping close to the river to reach Aldi and then back along the Greenway to a gate half way along the cemetery and hence home.

Conditions: yet another sunny day, after a week of such days.

Pub? No because earlier, before lunch, the Punch Bowl, Great Broughton for Brimstage Trapper’s Hat. 

Cycle circuit of Watch Hill to the Pheasant Inn

A solitary 20km cycle ride (T; L at a meeting).

Route: leaving the rectory and cycling down Kirkgate to Market Place, Castlegate and up left onto Isel Road. Following this consistently gradually uphill for 3km and then downhill, ignoring the left turn to the Isel Bridge over the Derwent. Continuing past the back of the Lakes Distillery and passing the left turn to the bridge at the foot of Bassenthwaite and thus to the Pheasant Inn for a pint in the garden. 

Afterwards, two sharp ascents: first to Routenbeck and then out of Wythop Mill, and then home at speed down the glorious slope of Strawberry How Road.

Conditions: another spectacularly sunny day after a week of such days, though cool.

Pub: the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, (part way round the circuit) for Bowness Bay Brewery Swan Blonde.

Six Bridges run, Cockermouth #2

A second attempt at a frivolous concept for a run (and hence an Outdoor Day) having forgotten to cross one of the bridges last time.

Route: from the rectory, running south along Lorton Road and and then left along Strawberry How Road to the Sustrans route to join the Greenway and along this over the Cocker. Turning left and running along the west bank to the footbridge at Double Mills. Running back down the east bank to recross the viaduct, descending the muddy steps to the riverbank road and down to cross the bridge on Victoria Road. Taking Victoria Road but this time discovering a path actually along the bank of the river, eventually climbing steps and then descending again to the cross footbridge by Toll Cottage. 

Passing the Croft Bowling Club to Croftside, then Challloner Street, turning right on Market Street to the alleyway to the Jennings Brewery and across the footbridge on Brewery Lane to High Sand Lane and left back over the road bridge on Market Street. Then right into the car park, continuing on the east bank to the footbridge then along the west bank to an alley back to Victoria Road and then along Tweed Mill Lane and back home.

Conditions: a warm sunny cloudless day.

Pub: two hours later, the Swan Inn, Cockermouth, for Brakspear Gold.

 

Cycle ride from Cockermouth to the Punch Bowl, Great Broughton

The first cycle ride together in ages (13km) and the first from the rectory, Cockermouth.

Route: from the rectory, cycling downhill, north, on Lorton Road and then Kirkgate and along Main Street to the footbridge over the River Derwent and then the Sustrans route to, and beyond, Papcastle to Great Broughton for a pint. Afterwards, crossing the A66 into Brigham and taking Low Road and Cockermouth Lonning to Ellerbeck Brow to cross the A66. At this point T suffering a mechanical problem with his bike, so L continuing home and then returning to Brigham Road with spanners. Following a minor repair, home on the obvious route.

Conditions: a cool but sunny day.

Pub: the Punch Bowl, Great Broughton, for Brimstage New Zealand Pale Ale.

Circuit of Slate Fell, slight variant

An 8km walk on a grey day with neither of us feeling spiffy.

Route: from the rectory, walking through the cemetery to the Greenway and following it east round the final housing estate of Strawberry Grange onto Strawberry How Road and then along the road, over the A66 and left for about 1km of road walking, to a clear bridleway on the left through Westray. 

Crossing the A66 but, this time, avoiding the overgrown, unpleasantly brambly path 400m to the road and instead going through a gate to the left after 20m and taking a diagonal line uphill to the grassy path under Slate Fell leading to Brick Kiln Wood but detouring right, downhill, to locate the nondescript source of Bitter Beck. Returning to the path to and through Brick Kiln Wood and then along St Helen’s Street to the footbridge into the grassy area behind the Kirkgate Centre and arriving at the Bitter End pub from above down Swan Street.

Conditions: a cool, grey and breezy morning before an afternoon of rain.

Pub: the Bitter End for Lunebrew Pale Ale.

Six bridges run, Cockermouth

A frivolous concept for a run (and hence an Outdoor Day) though incorrectly executed: crossing all the 6 bridges over the Cocker within Cockermouth and both sides of the river between them. Sadly yielding less than 5km of run! In fact the bridge on Market Place was omitted both ways!

Route: from the rectory running through the cemetery, under the chapel of rest to the maintenance area to join the Greenway and along this over the Cocker. Turning left and running along the west bank to the footbridge at Double Mill. Running back down the east bank to recross the viaduct, descending the muddy steps to the riverbank road and down to cross the bridge on Victoria Road. Taking Victoria Road to the left turn on Kirkbank and down the path to the cross footbridge by Toll Cottage. 

Running next to Croft Bowling Club to Croftside, then Challloner Street and then High Sand Lane to the Brewery Lane footbridge, past the closed Jennings Brewery and emerging on Market Street. NB We missed the very obvious Market Street bridge entirely, both ways! Continuing on the east bank to the footbridge then along the west bank to an alley back to Victoria Road and then along Tweed Mill Lane as though completing the run to home but then turning left down to the Swan Inn.

Conditions: a grey early evening with a cold wind.

Pub: the Swan Inn, Cockermouth, for Brakspear Gold.

The Mill Trail with Cockermouth Striders

A 6km walk involving most, but not all, of an official Cockermouth Striders mill history walk, led by Stan Leigh.

Route: from the rectory, walking briskly via the Greenway to the main entrance to Harris Park, off Fern Bank to join the group. Then walking slowly to Double Mills and then back along the Cocker to Rubbybanks Mill and then joining the Greenway, looking at the sheds remaining from Tweed Mill and out onto Lorton Road. Descending Skinner Street to take the track under the main road to Little Mill meeting its current incumbent, Michael Fisher. Then back down Kirkgate and Cocker Lane looking at three mills including the remains of Cocker Bridge End mill to John Stoddart's Mill and the Jennings Brewery. Via the foot bridge at Brewery Lane to Waterloo Street and Wharton's Mill to see a hidden mill race under two houses (visiting both Linda and Carol’s gardens to do so). At this point, leaving the group to their lunch in Memorial Gardens for a pint, instead, at the Bitter End and then home.

Conditions: contrary to the forecast, a hot, sunny day.

Pub: the Bitter End, Cockermouth, for Loch Lomond Brewery Ben Ime.

5km Cockermouth run

A 5km early evening run round Cockermouth. The first run recorded here for two months and the first from the rectory.

Route: from the rectory running south on Lorton Road and then left on Strawberry How Road to the end of the houses. Turning left on a path to the Greenway and along this to the bridge over the Cocker. Just before, turning left to run along a woodland path and then across two fields (past civic exercise equipment) to the footbridge overlooking Double Mills and then back along the other side of the river to Croft Side and then Challoner Street to Main Street and then right on Low Side Road and back along the river to the Jennings Brewery. Through Market Square car park and past the church up Market Street, turning right on Kirkgate to the Swan Inn for a pint. Afterwards, a short, if uphill, walk home.

Conditions: after a warm enough spring day, dropping cooler.

Pint: the Swan Inn for Brakspear Oxford Gold.

Circuit of Slate Fell

A 9.5km solitary (T) walk prospecting for future runs.

Route: from the rectory (temporary home since 21.02.25), walking through the cemetery to the Greenway and following it east round the final housing estate of Strawberry Grange onto Strawberry How Road and then along the road, over the A66 and left for about 1km of road walking, to a clear bridleway on the left through Westway. 

Crossing the A66 to take an overgrown, unpleasantly brambly path 400m to the road (it would be worth exploring the possibility of detouring left and cutting the corner) and then almost immediately left on a better grassy path under Skate Fell to Brick Kiln Wood. Back along the St Helen’s Street to the Castle Bar for a beer in the last of the afternoon’s sun in the beer garden. Then home (via Sainsbury’s).

Conditions: a beautiful sunny spring day after a period of cold grey days.

Pub: the Castle Bar, Cockermouth for Timothy Taylor’s Landlord.

Walk from Lorton to Cockermouth rectory

A solitary walk (T), on Lois’ first day of her new job.

Route: leaving the cottage and taking the path to the church, along the road and left on the newish path to the new houses at the edge of te village. Crossing the road and taking the path across fields in the direction of the River Cocker (though remaining some distance from it). Following along fairly dry paths across wide feature-less fields to the watery crux where the stepping stones were above the water level. Past Stanger Spa and then uphill and down into the confusing Stanger farm area. 

Walking 100m up the road to a footpath on the left with a helpful ‘Beware of the bull’ sign. Following a series of very muddy paths, poorly marked and overgrown to regain the road at Southwaite. Taking the path along the east of the Cocker to Cockermouth and then to the Greenway, cemetary and to the rectory.

Conditions after the previous day’s warm sun, cloudy and cold.

Pub? A can of Beer Brothers What The Flock session IPA at the rectory.

Circular walk from Cockermouth Rectory to the Punch Bowl, Great Broughton

A 14km walk on a lovely sunny day, the warmest of the year by far.

Route: leaving the Rectory, Lorton Road, Cockermouth and taking the railway path to descend Gallowbarrow and dogleg right-left onto the footbridge over the river and along Sustrans Route 71, crossing the A5086 to take the road into Papcastle. Descending a track to the side of the river and following this, under the A595, to the road into Great Broughton. Taking Meeting House Lane to drop some cheese straws off to Nick and Sue on Alice Street before heading to the Punchbowl for a pint. 

Afterwards following the road towards Brigham and then left along Low Road, bending right to take a footpath to East House (farm) and then a slightly fiddly route to cross the A66. On balance mistakenly walking south along the A66 to find a footpath after nearly 1km left onto Moor Street and Brigham Road and then downhill on a snickleway to South Street for a pint in the Cock & Bull. Then back to the rectory via Tweed Mill Lane.

Conditions: a glorious sunny day reaching 18C.

Pubs: the Punch Bowl, Great Broughton, for East London Brewery Table Beer and Barngates Red. The Cock & Bull for Fyne Ales Jarl.