A first return to Brackenthwaite Hows in 13 months and the first while living at 1-2 Midtown Cottages.Route: leaving the car in the car park of the Kirkstile Inn (because at 11:15am on the first Monday in February) and running down the road towards the Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park, but carrying on up the hill to turn right along a track into the woods to reach the start of the small path up Robin’s Steps to the summit plateau of Brackenthwaite Hows.
Descending south and picking up the path within the wood by its eastern wall to join the small path descending to the boat house. Thence round the lake to the pumping house. Here turning right to follow Park Beck to Park Bridge and back along the road to the pub.
Conditions: not quite as cold as the official 5C. Drizzle easing as we started.
Pub: the Kirkstile Innn, Loweswater for Cumbrian Ales Esthwaite Bitter.
