Grey Friar and Dow Crag

A good high-level horseshoe round Seathwaite Tarn from a surprisingly empty Duddon Valley (on a Firbank weekend).

Route: From Seathwaite past Tongue House to ascend via a gentle scramble on the north bank of Tarn Beck (a Mark Richards' route). Thence pathless up the ridge to Grey Friar; along a contouring path underneath Great Carrs and Swirl How to descend to Goat's Hawse, up Dow Crag, Buck Pike and Brown Pike and then down the Walna Scar Road.

Conditions: Some sun but a bitterly cold wind on the tops.

Pub: The Newfield Inn at Seathwaite for Dickie Doodle.

Wansfell Pike and Wansfell

A short stroll on a cold but somewhat blustery Easter Sunday.

Route: From Troutbeck along Robin Lane past High Skelghyll farm and then up through the roads past the aqueduct observatory and onto the ridge to Wansfell Pike. Thence along to Wansfell and down to Troutbeck via Nanny Lane.

Conditions: Sun and cloud but rather chill.

Pub: The Mortal Man at Troutbeck for Taylor’s Landlord.

Loughrigg Fell

A short stroll on a cold but somewhat sunny day.

Route: From the new car park in Ambleside across Rothay Park to join a track via Miller Brow towards Ivy Crag swinging north to reach - eventually - the summit. Down just to the north of Lanty Scar to the Badger Bar. Afterwards the track past Rydal Hall diverting up the hillside to reach the Low Pike descent path at Low Sweden Bridge.

Conditions: Warm in the sun, cold in the shade.

Pub: Post-walk: the Badger Bar for a Keswick Brewery beer (Thirsty Badger?) and Ennerdale Breeze.

Raise, White Stones and Sheffield Pike

A four hour walk on a cold but sometimes sunny day.

Route: From the car park in Glenridding up the track to the dam to inspect - and then reject due to ice - Catstye Cam's steep north west ridge. Instead, a direct ascent up snow to the top of Raise, descent to the top of Sticks Pass, grazing ascent of White Stones and thence to Sheffield Pike.

Conditions: Cold with ice above 600m and decent snow still on the tops of the Eastern Fells. People skiing down the north slopes of Raise.

Pub: Post-walk: the Kirkstone Inn for Tirril's Red Screes.

Red Screes and Wansfell Pike from the Kirkstone Pass

A lengthy walk with Ian Lyne
on a sunny but freezing day.

Route: From the car park opposite the Kirkstone Inn, a steep ascent to the summit of Red Screes, a long descent to the south into Ambleside and then up Wansfell Pike, along the ridge to Baystones, across the frozen bog to the pass and then a final walk along the A592 back to the car park.

Conditions: Very cold with thick waves of ice across paths (and some on the road, which put us off going over into Patterdale) and some snow on the tops (see pic!). Warm sunshine out of the wind, particularly heading up a busy Wansfell Pike. Perfect views to Sca Fell, the Pennines, the Howgills, Ingleborough (with snow) and Heysham!

Pub: Mid-walk: the Golden Rule. Post-walk: the Queen's Head at Troutbeck. Both Robinsons.

Lingmoor Fell

A short but strenuous walk given the ice and Lois’ broken wrist.

Route: From the outskirts of Elterwater via the Langdale timeshares (to minimise ice) to the Cumbria Way route. Thence up to the west of Oak Howe to Lingmoor Tan (pictured) and onto the summit. Down via the quarry.

Conditions: some ice still at ground level and snow higher up. A couple of rain showers.

Pub: Wainwright Inn for Sneck Lifter.

Troutbeck Tongue

A short but epic ascent at the end of three weeks of snow and ice (with Lois bearing a broken wrist).

Route: from Troutbeck church via Troutbeck park up the south face and back down Hag Gill.

Conditions: knee deep powdery snow on the top and fierce northerly gusts.

Pub: post walk, the Queen’s Head for pints of Mr Scrooge and Old Tom.