Newlands Horseshoe variant

A stunning hot sunny Easter Sunday 20km walk.

Route: Leaving the car at Little Town Farm (£3 per day) and walking south along the road to the minor road past the church turning right 1km later and contouring on a footpath round the end of the hillside to join the road at Keskadale  Farm. 1km further south where the wall runs out, turning left to descend marshy ground and easily cross the stream, climbing up to the ridge. Then pathless, tussocky and steep up Dudmancombe Edge in accord with a Mark Richards Fellranger route. Sadly, finding the hillside at the top of the ridge ridiculously steep, comprising either slippery moss or greasy rock, after trying two approaches, discretion seemed the better part of valour. Crossing east towards an obvious saddle on Blea Crags and the ascending the two rock steps – again rather too smooth and wet – to reach the top of Robinson after two hours. Then along Littledale Edge but cutting a corner left to the summit of Hindscarth and then up to Dale Head. Descending a very steep partially re-engineered path to Dale Head Tarn and then a surprising slog to High Spy and along, in now-still afternoon sun, to Maiden Moor before descending via mine workings back to Little Town.

Conditions: surprisingly hot, cloudless, sunny and still

Pub: Little Town Farm bar/café for Jennings Golden Host. Later a half of Fell Tinderbox IPA at Middle Ruddings, Braithwaite (to change) and then supper with Angie and Al at Fellini’s, Ambleside.

Circuit of Capplerigg, Gamblesmire and Cunswick Fell

A very slow and, in places, boggy 10km run on Easter Saturday.

Route: leaving the car on the side of the dead end road at Toadpool and running north along the verge before eventually crossing the busy A591 to a footpath signed High Brundrigg. Bearing right across a field and then on boggy pathless ground to the south of a tarn to bend left, keeping a copse to the left, then right and left again round a knoll and thus onto the Crook Road. Taking the first path to the west and bending fairly sharply right to descend to a tiny bridge in the corner of a field. Then along a track towards Fell Gate Farm but turning right just before it to join a muddy track, which sadly involved wading a flooded section, to Capplerigg Lane. Then left, on familiar muddy tracks to cross a stream on a small bridge, climb to a signpost in a field and then following a narrow very muddy path to the road near Cold Harbour. Up Gamblesmire Lane to the ridge and then left to Cunswick Scar. Descending through woods, across a field to the Crook Road and then back past Bannel Head to the start.

Conditions: unexpectedly sunny but wet and boggy ground.

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

Circuit of Helsington Barrows

A 24km Friday evening cycle ride with two pubs.

Route: from home to Natland, Sedgewick and Sizergh and then up the steep hill over to Levens and down through the town to the Hare and Hounds for a pint. Then back along the Lyth Valley to Brigstear in the gloaming taking the steep hill back over Scout Scar past Helsington and along to Greenside and the Riflemans. Then back home picking up fish and chips at Fryer Tux.

Conditions: cloudy sun to start, cold once night fell.

Pubs: The Hare and Hounds, Levens for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Esthwaite Gold and Salamander Brewery Golden Salamander and The Riflemans Arms, Kendal for Greene King Abbot Ale.

Windermere to Staveley run

An 18+km solitary run between stations.

Route: from Windermere station along the lower footpath to Orrest Head and then continuing northwards but accidentally heading too far to the east and hence crossing boggy fields before reaching and turning right on the road for 300m. Turning left to cross more fields and turning right on the Ings-Troutbeck short cut road to reach the start of the Garburn Pass (Dubbs Road). Along this gaining altitude steadily to the top of the pass before making a very slow steeper descent on the very rocking track to Kentmere. Taking the main road south to reach a bridleway left and climbing over the shoulder of the hillside to reach the top of Hall Lane from which down to the Staveley mill yard and later the station.

Conditions: warm and sunny.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for Hawkshead Cumbrian Five Hop and a half of IPA.

Edge Hill

A post-prandial 3 mile walk with Steve, Katherine, Tom and Alex.

Route: from the Rose and Crown, Ratley following Chapel Lane to some steps beside a house to a stile. Then across a muddy field to reach and walk along Centenary Way as far as a line of trees. Swinging left to follow a faint path descending a shallow valley across fields to a footbridge with a short detour to examine a rusting combine harvester then heading up the far slope to turn left on the road as far as the junction. Then following a path along the edge of the hill just lower than the road before heading down some steep steps to cross afield and turn left along the road in Radway. Bending further left along West End keeping the grounds of The Grange to the left. Passing a pond and some thatched cottages to a stony track through a kissing gate and continuing uphill across a field towards Radway Tower, now the Castle Inn. After a pint, crossing the road to a path running between Cavalier Cottage and Rupert House to turn left at the very quiet road back to Ratley.

Conditions: a grey day becoming sunnier later.

Pub: the Rose and Crown Ratley for lunch and Stratford-upon-Avon, Stratford Gold and Charles Wells Bombardier before the walk. During it, The Castle Inn for Hook Norton Red Rye.

Souther Fell

A surprisingly pleasant if marshy circuit, with Mike Hornby, on an unpromising day.

Route: leaving the car park opposite Mungrisdale village hall (£2 per day) and walking south west on the gated minor road under the fell for half a mile. Turning diagonally half right, opposite a sheep fold converted into a garden, to ascend a slowly rising well marked path all the way to the top of the ridge a little to the south of the summit (which we spurned). Heading further south first to a cairn overlooking the slopes of Bannerdale and the clouded summit of Blencathra and then off piste to the end of the ridge. Descending to the col above Mousthwaite Comb and then across a plank bridge over the River Glenderamackin to follow this along the valley above its western bank. Carefully jumping a tributary and then picking a route though very swampy grass until the path became more solid half a mile further along. Then back to the start.

Conditions: low cloud and drizzle. Very wet under foot.

Pub: the Mill Inn, Mungrisdale for Robinsons Sharp Edge and Voodoo Dawn and lunch, joined by Janet.

A clockwise 12km circuit of Spy Crag and Millrigg Knott

A clockwise variant of a familiar 12-13 km route with an additional uphill climb.

Route: exiting the Staveley Mill Yard by the footbridge over the river and then turning left along the road to reach Hall Lane. A little way along this, taking a farm track past Scroggs Farm followed by a bridleway before turning off left across a field to cross the River Kent where the main road switches banks. Running north on the quieter western road to join a bridleway and then cross eastwards at Ullthwaite Bridge back over the river. A little further north taking the footpath steeply uphill, where a small conifer forest had recently been cut down, to cross moorland and join the upper reaches of Hall Lane (Lois returning directly from this point with a strained muscle). At a signpost, taking an invisible footpath uphill across fields to join a farm track at Ghyll Bank and turning right to head gently downhill eventually to reach Birkfield Farm and then descending on a paths and tracks to reach the Staveley back road turning right to the sewage works and then left across fields back to the Mill Yard.

Conditions: surprisingly warm and hazy for February.

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