A swim in Crummock Water

An evening swim on the warmest day of 2022 so far.

Route: leaving the still 3/4 full car park at Lanthwaite Wood (around 6:15pm) and walking round the shore, over the peel and to the stony cove at the far side for a swim. Afterwards, taking the path via High Park and Low Park and then the c-road to the Kirkstile Inn for a pint outside. Later walking back to the car along the road.

Conditions: the air temperature still around 29C but the water cold and cooler than Potter Tarn a week earlier all the sae.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Ales Langdale

The Twelve Apostles from the Cow and Calf rocks on Ilkley Moor

A 5km walk on a hot sunny day with Ian Rawe, Andrew and Helen.

Route: leaving the car at a car park by a café on the moor road just under the Cow and Calf and climbing up onto them. Then, continuing along to an obvious highpoint and then cairn on Ilkley Crags. Deciding here to continue on a muddy track to join a stone flagged path to the Twelve Apostles. Retracing the route, pausing for Ian to rescue a lamb stuck in mud and then diverting right to take a more direct route, just to the east of the Cow and Calf, and back.

Conditions: hot and still, a couple of days before a forecast heatwave.

Pub: Bar T’at, Ilkley for Kirkstall Three Swords, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, Ilkley Mary Jane and Saltaire South Island and lunch, joined by Neil Sedgley.

Scout Scar saunter

A 5km Sunday morning stroll with Kathryn and Alex.

Route: leaving the car at the usual parking spot and following Lois’s preferred route north, gradually climbing to the gate in the corner. Along the broad ridge to the trig point, then to the Mushroom. Then back along the cliff, past Dave’s Cairn and, 200m later, bending left back to a lower gate, climbing onto the escarpment ridge and back to the start.

Conditions: a 20C hot sunny and still day.

Pub? Home for brunch with Buck’s Fizz.

A swim at Potter Tarn

A post-lunch stroll to a swim, with Kathryn and Alex, on a hot summer afternoon.

Route: leaving the car on the back road to Staveley, a little to the north of Hagg Foot and heading west along the road and then right uphill to Sidefoot and along the green track beyond the waterfall. Taking the right hand turn up the fell to Potter Tarn for a swim. Descending via Ghyll Pool and the overgrown path to Hundhowe and then to the road.

Conditions: a hot, still summer afternoon. The water: not cold.

Pub? Beforehand, the Watermill Ings for lunch and Windermere Golden Retriever.

Wansfell Pike and Wansfell from Troutbeck

A 10km walk with Kathryn and Alex on a blisteringly hot day.

Route: Leaving the car parked on the main road by the church at the bottom of Troutbeck, walking up the steep road to take Robin Lane round to the south of the fell, keeping with the lower track round to High Skelghyll. On entering the wood, taking a path rising diagonally eventually to reach the observatory and the ridge to the summit. In the new tradition, taking a path to the left and higher than the previous normal route, gaining the ridge sooner. Thence along the occasionally boggy ridge to Wansfell and then down the path to the very stony Nanny Lane and back to Troutbeck, descending on paths to the church.

Conditions: a sunny day with an almost cloudless blue sky and ridiculously warm for late November

Pub: the Watermill, Ings, for Windermere Golden Retriever and lunch.

North along the Mint

A 7km run along the Kent and the Mint.

Route: leaving the car parked on Mintsfeet Road in the Mintsfeet Industrial Estate and running to the footbridge over the Kent but diverting under the bridge to head north on the east side on a muddy path and across a scrubby field to Sandy Bottom. Contining between industrial buildings and the River Mint to cross the A6 and to continue on the south side of the Mint past the Thirlmere-Manchester aqueduct to join the Mealbank Road and cross the river at a bridge. Turning south near Dodding Green to run back, now on the north side of the Mint, to the rugby club and then returning to Sandy Bottom. Here taking a green lane for 200m and then turning right along the top edge of the industrial estate to rejoin the outward route.

Conditions: initially cloudy but with blackening skies and a heavy shower near the end.

Pub: the Lakes Brew Co brewery during one of its monthly opening for half pints of Pale Ale, DDH Pale, NE Session IPA and Lost in Mosaic DDH IPA.

Black Crag, Hugill Fell and Reston Scar

A short wet walk with Andrew and Helen and to mark Froggie’s birthday a couple of days late.

Route: Parking on the road by the Eagle and Child and walking to St Margaret’s Tower, right on the path to cross the river and then left along the road and left again past Scroggs Fam to re-join the road and cross the river. Heading south for 500m and right up a steep drive and then a footpath heading uphill to Black Crag. Continuing using planks very gingerly to cross the bog - wetter today - and go through a gate to the summit of Hugill Fell. Turning southeast to head down into the new(ish) plantation and following the track through a gate and up to the summit of Reston Scar. Descending on the newish path on a ridge towards Staveley and then back along Brow Lane and School Lane to return to the pub.

Conditions: cloudy followed by showers of rain.

Pub: the Eagle and Child Staveley, joined by Angie and Alistair for Lakes Brew Co Pale and Tirril Staveley IPA and an iffy lunch.