A third swim in Crummock water

A swim at the end of - probably - the hottest day of 2022.

Route: leaving the car at the defibrillator short of the Kirkstile Inn and walking over fields past Gillerthwaite and Muncaster House and then down a green track towards the pumping station but, after a bridge, bearing right and then right again round the inside of the peel to swim at the stony beach. Afterwards, walking past High Park and Low Park to the Kirkstile Inn for a pint and then back to the car.

Conditions: the unpleasant heat had been partly relieved by a breeze and the swim took place without sun and in gusty conditions, though still 28C.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, for Cumbrian Ales Langdale. 

A second, 8:30am, swim in Crummock Water in the 2022 heatwave

A swim before long-forecast record-breaking heat of the hottest day of 2022.

Route: leaving the car in the Lanthwaite Green car park (already over half full around 8:30am) and heading along the riverside root-paved path to and round the lake shore a little beyond the familiar protruding beach, over a final footbridge. Wading back to swim from the previous beach. Afterwards, simply returning to the car park.

Conditions: in fact, mainly overcast although already 23C, the water as cold as the day before.

Pub? back to the cottage for breakfast. Much later after shopping in heat rising to 32C, the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite for Cumbrian Ales Loweswater Gold and homemade crisps, indoors to escape the breeze-less heat outside.

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.