Dent

An 8km walk on an unexpectedly wet day, in search of views but in vain.

Route: leaving the car in a layby at Wath Bridge on the way out of Cleator Moor (space for ~8 cars but also space across the river), crossing the river and walking 1km southwest on the c-road. At Black How, joining the Coast to Coast by turning left on a forestry track uphill to a fork, in increasing drizzle. Turning left and then right onto a path out of trees by a fence to the marshy summit. At this point, the rain becoming harder. Continuing without views, descending steeply into Uldale, turning left along Kirk Beck to Nannycatch Gate. Abandoning plans to climb Flat Fell and instead heading left along the valley bottom bridleway, in heavier rain, crossing puddles to reach a steeply descending c-road back to the start.

Conditions: initially cloudy and grey but turning wetter.

Pub: the Keekle Inn, Keekle, (for the first time) for Cumbrian Ales Loweswater Gold.

Two equally-enjoyable expeditions from Buttermere

A 4km lakeside saunter for T and a glorious 4.5km run over Rannerdale Knotts for L.

Routes:
For T, leaving the car at the NT car park (almost empty at 6pm) and heading north into the woodland and then via pathless meandering to high points and views on Long How before descending to the shore. Then back over Nether How past the campsite to the pub.

For L: from the NT car park turning left up the road to take the track shortcutting the road-bend opposite Wood House, then rejoining the road as far as the bridleway leading up opposite the beach at the east end of Crummock Water. Running along and gradually up through the bracken to turn right, and then right again up the newly-made steps climbing steeply up to the higher shelf west of Rannerdale Knotts and walking up through the crags to the summit from there. From the top picking a way along the ridge through the knotts and then running along the clear path down Low Bank, encumbered only by occasional freshly-shorn sheep to the junction of paths at the top of Rannerdale. There turning right to run down to the road, and there left to run into the village and down to the pub.

Conditions: cloudy but with bright hints and later even a little sun.

Pub: the Buttermere Court Hotel (née Fish), Buttermere, for Corby Eachy of Bassenthwaite and Lakeland Summit.

Cockermouth stroll

A 4km stroll round Cockermouth, glancing at future housing possibilities.

Route: leaving the car on Windmill Lane and heading east, trying to cross to the railway path first at Meadow Bank Close (because of a path marked on the map but no longer on the ground) and then Bellbrigg. Heading west on the railway path, turning left just before the bridge over the River Cocker and following a path under new housing and then across fields, trying some new outdoor exercise equipment, to and over the bridge. Turning left through Double Mills, past the beach (with permitted access) and following the path until it ran out (in accord with the map). Retracing the path and heading through the park to Rubbybanks Road. Detouring via a snickleway to the B5292 to shop for lunch and then directly across the footbridge to the Swan Inn.

Conditions: some initial brightness giving way to darker clouds.

Pub: the Swan Inn, Cockermouth, for Fyne Ales Jarl (what else?).

Great Cockup, only

A 10km walk up Great Cockup and descending via Trusmadoor and Chapelhouse Reservoir.

Route: leaving the car at the marked car parking area at the northeast end of Over Water (empty but space for ~8 cars) and walking 2km along the road past Orthwaite to reach a track leading into right to roam land. Climbing to turn sharp left along a quad-bike track and following this to the right at a fork but almost immediately turning further right on a clear path up the ridge. Where the path entered bracken, taking a subsidiary but still clear path higher and to the left skirting the patch of bracken. On gaining a sort of shoulder above Orthwaite Bank, entering bracken but on a distinct path and then climbing above the bracken onto the shoulder of Great Cockup itself. Passing a fine stone grouse butt to reach the summit ridge (slightly higher but with less good views at the far end). Descending into Trusmadoor and turning left, but keeping on the right hand side of the initial valley so as to anticipate the final direction, crossing occasional marshy patches. After 2km, reaching Longlands (the final 100m not as marshy as a previous experience) turning left on the road uphill and then right on a path to cross the dam of Chapelhouse Reservoir and head left and uphill on a road before descending to the car.

Conditions: Cloudy. Initially 15C but warming up later. Almost dry underfoot.

Pub: the Sun Inn, Bassenthwaite (village), (under new management) for Marston’s Bassenthwaite Beauty.

High Rigg

A short 5km mini-adventure with a largely dry ghyll scramble and head-high bracken.

Route: leaving the car parked at Rough How Bridge (officially limited to 2 hours but surely not policed thoroughly) and walking north along a path at the edge of the valley and below the fell, joining a paved track, as far as the road to Dale Bottom. Turning half right through bracken but with some indication of a historic path to reach the narrow gully of William’s Beck and following this steeply uphill either on rocks in the bottom or just to one side until, it transpires, just short of a fork in the stream. Taking an easier path rising steeply on heather to the left to reach a small subsidiary summit. Continuing pathless another 50m through bracken to find the merest hint of a path (marked on the OS map) east, which, on reaching the stream again, joined a larger path heading north. After 200m turning right on a yet clearer path towards, then round and then onto the summit. Then taking the ‘ridge’ path south as far as the marsh before Moss Crag and deciding to taking a path downhill to the right in now head-high bracken eventually reaching a lateral wall and a clearer path. Descending to a gate and - perhaps foolishly - turning left through it, to the right of a tiny tarn and then losing all trace of path (though marked in green on the OS map). Thus merely roughing it downhill through bracken to join the end of the outward path and back to the car.

Conditions: a pleasant 20C sunny day.

Pub: the Horse and Farrier, Threlkeld, for Tirril Borrowdale Bitter.

Watch Hill

A tiny walk up, and run down, Watch Hill.

Route: leaving the car at GR 137312 at a lay-by at the intersection of the Cockermouth to Embleton road with the road to Setmurthy Common and taking the hand gate to a clear path making very gradual progress up the ridge towards Watch Hill. However, following the path on lower down into the woods and taking the righter of two forks to follow a path in a clear part of the woods until it descended to a rough forest road. Following this east to a small path on the right through older deciduous trees, gaining ground to the summit tree-free. From here on a lower path to the end of the ridge and the spot named ‘Watch Hill’ overlooking Cockermouth. Then running downhill, L spurning the conventions of clothed modesty, back to the road and thus the car.

Conditions: 20C after the two-day heatwave and cloudy but hot running down.

Pub: the Swan Inn, Cockermouth, for Fyne Ales Jarl.

Back o' Harrot: In search of the Corpse Road

A 10-mile walk/run by Lois, only, between Lorton and Bassenthwaite Lake Station Café looking for the path of the Corpse Road from St Cuthbert's, Lorton, to the old Wythop Church (Kelswick Chapel)

Route: Starting from Midtown Cottages, heading along the road to join the B5292 north for a kilometre, then turning right up the lane to High Armaside and following it north to Harrot Fell Farm. Here taking the bridleway tracking east and southeast round the northern end of Harrot (resisting the footpaths up to the summit in order to find the Corpse Stone but in vain). Keeping on with the bridleway to its conclusion (on the OS map), through the double gates of a cattle pen, and then over a further stile, then initially following a hedge on the right and then dipping down to the left to cross a feeder gill of Gray Beck to come alongside a fence climbing to a 5-way junction of walls and fences at the westernmost tip of the access land. 

Tracking the northeast boundary of the access land, pathless, looking for ways to cross over to Long Fell or Embleton High Common but thwarted by high barbed wire topped new fencing so reaching the apex of the sector of inaccessible land just down from Graystones and crossing a mysteriously low fence to run down across Wythop Moss just outside the boundary of access land, almost due north, with only one moment of sinking into the marsh! Crossing right through the boundary wall after about a kilometre and running down to Bladder Keld and the path running round the base of Ling Fell. Taking this to run west and north up the Tom Rudd Beck catchment to where the path splits and the start of the Corpse Road curves away to the right, then east and up to a gate onto Ling Fell. Following the CR north and east round the northern slopes of Ling Fell and down to the gate onto the road, then following the road east to Eskin, north to Brunston Bridge and east up to the Kelswick Farm gate onto Sale Fell.

From here following the road up to the turning right onto the track to the ruins of the old Wythop  Church/Kelswick Chapel and, after a pause for prayer, carrying on along the footpath round the base of Sale Fell to the east to reach Wythop Woods and follow forestry tracks north and then eventually switchbacking down to Routenbeck. Here turning right to run down the road to the Bassenthwaite Lake Station Café.

Conditions: Overcast for almost all of the 3+ hours but about 20C, very dry underfoot for Wythop Moss, and deserted - met only one person and her 4 dogs around Tom Rudd Beck. 

Pub: Lake Station Café for lunch with Tim, Frank and Gwenneth (tap water and coffee for Lois, Gwenneth and Frank, Tractor Shed Mowdy and Malbec for Tim).