Bell Crags

A short ascent, two hours there and back.

Route: From the Utilities car park at Dob Gill, an ascent near the Binka Stone up a rough path and through trees to Harrop Tarn then along the Watendlath bridleway out of the trees up to the flat col and then across the moor to the summit. Down by skirting to the north of the woods and a very steep final descent.

Conditions: Warm sun with a cool breeze.

Pub: Tweedies Bar in Grasmere for Cumbrian Legendary Ales: Langdale sitting outside in the sun.

Blencathra via Hall's Fell

A swift ascent cut short by hail!

Route: From the small car park east of the pub at Scales, a short steep ascent before contouring round the bottom of Blencathra to Hall's Fell, an ascent sticking to the very top of the ridge and then down Scales Fell to Mousthwaite Comb and back to the car. (Plans to add Bannerdale Crags will have to wait.)

Conditions: Cloud and some sun giving way to rain.

Pub: The Agricultural Hotel in Penrith, oddly enough, for fine Sneck Lifter.

St Sunday Crag, Fairfield and Hartsop above How

Another high-level horseshoe above Deepdale with Ian (Lyne) and Neil (Simpson).

Route: From the layby at Deepdale Bridge along the road to Patterdale and then the footpath below Glenamara Park, spurning the main path to climb Birks, and then rejoining it to climb St Sunday Crag. Thence to Fairfield, Hart Crag and down Hartsop above How.

Conditions: Cloud giving way to hazy sun.

Pub: The Brotherswater Inn for Barngates Westmorland Gold.

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.