Reston Scar and Hugill Fell

A short blustery walk with Andrew, Judith, Zoe and Morgan (Lois at church).

Route: Leaving the car in the mill yard carpark and heading north on Back Lane past the war memorial to the left turn and path up Reston Scar. Then onwards, on a clear path, through a gate and then trending left through newly planted trees to another gate before turning sharp right to rise eventually to the Hugill summit. Taking a gate in the field corner beyond to turn right crossing a significant bog to the summit of Black Crag and then steeply down to the Kentmere road and back.

Conditions: Windy on the summits.

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

Gummer's How

A blustery expedition with Andrew, Judith, Zoe and Morgan; and Andrew, Helen, Anton and Lois.

Route: From the carpark taking the footpath through the trees to cross the road and then the path to the summit. Then further north descending and then rising to a further subsidiary summit. Retracing our steps until near the summit before trending left and round to rejoin the outward path at the top of the steps.

Conditions: Blustery and cloudy but warm.

Pub: Beforehand and for lunch: the Hare and Hounds, Bowland Bridge for Heskett Newmarket Scafell Blonde and Ennerdale Blonde.

Staveley 10km

A Sunday morning 10 km road run with Ian Lyne and Steve Mitchell.

Route: From the Watermill Inn, through Ings to join the cycle track along the main road (A591) to Staveley. Turning left along Brow Lane and then right down School Lane, to the station and up Crook Road turning right to join the Dales Way and then the next two rights to descend a gated road back to the start.

Conditions: Cloudy and showery.

Pub: The Watermill, Ings, for Watermill: Dogth Vader, Pale, Colliewobbles, Windermere Blonde and  Haystacks and Theakstons Old Peculiar.

Stone Arthur circuit

A short walk, largely between showers, with Ian Lyne.

Route: Leaving the car in a layby on the main road (A591) just after the first Grasmere turn off and walking north along the road to turn right at the Swan Hotel. Part way round a quiet crescent to find a tarmac drive signposted 'Allcock Tarn' rising beside a stream. At the end, bearing left to rise on a paved stone 'staircase' as far as a locked gate into a wood and then, instead, bearing right across the fell to reach the ridge and then up that to Stone Arthur. Then further up the ridge until it was possible to contour round to join the path descending from Great Rigg as far as, and a little beyond, Heron Pike. Then dropping, pathless, down to Alcock Tarn and taking the Victorian track down to Town End and then back to the car.

Conditions: Cloudy with rain showers.

Pub: Tweedies Bar, Grasmere, for a disappointing Rok IPA, Loweswater Gold and Coniston Pilsner.

Staveley to the Riflemans

A 14km run on roads, tracks and paths in the north Lyth Valley before climbing and crossing Scout Scar.

Route: Taking the train to Staveley station and then running south along the Crook Road to take the first left towards Ashes Farm and then south through Ashes Coppice. On this occasion, veering only modestly west (to avoid marsh) and thus arriving at the straight field edge path to reach, and cross, the B5284 and head further south on Capplerigg Road. Following this as it becomes an overgrown and stony track to cross a stream before rising to reach a crossroads in a field. Heading south along a muddy track and then a path hidden within a hedgerow before eventually reaching Gamblesmire Lane. Along this, rising, to reach Cunswick Scar and then along familiar routes to the Mushroom, trig point and straight down to the racecourse and to the Riflemans. After a pint, a walk home.

Conditions: Warm. Cloudy giving way to sun.

Pub: The Riflemans, Kendal, for Greene King Abbot Ale.

Loughrigg circuit

A sunny evening 13km run on roads and tracks.

Route: From the lower Ambleside carpark, taking the path through the graveyard, round the church and then left through Rothey Park to cross the River Rothay and turn right onto the Under Loughrigg road. Turning left, before the road re-crosses the river, onto a rising road then shady track to reach views of Rydal Water. Picking the upper, increasingly stony,  path, eventually rising to reach the caves and then keeping to higher paths to reach the start of Loughrigg Terrace. Along this and then the higher track, at the end, through trees to reach the summit of Red Bank. Descending, left, to reach a track round the north of Loughrigg Tarn. At the end of the track, on reaching the road again, turning rapidly right, then right, then left to descend steeply to Skelwith Bridge. After crossing the river, heading straight on to rise murderously steeply to reach Skelwith Fold and then descending along a very quiet Bog Lane to Clappersgate and then back along the main road to the start.

Conditions: Warm and sunny.

Pub: The Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for WPA and NZPA.

A woodland circuit from Pool Bank

A woodland stroll to look at the bluebells with Robin, Virginia, Neil and Anne.

Route: Leaving the car, after some deliberation, by the side of the road in Pool Bank and taking the more southerly path through Cowclose and Colehowe Wood to cross the Winster to join the road at Swallow Mire and follow it round past Hodge Hill Hall up to Cartmel church (St Anthony’s) and then up the road to the path to the monument on Cartmel Fell. Retracing our steps to the church and then taking a path south to cross more woods and join a minor road and following this to Little Thorphinsty, just before which taking a path through more bluebell-filled woods. Then 100 yards up a road to enter Crag Wood eventually turning left, eastwards to cross the Tarn Green Road and follow tracks through Cow Head Wood, recross the Winster and meet the gated road near Askew Green and back along this to Pool Bank.

Conditions: Cloudy but warm.

Pub: The Hare and Hounds, Bowland Bridge for Ulverston Flying Elephants and Kirkby Lonsdale’s Tiffin Gold.