Newport to Ledbury

The 88km/53 mile first day of the Monmouth to Mersey cycle trip.

Route: leaving the Waterloo Hotel (with a near view of the Transporter Bridge) and heading north through morning traffic before turning east and then north east on quiet roads to Usk for coffee and cake at the Sprockwoggles Coffee House. Afterwards, heading north east on Sustrans Route 423 to Raglan (fine views of the castle) and then above the River Trophy undulating to Monmouth for a beer on the pavement outside the Punch House in bright hot sun. Then climbing past ‘A Haberdashers School for Girls – nurturing timeless values’, turning left onto a minor road and climbing further with views westwards before briefly joining the A466 and peeling off north descending and ascending to Peterstow and heading into Ross on Wye for (generous) creams teas at the Royal Hotel. Then again on hilly minor roads past Brampton Abbots, Crow Hill, Kempley, Dymock and then more quickly on the B4216 to Ledbury.

Conditions: cool initially but glorious sun all day.

Pubs: (at lunchtime) the Punch House, Monmouth, for Oakham Citra, Rev James Gold and Bootleg Fool’s Gold; (on arrival) the Lion micropub for Ludlow Brewing Company Best and Wye Valley Brewery HPA.

Cycle circuit of Windermere

A 60km cycle ride starting at Windermere station and ending at home.

Route: taking the first (quiet) train on a Sunday morning (10:30am) to Windermere (hence being unable to pay) and cycling north on the busy A591, taking cycling routes on pavements where offered. Briefly stopping at Brockhole to view the excellent exhibition of lino cuts about taking care of our watery environment Paper Boats: Fragile Waters by Caroline Stow before continuing to Waterhead (spurning the coffee shop) and continuing past Clappersgate to turn left on the minor road to Wray, under Latterbarrow, thus rejoining the B5285 missing out Hawkshead and stopping for a pint at the Cuckoo Brow. Then descending on the minor road to Cunsey, coping with a stiff 2 x single chevron ascent to Graythwaite Hall and thence via Lakeside to Newby Bridge. Turning left to head north on the A592 and then B5360 to Blackwell for tea and scones. Continuing along the A5074 to Winster and then steeply up a  minor road to reach the Wild Boar Hotel for halves of beer. Then home via the Crook Road and Windermere Road.

Conditions: initially, and despite the sun, surprisingly cool. Later, cloudy.

Pubs: the Cuckoo Brow, Far Sawrey, for Hawkshead Red and Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold. The Wild Boar Hotel for  Mad Pig Ale and Seasonal IPA.

Stroll to Albas and above

A 17km stroll while visiting Andrea near Castelfranc.

Route: leaving the house and walking south to Castelfranc via minor roads, a path by a stream and a quiet road behind a minor industrial estate, crossing the town to reach the river and heading left, south east beside it and the main road on the route of an old railway line. After a while, descending onto a minor road to reach a suspension bridge over to Albas and rising into the village centre. After consulting a large wall-mounted route map, heading south uphill on Combe Oliere, curving east to meet a road and then north to a view over the Lot with a table d’orientation. Descending on a narrow path back to Albas and then by roads to the bridge back over into Castelfranc and home by the outward route.

Conditions: a cooler, cloudier day between hot days.

Wildlife: Goats, chickens, a squirrel a gecko and a graceful heron flying back and forth by the weir at Albas.

Pub? No but a bottle of La Belle Poole Blonde Houblonnee at the orientation table with our sandwiches.

Circuit of the plateau de Lac Guery

A fine high level 15km stroll overlooking La Bourboule.

Route: leaving the car at the obvious large car park at the west end of Lac Guery and walking towards the lake before taking a right turn to all around it. Then turning further left and then right to follow the right hand side of a stream uphill to visit a fine waterfall. Then continuing uphill onto a plateau (with cows) before turning right onto a track and then left to head towards the ridge of hills. A little after a cattle grid, taking a stile to the right to head up onto Pic Loup. Then heading along the broad ridge descending to a gentle saddle before ascending partly on board-walks to the summit of La Banne d’Ordanche. Then retracing the route to the saddle before climbing first onto Le Tenon and then descending further to the GR30 before turning right tide onto the ridge of Puy Gros. Descending the end of the ridge onto a plateau, round the gentle mound of Chantauzet and then down via forest tracks back to the lake for a beer at the Auberge du Lac de Guery before picking a way round the right hand side of the lake, partly on the road and partly on small paths by the lakeshore before finally retracing the outward path back to the car.

Conditions: hot and sunny though ameliorated by an intermittent cool breeze.

Pub: the Auberge du Lac de Guery for Pelforth and Ciney Blonde.

Puy de Dome

A short 9km walk but of some interest on a hot day.

Route: leaving the car in the car park on the Col de Ceyssat (not the main car park for the train) and taking the signed Chemin de Muletiers steeply up hill, though shaded to begin with, on a zigzagging path through trees, emerging onto the main developed summit (with train station, cafe and bar, Temple of Mercury (and exhibition about it) and an inaccessible transmitter station on the very summit) and circling it clockwise ending with a beer on a viewing deck. Descending on the road by the train track to a wooden staircase. Down onto a broad shoulder and onwards in trees to reach a cairn /water fountain. Turning left at signs and following a path often through trees back round to the start.

Conditions: in direct sun, very hot.

Pub: at the summit, the Puy de Dome summit cafe (Chez Epicure) for 25cl of Affligem. Afterwards at the Hotel Roche, Orcival, for Dorian Amber and Blanche.

Puy de Sancy Horseshoe

An 18km round on a warm day from Mont Dore while staying in La Bourboule.

Route: Leaving the car in the small funicular car park of Mont Dore and walking left round a church, onto a road and almost immediately uphill on clear broad stony track. Where the track turned left, taking a direct minor path uphill and then right on a broader track to meet the original track making its way up less impatiently. At a sign to the top of the funicular, following it left uphill and round to the funicular building where heading directly away from it uphill on a stony path to meet and turn left on a briefly paved road, slight left at a fork and soon getting a view of Le Capucin. Having passed beneath the summit lump, taking a narrow path shortcut, rejoining the main track at a building and here heading onto the broad ridge with no further navigation issues, as the track either narrowly missed or found gentle ways up all the subsidiary peaks before a large staircase leading to the incredibly busy and (consequently?) fly-ridden summit of Puy de Sancy. Hence descending at speed to the next col (Col de la Cabane) where the solution to brief navigation confusion was to follow the G4 to the right of the next small hill of the horseshoe and then back roughly on the top of the undulating ridge eventually to Roc du Cuzeau. Descending on zigzags then heading to the edge of the plateau before returning (following signs to the Grand Cascade) above an initially dry stream-bed to reach stairs descending by a fine waterfall. Then down the obvious path, crossing the D36 and turning right on a path and then a steep left back into the town.

Conditions: initially hot though cooler with some slight breeze on the ridge but then only intermittent sun. The odd sound of thunder.

Wildlife: dairy cows (apparent from the sound of their bells) and chamois, both from a distance - crickets everywhere

Pub: the Petit Cafe de Paris for Dorian Amber and Blonde (and free peanuts!)

Scout Scar nostalgic variation

Just an 8.5km Saturday morning Scout Scar run but taking in two paths for the first time in more than a year and hence sneaking into Outdoor Days.

Route: leaving the car at the normal car park (2/3 of the way from the race course to Helsington) and taking the new route first along the road and then diagonally across two fields to Windy Howe and Helsington Church. Then to the Scar generally keeping to the left and crossing the shallow valley to gain the edge of the Scar and following this along to the Mushroom. Then back to the trig point and down hill with the wall on the left to join, briefly, the main path before deviating left onto the "Trippy Path". Excusably in the heat, walking up to the Gate-in-the-Corner and then descending back to the car.

Conditions: rather warm on what became a hot day.

Pub: the Riflemans, Greenside, Kendal for Greene King Abbot Ale.