Round Bramley Seat to Mosser Fell Road

A 7km run on initially very wet and marshy ground, climbing onto moorland.

Route: leaving the car on the verge by the full layby at the west end of Loweswater and heading west along the road for 200m, then right on a track over a bridge over a stream and at a footpath sign turning left along marshy fields with brimful brooks. After a few fields heading through a wood and then by fields to Bramley and along a metalled road (with an incongruous road sign) to the road near Sosgill. Turning right and keeping on the road to the turn off uphill to Mosser old church (St Michael's) and then negotiating a series of gates round Mosser Gate Farm to the end of the metalled road to join the Fell Road rising to a summit with views of fells to the east and descending. Taking the second right to cross fields on a clear track and then down a stony track to the start.

Conditions: cloudy and breezy, with hints of rain but also brief sunny spells.

Pub? bottled Lidl Woodgate cider at the cottage with lunch.

Rannerdale Knotts run from Lanthwaite Green

A 12km run having both failed to catch the 77 bus (first bus of the day from Lorton to Honister full to its COVID-limited capacity) and then thinking better of trying to park in Buttermere on finding ourselves in a long convoy of traffic heading up the valley not long after 11am.

Route: leaving the car on verge parking near the full Lanthwaite Green Farm car park and crossing marshy ground to the east to gain the higher lateral path below Grasmoor. Continuing to Rannerdale to reach the footbridge, cross the main stream and continue gradually uphill but then, on an impulse, crossing a small stream on the right to take a faint path diagonally back to the summit ridge of Rannerdale Knotts and on to the summit. Then back along the ridge and descending into Buttermere for a pint in a warm, sunny, friendly beer garden at the Bridge Hotel. Afterwards, heading uphill, slower post beer, by Mill Beck, turning left to a junction of paths and heading past Grassgarth Coppice on a scratchy-dead-bracken-riddled path, slowly descending to meet the path climbing to the low shoulder under Rannerdale Knotts. Descending the steps, joining the road for a kilometre and then taking the path just inside the wall on the west side of the road all the way back to the start.

Conditions: a lovely bright autumn day, hot in the full sun but cool out of it.

Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere, for Tractor Shed Mowdy pale ale.

Woodland walk from Keswick (inspecting the works)

A 10km walk near the as-yet-unfinished Keswick Railway Path.

Route: Leaving the car on the side of the road at Briar Rigg and walking east along the road to the old station and the Railway Path and following it nearly as far as the A66 where it was blocked. Taking a footpath north to join another and first exploring the settlement (old mill buildings and joinery) below the A66 before crossing the river and joining a muddy path in trees above the river with views of Low Briery caravan park. Descending to rejoin the Railway Path and explore a stage between two bridges before, again, heading north (on a works track) to reach the footpath again. At a fork, descending on wooden steps to walk along the bank in trees, reach a field and again find the Railway Path, then crossing back on a bridge and heading further east. Where the path was again blocked heading north on a road past Brundholme and climbing to join the woodland track under Latrigg. At one stage detouring right, higher up the fell towards the boundary of access land, to be rewarded by a couple of sightings of a deer but also the task of bushwacking steeply downhill beside the barbed wire fence and much gorse back to the track. Following this to the track down past Spooney Green and over the A66.

Conditions: cloudy with hints of late-afternoon sun.

Pub: Keswick being too busy at 6pm, Middle Ruddings, Braithwaite, for Corby Blonde.

Cunswick Scar, Hollins Lane and Hallgarth

A7km run late on a Sunday afternoon.

Route: leaving the car on Caroline Street, just down from Kendal Green, and running across the Green and up Green Hill to cross Windermere Road and pick up a footpath uphill, meeting the lateral path from Queen’s Road. Along this under Hellsfell Nab doubling back parallel to and then crossing the A591 and then running to the top of Cunswick Scar. Descending on a sometimes muddy path to cross the B5284 and follow paths across damp fields to cross the A591 and descend Hollins Lane. At a slight bend, opposite the entrance to Ellergreen, taking a footpath across fields back towards Kendal to the Hallgarth estate and up and over the hill on a tarmac snickleway to Kendal Green and back to the car.

Conditions: despite a sharp shower while driving to the start, dry and mild throughout (with rainbows!)

Pub: the New Union, Kendal, meeting Anne and Frank, for Thornbridge Jaipur IPA and a taste of Fran and Ian’s tapas at the New Union’s 3rd birthday party.

Running circuit of Thirlmere plus Great How

A 19km run round Thirlmere finished with a weary plod up Great How.

Route: the road across the dam being closed, parking on the A591 near Bridge End farm and running along the road across the dam to find steps leading down to a footpath along the western side of Thirlmere, sometimes a wide gravel path, sometimes trippy by rock or root and slowing the pace to a walk. At Hause Point and at Dobgill Bridge, rejoining the road for 50m or so. At Stockhow Bridge, joining the road round the bottom of the lake to cross the A591 and here finding a signed narrow path (not marked on the map) north to Wythburn church. At the car park heading uphill at a walk and turning left along the wide stony forestry track. South of the straining well, being forced to continue on the initially lower main track rather than join a more level contouring path closed because washed away, presumably, by the 2015 floods. After climbing again, descending to Swirls car park, crossing the road and descending close to the shore (though the lake mainly hidden by trees) and following a clear path, then joining a narrow permissive path through woodlands before rejoining the track and gaining a bit of altitude and arriving at a junction for Great How. Here walking up a stony track then narrow path to the summit, surrounded by trees impeding the view to the lake (but not to the Near Eastern Fells, see picture. Retracing the route to the last junction and continuing along the track east of Great How, taking a permissive path towards the dam road and then back to the car.

Conditions: blue skies and blazing sunshine though the air was cool in the shade

Pub: the King's Head, Thirlspot for Charles Wells Bombardier

Loweswater fells circuit

A fine 15km autumnal round with Ian Wilson.

Route: leaving the cars at Maggie’s Bridge car park at 9am (almost full) and, in a last-minute change of plan, heading west towards the lake and the diagonal upward path through the trees to reach the coffin path. West along this to an exit gate and heading half left, uphill, to pick up a path heading left again, thus south, and uphill to the top of Burnbank Fell. Then along the ridge, much less marshy than sometimes, after a dry September, climbing to Blake Fell. Descending parallel to a fence and possibly missing a chance to cross it and thus wandering a bit further along a lower saddle ridge to find a bit of fence that could be bestridden. Heading back to the main path confluence at Fothergill Head and climbing, parallel to a fence, to the top of Gavel Fell and pausing here. Then down the ridge and up before crossing a stile and cutting a corner to find a path by another fence heading towards Floutern Cop. Having traversed that little tor, continuing on to climb Hen Comb on a clear path and descending the ridge, for the first time, all the way to a final wall, bending right steeply downhill and crossing the beck on stepping stones. To the Kirkstile Inn for a pint in the garden under 3-day old national table service-only restrictions and then back, by road, to the cars.

Conditions: a mere 2C at the start but warmer later, especially in sunny still spells, but cold in the wind. 

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold.

Cycle circuit of Fellbarrow via Rowrah and Dean

A 25 mile trip calling in at the Ennerdale Brewery and the Royal Yew at Dean.

Route: from the cottage taking the Thackthwaite road to Loweswater and slowly ascending Fangs Brow to Lamplugh. Continuing on Sustrans 71 past Keltonfell Top and Kirkland and stopping for a beer at Rowrah. Then on C-roads via Asby, Dean Cross and Ullock to the Royal Yew, Dean, for lunch. Home via Pardshaw and Brandlingill.

Conditions: cloudy with hints of drizzle.

Pubs: The Ennerdale Brewery, Rowrah, for Ennerdale IPA and Blonde. The Royal Yew at Dean for their own (ie Tirril's) Blonde and lunch.