Gummers How

A very short post-prandial stroll with Emma, Nathan and Mitch.

Route: From the road, taking the obvious path through woodland and then climbing the steep paved steps to emerge from the trees to a view of the lake, smoke from Haverthwaite Steam Railway, the Hoad and Morecambe Bay. Then a very gentle scramble to reach the trig point. Returning by heading a little further north and then looping back round east to rejoin the outward path.

Conditions: Very blustery and damp.

Pub: The Masons Arms, Strawberry Bank, beforehand for lunch, Loweswater Grasmoor Dark and Hawkshead Bitter.

Loughrigg Fell

A stroll with Emma, Nathan, Mark, Sandra and Max.

Route: From the lower car park in Ambleside, taking the path through the graveyard to reach the church and then through the park behind it to cross the river. Dog-legging right and then left, up a road becoming a track onto the hillside and then a right turn onto a smaller path across a soggy plain. Then trending left onto higher ground for the first false summit and along a shallow valley to reach the trig point. Descending east towards Rydal to drop steeply downhill to the cave and then across a foot bridge to the Badger Bar. After a pint, taking the coffin track back to Ambleside.

Conditions: Cool, sunny but with a threat of a shower.

Pub: On route, the Badger Bar, Rydal, for Coniston Bluebird XB (and others). Afterwards, the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for WPA and Hoppy Red.

Whitbarrow circuit

A 17km run round Whitbarrow mainly on quiet lanes.

Route: Leaving the car on the turn off from the A590 towards Mill Side and taking the old road - the route of the WtoW cycleway - and then cycle path to Gilpin Bridge. Along the A5074 (straight, wide and with a verge here) as far as Thorfor Bridge and then taking the narrow lane rising slightly to reach The Howe before briefly rejoining the A5074 for 200m (here narrower and with no verge). Then sharp left and up hill to Row and continuing along a rising track round the north end of Whitbarrow before dropping down to the quiet lane past Pool Bank and Witherslack Hall and leaving the road on a bridle way to Beck Head and down the road to the start.

Conditions: Initially cloudy but bright but becoming cooler with a hint of rain.

Pub: The newly re-opened Hare and Hounds, Levens for Barngates Tag Lag and Cartmell Cromwell Door.

Bowland Bridge circuit

A 13km run up and down the Winster valley.

Route: Leaving the car cheekily in the  Hare and Hounds carpark in Bowland Bridge (we’re regulars) and taking the quiet country road on the east side of the river northwards past Barkbooth, dog-legging left and right after 3 miles. Crossing the A5074 at the Brown Cow at Winster and continuing up hill before dropping back to the west to join the A5074 briefly heading east for 200m and then taking a bridleway on the right. Following a rough path to join a track and climb the west side of the valley and then along empty tracks, then quiet roads to Hartbarrow and a descent by the Masons Arms to the start.

Conditions: Sunny and bright.

Pub: Hawkshead Brewery for Hoppy Red and Windermere Pale Ale.

Staveley to Kendal via Scout Scar

A very slow solitary 17km jog with pauses to read the map, sit down and gasp for breath.

Route: From Staveley station south along the Crook Road to take the first left towards Ashes Farm and then south through Ashes Coppice. Getting lost somewhere near Knott Hill but eventually regaining the path to cross the B5284 and head on Capplerigg Road which becomes a track then a road again to reach Gamblesmire Lane. Along this, rising, to reach Cunswick Scar and then along familiar routes to the Mushroom, trig point and down the escarpment to drop down the road crossing the A591 to Hawes Bridge into Natland and across the strawberry fields to reach home.

Conditions: Sunny and bright. Hot in the sun but a cold northerly breeze on the Scar.

Pub: Home for bottled, cheap, Hawkshead Five Hops.