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7th April 20026 - Hen Comb's Sheepfolds

I didn't want or need a big walk today, but Dougal still wanted an outing to work off his energy. Might as well go somewhere interesting, so I headed for Hen Comb, as I hadn't walked that way for quite a while. However, despite the nice weather, time was limited so I changed my objective part way through the walk.

     

5th April 20026 (pm) - A Sunny Day in Langstrath

 

After the morning in Loweswater we wanted to make the most of the day. Our walk in Borrowdale the other week was most enjoyable, so we decided to cross the Honister Pass once again for a short walk in Langstrath. It's not yet lunchtime . . . do we delay and eat at home, or just go while the sun shines and see if there's space in the pub when we get there ?

     

5th April 20026 (am) - Easter in Loweswater

We were promised nice weather for Easter, apart from 'Storm Dave' which blasted through last week. The sun is out, the wind has dropped and I've had chance to get out in the garden. Loes said the Church which has been decorated for Easter, was worth a visit, so here are a few pictures of Easter in Cumbria.

     

2nd April 20026 - Milling around in Eskdale

It was such a nice day on Thursday that, despite Hilton having to travel home, we still wanted to get out and enjoy The Lakes. An early-ish start after breakfast found us heading for Eskdale via the Cold Fell road. Smaller walks were the order of the day after yesterday's Low Fell climb . . . and Eskdale has many delightful ones to chose from.

     

1st April 20026 - Low Fell with Hilton

Our Leicestershire friend Hilton is up in Loweswater for a few days before Easter, and the weather has come up trumps, well at least for a day or two of his stay. He would like to walk the fells but nothing too extreme and he's been eyeing up Lowe Fell ever since he arrived. Far be it from me to suggest any other . . . and Loes wanted a walk too, so Low Fell it is.

     

30th March 20026 - Roamin' around Maryport Seafront

Our friend Hilton is due tonight, so it's a short afternoon walk for us and the dog. With cloud on the fells we head for Maryport where a coastal stroll along the prom will do nicely. For our walk, a steep climb up the 'Lowry Steps' brings us up to the Roman Fort and from there on it is downhill all the way.

     

25th - 29th March 20026 - Snow, Sunshine, Rivers and Leats

A quieter period of walking and no high fells to record, but still we managed to get out every day for walks, sometimes in between the showers, sometimes in between a shopping trip and sometimes in between breakfast and lunch. This is a selection of views from our part of the world this week.

     

22nd March 20026 - Grey Knotts and Brandreth

Today's Mob walk was planned for Grey Knotts and Brandreth and the route Peter had planned would take the easier ascent route via Moses Trod. We set off in good time for a 9.30 start at Honister but got slightly delayed by the traffic. Little did we know there was a big fell running event centered on Buttermere today !

     

21st March 20026 - Johnny's Wood in Borrowdale

 

Another lovely day on offer, it maybe the last for a few days, so Loes and I head over to Borrowdale to do a walk we've not done for quite a while. The woods are famous for their unique natural habitat and the Chain Walk as a walk with an unusual feature. Today we combine the two, with an out and back walk from Seatoller.

     

19th March 20026 - Robin Hood's Chair, Ennerdale

An afternoon stroll today and it was nice to get our of the valley for a change. We headed over to Ennerdale for a walk alongside a different lake. Loes requested a flat walk after her excursions yesterday so, for a change, we parked at Bleach Green and turned right as we reached the lake, aiming for Angler's Crag. The lower path by the lake is more level walk which would suit the occasion nicely.

     

14th March 20026 - The Matterhorn Rock Walk

Chance for a lift to the end of the Mosser Track allows me to have a linear walk home after what was a busy morning in the house. The weather was beautiful and it was great to get out in the sunshine. I met hardly a soul on the walk, one couple who were on the way back after walking Fellbarrow and a fell runner who had run from somewhere, he didn't stop to chat.

     

8th March 20026 - The Mob - Buttermere Round

After two glorious days of sunshine, the prospect for Sunday's Mob Walk was for rain and wind. However, as our organiser Peter said, keep your fingers crossed, white rabbit and all those sort of sayings repeated to bring good luck .Whatever caused it, the weather forecast was found wanting and the morning dawned bright and clear once again. Time to drive to Buttermere for a walk.

     

7th March 20026 - Flying Around Mellbreak

Such a beautiful day, true to the forecast, with a frosty start and sunshine that lasted from dawn to dusk. I had an afternoon meeting planned but still had time to make the most of the morning sunshine, the question was where to walk. I haven't climbed Hen Comb for a while, nor walked out to Low Ling Crag, but perhaps I also had time to do a circular walk around one of my favourite fells ?

     

6th March 20026 - Gasgale Valley to the Stone

Each day time must be found for a dog walk otherwise Dougal sits next to you, staring you out with begging eyes. On a day like today it's no problem and an hour or so, plus a short car drive, gets me to Lanthwaite Green for a slightly more rocky path up into the fells. A forty minute climb and a twenty minute descent makes a great walk for this particular day.

     

28th February 20026 - Mosser Track and Askill Return

Time for a local extended dog walk on a nice day, slotted in between other events. Parking on the main valley road, I strolled up the old Mosser Road, finding a Planning Notice along the way. The walk passed the start of a very old track that presumably the farmer wanted to improve. My return route was to head back to the Lake on a bridleway between Myresyke and Askill and return using the lakeshore path.

     

17th February 20026 - Hedges, Pottergill and the Pine

A combination of outings, both local, but on different days. On a walk to Holme Wood, I called by the hedge that I helped lay back in Feb 2023, to see how it was growing. A day or so later I took Dougal on a walk to Pottergill Farm, to check out the track and the footpaths that have been the subject of slight a change of route request recently. Join me on a walk in the sunshine.

     

12th / 15th February 2026 - Cathy's Big Birthday Weekend

We are all in Derbyshire this weekend to celebrate my daughter's Big '0' birthday . . . it makes you feel slightly old to say the least ! It was supposed to be a surprise, but with 22 people to cater for, the secret soon got out about our family gathering stay at Manor Farm Cottages.

     

12th February

Cathy's Big Birthday Weekend

13th February

The Magpie Mine Walk

14th Feb

The Monsal Trail Walk

15th /16th Feb

Final Goodbyes and Home via Tan Hill

7th February 2026 - Bempton and Flamborough

An invitation across to Yorkshire for the weekend would take us to the seaside, to be correct, hundreds of feet above the sea at Bempton Cliffs. The weather this week was changeable all across the country but we were graced with a reasonable weekend for our stay at my brother's house and this drive to the coast to see the sights.

     

1st February 2026 - Mob Lanthwaite Round

A shorter 'B' walk today but still an interesting one, close to home, in an area we often walk. Peter has combined several shorter walks with a coffee stop and made an interesting walk that we wouldn't normally do. Join us and nine others on a Mob walk up one of Wainwright's favourite small diversions and admire the views that the Artist Turner pained all those years back.

     

19th and 28th January 2026 - Mellbreak - Short and Long

Either side of Burns Night the weather treated us to some lovely sunshine, so nice you just had to get out and walk. The first afternoon Loes and I took a stroll up the Ennerdale Bridleway track, past "Harry's Pool" to the holly tree. Nine days later I walked in similar weather but this time climbed Mellbreak and stopped by the pub afterwards for a pre-lunch half of Loweswater Oatmeal Stout

     

22nd January 2026 - Loweswater's Burns Supper 2026

The calendar this week includes "Burn's Night" which is a celebration of the life of the Scottish poet Rabbie Burns. The celebration of this National Poet is a great reason to have a get together in our Village Hall, after all Cumbria was part of Scotland at one time, even before the Act of Union in 1701. It is also a great excuse for us to have a very sociable winter get-together for the folk of the valley.

     

18th January 2026 - Four go to the Loweswater Fells

Alternate Sundays are generally the day for the Mockerkin Mob Walk. Some days they are short 'B' walks and some are 'A's' that are harder and climb higher. Today the group are heading for a local walk that's a bit more intermediate, covering 7.5 miles and 2000+ feet. The week has been cold and the forecast is poor, but four of us head off, for what turned out to be a very enjoyable walk.

     

10th January 2026 - St Bees with Loes and Lill

With a keen wind giving negative temperature on the high fells and with Lill and Loes both wanting more gentle walks we headed to St Bees to take advantage of the sunshine and to enjoy an interesting walk by the sea. No great bird life at this time of year but the views should be good . . . we might even see the snow that dusts Snaefell mountain on the Isle of Man this week.

     

4th January 2026 - Mob Whinlatter Brown How

The Mob are out again for the first walk of the New Year and it's a sunny but cold day in prospect. Other areas of the UK have had snow but we've just had the cold, cloud free nights so conditions should be dry, with the boggy areas of the walk possibly frozen which would make the walk in some ways slightly easier.

     

3rd January 2026 - Ennerdale's Howside Round

With Joan returning home after New Year, it was just Loes and myself, plus our trusty companion, to take a walk in Ennerdale on the first saturday in January. This is partially a new walk for me but also one more suited to Loes's and Dougal's capabilities at present. She used to do this round when she lived in St Bees but hasn't been here for a few years herself . . . chance to re-acquaint her with the smaller lanes near Bowness Knott.

     

1st January 2026 - Ravenglass with Joan

Joan, Loes's sister in law, was over in Loweswater for a few days, including last nights festivities. On New Year's Day we head out on a drive down the west coast to reacquaint her with some of the places she used to visit with her late husband. The weather is cold . . . but no there's snow in our part of the country yet, so a drive over the Cold Fell Road and through Gosforth found us in Wasdale.

     

1st January 2026 - The Calendar Results 2026

As before, I've donated £1 from every calendar sold towards Mountain Rescue and Air Ambulance charities. With additional contributions from you I managed to donate £650 to our good causes this year.

With match funding and gift aid, that equated to £900.00p to our Cumbrian Rescue Charities.

     

 

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