Ale and hearty

CONISTON FELLS
The Sun Hotel stands high above the bustling streets of Coniston. As a consequence, it is also a good step up towards the fells. Enjoy a walk around the Coniston Fells from its door.

THE HIKE
1 Follow the Walna Scar Road up from the Sun Hotel and go through a gate at the top. Look for a path, avoiding a quarry, to reach the summit of the Old Man.

2 Follow the crest of the Coniston Fells over broad Brim Fell to Swirl How, then turn right to cross the rugged gap of Prison Band to climb to Wetherlam.

3 Descend roughly southwards along a broad, knobbly ridge, until a clear path leads to the right down into the Coppermines Valley.

4 Either walk down the road to Coniston and its three pubs, or cross the Miner’s Bridge and follow the path downstream to return to the Sun Hotel.

WALK INFO

GRADE: Moderate TERRAIN: Good fell paths, but some are steep and stony DISTANCE: 8.75miles/14km TIME: 5 hours CLIMB: 3330ft/1015m START/FINISH: Sun Hotel, Coniston (GR 300976) MAP: OS Outdoor Leisure (1:25,000) 6 or OS Landranger (1:50,000) sheets 90 & 96

BOOT & SCAFELL
There are two good pubs at Boot with another nearby, and all can be visited on a long and rugged route over Scafell. The ascent is long, but the descent via the Terrace Route is quick.

THE HIKE
1 Leave the village of Boot and its pubs, to follow a path roughly parallel to Whillan Beck, climbing from fields to boggy moorland to reach the lonely Burnmoor Tarn.

2 Climb the broad slopes of Hard Rigg, gradually swinging right with height to climb a steepening, pathless slope finally reaching the summit of Scafell.

3 Head roughly southwards to pick up and follow a path, dropping in stages past Slight Side, crossing hummocky ground to descend to Wha House.

4 Simply follow the road back to Boot. The Woolpack Inn is passed, while Boot itself has both the Brook House Inn and the once-notorious Burnmoor Inn.

WALK INFO

GRADE: Hard TERRAIN: Pathless and rugged terrain on the ascent, followed by good paths DISTANCE: 10miles/16km TIME: 6 hours CLIMB: 2950ft/900m START/FINISH: Boot, Upper Eskdale (GR 175008) MAP: OS Outdoor Leisure (1:25,000) 6 or OS Landranger (1:50,000) sheet 89

KIRKSTILE & MELLBREAK
The Kirkstile Inn is located in a quiet quarter of Lakeland, between the foot of Crummock Water and Loweswater. A short walk from the inn leads over the rugged and isolated fell of Mellbreak.

THE HIKE
1 Walk down the road from the Kirkstile Inn, cross the river, then follow the road as it becomes a track leading towards Mosedale.

2 The rugged northern prow of Mellbreak features a steep and narrow path, which leads on to its broad, twin summits. The furthest one is the highest.

3 Descend southwards, but swing left and aim to join another path that leads down to the shore of Crummock Water at the little point of Ling Crag.

4 Follow the shore of Crummock Water, but later veer away from the shore to reach Highpark and follow the farm access road back to the Kirkstile Inn and a welcome drink.

WALK INFO

GRADE: Moderate TERRAIN: Mostly easy paths, apart from the initial steep climb DISTANCE: 5.5miles/9km TIME: 3 hours CLIMB: 1560ft/475m START/FINISH: Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater (GR 141209) MAP: OS Outdoor Leisure (1:25,000) 4 or OS Landranger (1:50,000) sheet 89.

LANGSTRATH & GLARAMARA
The Langstrath Country House Hotel at Stonethwaite offers every comfort in one of the longest and bleakest dales in the Lake District. Walk the length of Langstrath, then climb along the knobbly crest of Glaramara.

THE HIKE
1 Leave Stonethwaite and follow a track up-dale. Cross a footbridge over Langstrath Beck, and continue upstream without sight of human habitation.

2 Cross a footbridge over Stake Beck, and continue to the head of Langstrath, not Stake Pass. Aim left at the head of the dale to reach Angle Tarn.

3 Turn right at Angle Tarn to follow a clear path up to a cross-shelter, then turn right again to climb on to Allen Crags. Stay high to reach Glaramara.

4 Descend northwards from Glaramara, winding downhill on Thorneythwaite Fell, eventually reaching the road. Turn right and right again for Stonethwaite.

WALK INFO

GRADE: Moderate TERRAIN: A long valley walk followed by a roller-coaster fellwalk DISTANCE: 12miles/19km TIME: 7 hours CLIMB: 2950ft/900m START/FINISH: Stonethwaite, Borrowdale (GR 263137) MAP: OS Outdoor Leisure (1:25,000) 4 & 6 or OS Landranger (1:50,000) sheets 89 or 90.

THE LANGDALES
The ultimate low-level Lakeland pub crawl: Britannia Inn, Elterwater; Wainwright’s Inn, Chapel Stile; The Stickle Barn, Langdale; New and Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotels; Three Shires Inn, Little Langdale. Walk this way!

THE HIKE
1 Follow the quarry road and path from Elterwater to Chapel Stile, then skirt the village and follow a path roughly parallel to Great Langdale Beck.

2 The New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and Stickle Barn are linked by a fellside path to the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, then you follow a path over to Blea Tarn.

3 Follow a path from Blea Tarn to Fell Foot, then use a track south of Little Langdale Tarn, until a bridge and road can be followed to the Three Shires.

4 A farm road and stony track can be followed from Little Langdale back over to Elterwater, where you finish back at the Britannia Inn.

WALK INFO

GRADE: Easy TERRAIN: Minor roads, farm tracks and fellside paths at a low level DISTANCE: 10miles/16km TIME: 6 hours CLIMB: 1080ft/330m START/FINISH: Elterwater (GR 328048) MAP: OS Outdoor Leisure (1:25,000) 6 & 7 or OS Landranger (1:50,000) sheet 90

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