13¼ miles (21km) with 3165ft (965m) Total Ascent.
Starting from Powter How we make the steep ascent of Barf then move on to Lord's Seat and Broom Fell. Next we move on to Scawgill Bridge via Widow Hause taking in Greystones and passing through Darling How Plantation. Forest tracks lead on to Whinlatter Top from where more track searching will get us through Whinlatter Forest Park to return to Braithwaite via Chapel Beck, Ladstock and Woodlands.
7½ miles (12km) with 2750ft (838m) Ascent.
We start this walk outside the village along the Whinlatter Pass road, turning off at the "seat" we start a short climb through the one and only gate (sorry Alan) up to the mine road which follows Coledale Beck in the valley bottom up to the Force Crag mine.
Here we cross the Beck via the NEW stepping stones and start the first proper climb of the day along the obvious winding stony path...taking in the views of Low and High Force on the way up to Coledale Hause. The views from here of the valley below which we have just walked are to be savoured. Crossing the Hause along a welcome plateau we make our way to start the climb up to Grisedale Pike, stopping off for a breather on the "subsidiary" summit if not before), we make our way to the summit. The views ALL around...Skiddaw, Solway Firth, Derwent Water and beyond (I could go on and on) are just breath-taking! After soaking all this up it's time to descend; the first section of this stone path is a bit loose but beyond this it's a steady trek down to our starting point.
10 miles (16.1km) with 700ft (214m) Ascent.
From Braithwaite we head north east across low-lying land to reach the banks of the River Derwent, which clearly show the evidence of the 2009 floods at this point. We soon cross the river to Dancing Gate Farm and walk east to the villages of, first, Millbeck and, then, Applethwaite.
Here we turn south through Great Crosthwaite and Portinscale and on to Skelgill via Hawse End. Changing direction again, we cross the Newlands Valley (more dramatic evidence of storm damage) westwards to Stair and Uzzicar. From there we head north to Little Braithwaite and Braithwaite.
7½ miles (12km) with 500ft (153m) Ascent.
Leaving the coaches in Braithwaite we make our way through the campsite to Braithwaite Lodge. We then follow the Newlands Beck until we reach Stair. From here we cross over to Skelgill where we shall have lunch at the foot of Catbells. Lunch over, we follow the Cumbria Way through Overside Wood to Portinscale where we shall have a break at the side of the lake. Afterwards we make our way via field paths back to Braithwaite where liquid refreshments in the local hostelries await. Once more I have booked the weather. Have a good day!