The Cockermouth Ale Trail, The Lake District, Cumbria

Distance: 2.33 km

Difficulty: Easy

Dog Friendly: No

Ascent/Descent: Easy (+/- 50 metres)

Toilets: At the various pubs

Wildlife: Nothing of note

Endomondo route: Download here

Cockermouth Ale Trail

Pictures

 

Directions

The ale trail starts outside the Jennings Brewery. This is because you’ve booked yourself on the brewery tour and upon arriving in Cockermouth, the first thing you’re going to do is locate the brewery so you aren’t late!

1. From the brewery, leave and head east along Wyndham Row with the castle wall up to your left. At the end of the road, you will be able to see the castle (picture 1). Turn right onto Castlegate and head downhill, taking the first left onto Market Place. At Seth’s Bar (on the right), turn right onto Kirkgate and head uphill. After a short way, the first pub on this Ale Trail, The Bitter End, is on your left.

2. Exit The Bitter End and turn left, continuing up Kirkgate just a short way. Turn left onto a narrow and difficult-to-spot road called Cocker Lane. Follow this lane all the way to the river, where you will cross over the River Cocker on the Quaker’s Footbridge (picture 2).

The Quaker’s Footbridge was originally built around 1887 and the bridge was renewed in 1984. During the 2009 floods, the bridge was partially swept away by trees and debris in the surging waters. 

3. Over the bridge, continue straight ahead, passing a sports pitch on your right. After a short distance, turn right onto the B5292 (the next right turn after Challoner Street). Walk for approximately 100m, crossing over at some point over to the left hand side, where you will come to The Brown Cow pub.

4. Exit The Brown Cow and turn left onto the main road through Cockermouth (still signposted as the B5292). Immediately ahead, you should see the Mayo Statue (picture 3) sitting between the two lanes of the road.

The Mayo Statue is a fine marble statue of Richard Southwell Bourke, sixth earl of Mayo, M.P. for Cockermouth 1857-68. The statue was erected after Mayo was assassinated in 1872. Whilst visiting a convict settlement in the Andaman Islands as Viceroy and Governor-General of India, a prisoner stabbed the earl with a knife, seemingly motivated by the injustice of his incarceration. The 800-guinea cost of the statue (made by Messrs. Willis of London) had been raised by public subscription.

5. Pass by the Mayo Statue and on the left will be the next pub, The Fletcher Christian. Exit the pub and go left, continuing along the main B5292 road. Cross over to the other side of the road at the crossing point just before the mini-roundabout. When you reach the mini-roundabout, William Wordsworth’s house (picture 4) on the right.

William Wordsworth’s house is the birthplace and childhood home of romantic poet William and his sister Dorothy. It is a National Trust property and is presented as it would have been when they lived here with their parents, three brothers and servants in the 1770s. The cellar is also rumoured to be haunted by a host of characters, including 13-year-old William, the grumpy manservant, and Amy, the maid.

Continue on straight ahead and after just a short way you will come to The Trout on your right. This is the final pub before the brewery tour. Exit The Trout and continue along Crown Street. At the roundabout, turn right and cross over the bridge, admiring the view of the River Derwent (picture 5). Once over the bridge, take your next right and enter the Memorial Gardens through the metal gate.

The Memorial Gardens were created to commemorate the lives lost in WWII. The land was officially acquired in 1946 and was officially opened to the public on 11 August 1956. The grounds were severely damaged in the catastrophic floods of 2009, and the access bridge from Main Street (Miller’s Bridge) was swept away. In 2010 a number of trees were planted to mark the anniversary of VE Day, but also the reopening of Millers Bridge and of the grounds.

6. Follow the path through the Memorial Gardens as it joins alongside the River Derwent. Turn right and cross over the first footbridge you come too. Over the other side, continue straight ahead along Bridge Street, coming to the main road (B5292) you walked along earlier. Turn left, retracing your earlier route, but this time staying on the other side of the road from The Fletcher Christian. At the crossroads where The Brown Cow is located, turn left onto High Sand Lane. At the end of the road, do not turn left onto Waterloo Street. Instead, continue on ahead over the small bridge aptly named Brewery Bridge. You are now on Brewery Lane. Follow this road as it bears around to the right and you will find yourself back at Jennings’ Brewery. Enjoy the tour!

Pub 1: The Bitter End

The Bitter End is a traditional English Pub and restaurant that boasts its own micro-brewery that can be viewed through a glazed partition in the pub. Up to eight ales on pump, they certainly give Jennings a good run for their money! The pub has an appetising menu with all meals freshly prepared using fresh local produce whenever possible. All their meat is supplied by local butchers and is 100% traceable to Cumbrian Farms. You can view their website here.

Pub 2: The Brown Cow

The Brown Cow has a humble exterior, but don’t let this put you off. The inside is really cosy, with comfortable seating and an open fire to warm yourself by on a cold day. We were really impressed with the food here, choosing to stop for our lunch after browsing many Cockermouth menus. The staff were really friendly, the food portions were filling and reasonably priced and the ale selection was good! If you’re looking for lunch in Cockermouth, we recommend this place.

Pub 3: The Fletcher Christian

The Fletcher Christian is a modern and contemporary pub that sits in the centre of the main high street. Having built up a great reputation for live music, entertainment and sports and games, this appeals to a wide variety of customers and is a focal point for the local community.

Pub 4: The Trout

The Trout is a modern, idyllic, picture-postcard hotel, restaurant and bar located on the bank of The River Derwent. Given its location, it may seem surprising that The Trout does not offer a wide selection of local ales, serving only Cocker Hoop ale from Jennings. The Trout chooses to instead to focus on wines and premium beers, which matches the upmarket clientèle this pub targets. Nonetheless, the settings are beautiful, the staff friendly and the beer tasty, if not a little overpriced. The Trout is also on the Cask Marque Ale Trail, so it’s well-worth a call in. You can view their website here.

 

Pub 5: Jennings Brewery

We aren’t going to say too much about the Jennings Brewery tour, other than that for just £12, you get a 45 minute tour where you learn all about how Jennings ale is produced, as well as and three half-pints of ale in the brewery bar. You can book a brewery tour here. A must-see when visiting Cockermouth!

  

Tips

There are multiple other pubs along the route that you may wish to call in; we’ve picked our favourites.

Brewery tours fill up quickly, especially during peak times. So book early!

Chris & Shaz

The Uppingham, Lyddington & Seaton Ale Trail, Rutland County

Distance: 11.43 km

Difficulty: Easy-to-moderate

Dog Friendly: No (multiple fields with livestock)

Ascent/Descent: Easy-to-moderate (+/- 207 metres)

Toilets: At the pubs only

Wildlife: Nothing of note

Endomondo route: Download here

The Uppingham, Lyddington & Seaton Ale Trail, Rutland County

The Uppingham, Lyddington & Seaton Ale Trail, Rutland County

Pictures

 

Directions

Start at market square car park (Sat nav: Market Place, LE15 9QH) which is free on Sunday (some restrictions apply on other days).

1. Set off east from the Market Square along High Street East. Cross the roundabout and onto Glaston road. Bear off down the first lane on the right (also marked with a footpath sign). Continue onto the footpath and it will bear right, opening up to take you across a farmer’s field. This path will take you all the way to Bisbrook.

2. When you reach Bisbrook, continue straight on at the road and then left at the T-junction. Turn right down the lane marked to the church and called Church Lane. After passing the church on the right and a farm on the left, continue onto a footpath that is straight ahead (do not take the track off to the right). Follow the path along one field on a path that has been segregated off from the field with a fence, and then over 2 further fields. In the third field, keep left, crossing a small bridge over a small stream and then you should head uphill where the path meets the disused railway line. (You should be able to see a yellow way-marker long beforehand, aim for this.) Cross this railway, now nothing more than just a track, and go into the field, following the path around the perimeter of the field to the left in a clockwise fashion. Continue to follow the footpath, heading straight-on all the way, follow the directions given by the green and yellow arrowed way-markers, until you come to Seaton, climbing down a couple of makeshift stone steps onto High Street.

3. At the road, you can go left and visit the pub (George and Dragon) or continue on by heading right instead. Follow the road, turning left onto Grange Lane after several hundred metres. Walk along Grange Lane, passing a few houses and eventually passing a farm building with conferencing facilities. Climb the style directly ahead and continue along the path as it bears right and then bears left again. A this point, as you near the edge of the field, it is not immediately obvious where to go; pass through the hedge, turning right and then you will see another green and yellow arrowed way-marker. Follow its directions. Continue to follow the path around the edge of a field. Where you cross a stile and three paths meet, head straight on down a track which takes you into Lyddington. Where the track emerges in Lyddington, turn right and you will come to The Marquess of Exeter. Continue following the road out of the village. About 100m out of the village, roughly where the 30mph speed limit ends, take the path leading off to the left which heads up the field and is marked accordingly.

4. Continue following this path until you come to a road. Cross over the road and follow the path opposite uphill across a field, through a gate and over a stile at the other side (follow the arrowed way-markers again). You will come out onto a road. Head straight over and cross one field. You will now be on a school playing field. Cross the field and pick up the path again at the back of the tennis/sport court (hard to spot as it’s overgrown and hidden behind the tennis courts).

5. Follow the path down and back up the other side of the hill. Follow the path as it crosses an access lane then turns left, bringing you back out onto a track. After a short while, turn right here and follow the marked footpath. Climb up the last hill and out onto a road. Cross here and climb the steps. Go left into the church yard, following the path around the church building. You are now back at the Market Square and at The Vaults and Don Paddy’s, so why not enjoy a pint and a Sunday dinner!

Pub 1: The George and Dragon

Set above the Welland Valley, with commanding views over the Harringworth Viaduct sits The George & Dragon Country Inn. The pub offers cocktails, cream teas, Italian coffees, light meals and classic pub menu, plus a good selection of ales, lagers and champagne. Well worth a pit stop while on this ale trail. Website here with opening times.

Pub 2: The Marquess of Exeter

Following refurbishment, The Marquess of Exeter now offers delicious, locally-sourced fare in a comfortable, relaxed environment amidst tasteful décor and sympathetically restored original features. With a private dining area, or the less formal restaurant, you can indulge in gastronomic delights aplenty.  Their exceptional selection of wines, real ales, spirits and soft drinks offers the perfect excuse to visit for a casual drink. I went for the Marquess of Exeter’s own-named ale; it was a nice, mild and subtly-flavoured ale. Worth a try! Website here.

Pub 3: Don Paddy’s

Don Paddy’s is more of a upmarket café / bistro, choosing to focus on good quality menus, but with a bar option too. Unusually, for this type of place, Don Paddy’s has the Cask Marque status and can be found on the Cask Marque ale trail. It gets quite busy, but it’s easy to see why. Great food, great ale, and some fantastic outdoor seating out on the market square. Well worth calling in for a drink or two. Website here.

Pub 4: The Vaults

The Vaults is a pub sat on the Uppingham Market Square with outdoor seating to enjoy the sunny weather on with a beer. We stopped here for a Sunday lunch after completing this ale trail. Although it’s not the cheapest available in Uppingham at £10.25, the roast pork was very tasty and came with a generous amount of crackling. Gravy was so nice I just had to mop it up with my finger! They also do their own ale, locally brewed in Rutland, which I tried and enjoyed. Website here.

  

 

Tips

We don’t have any tips for you on this route. Please do let us know if you intend to follow this ale trail.

Chris & Shaz

The Birthday Walk, National Forest, Derbyshire

Distance: 19.68 km

Difficulty: Hard

Dog friendly: Yes

Ascent/descent: Moderate (+/- 346 metres)

Toilets: Multiple toilets in the towns

Endomondo route: Click here

 

Photos:

 

Directions:

This walk is perfect for all levels of walker because the sheer number of footpaths and bridleways criss-crossing the National Forest mean you can happily cut sections out or extend the walk at your own choosing. You’re never too far from a road, or a pub, either if you need to quickly head back to the start for whatever reason. The Birthday Walk is also very well sign-posted with signs like the ones shown in Picture 2.

1. Start by parking your car somewhere near to the The Crown (176 High Street, LE67 6JP, currently closed for refurbishment) down one of the many residential streets. Set off walking down High Street, going downhill, towards the cemetery. Turn left immediately before the cemetery, walk for approximately 100 metres, then turn right onto Overton Road. Continue on for 400 metres, then turn left onto a byway and on to Grange Wood.

2. At the end of the byway, go through a metal gate and on through the farmyard of Ibstock Grange to join a footpath that leads to Workman’s Wood (Picture 1).

3. Bear diagonally left along the grassy path through the trees to the edge of Common Hill Wood.

4. Take the footpath right and then diagonally left across the site to Pretoria Road. Continue along a footpath to the North into Ellistown. Cross over Ibstock Road and take the footpath that should be visible between the houses to come to Sherwood Close. Turn right and then left to get to the end of the cul-de-sac. Follow the footpath between the houses, looking for a footpath sign with a green pole because the sign post may be obscured by overgrown hedges. Continue to follow this footpath for around half a mile until you get to Donnington Le Heath. Turn right onto Richmond Road, then turn left onto Manor Road, in front of the Corner Pin pub (opens from midday on a weekend). Take Townsend Land to the left and follow the track into Kelham Bridge Nature Reserve. If faced with a choice of tracks, take the one with the information signboard, similiar to the one shown in Picture 4.

5. Follow the path through the nature reserve, taking time to stop at the various birdwatching shelters if you wish. When you reach the A447, cross the road and join the footpath opposite. Go down the steps and follow the marked footpath straight ahead. When this joins a byway, turn left and follow the path towards Sence Valley. When you emerge at a road, follow it uphill until you reach the upper Sence Valley car park with the Noon Column. Consult the car park’s map board here if unclear, but head towards the path that leads along the left-hand side of Horseshoe lake. When you come to a T-junction in front of Goss Water, turn left and follow the path around the lake to the corner of the path.

Cross the concrete bridge, follow the track and enter the spinney and that runs alongside Pisca Lane. Turn right and walk along the road into Heather (locals pronounce it “Heether”). At the mini-roundabout, go left if you want to go The Crown Inn or The Queen’s Head pubs detailed below. If not, then you should go straight on at the roundabout and leave Heather by walking along the road on Normanton Lane. After about 150 metres, take the path on the left and head into Ludlam Wood.

6. Follow the path and turn left when you reach another track. Continue along until you reach Swepstone Road. Turn right, walking along the road a short way before crossing over to pass through a sunken lane between holly bushes. Follow this track for approximately half a mile. At this point, look for a left turn that crosses over the field, leading into the corner edge of Church View Wood. There are several paths to choose here, but it does not matter too much which you choose as they all just enter Church View Woods at different points. Consult your GPS app or the maps if unsure.

7. Once in the wood, turn right and follow the perimeter path through the woods. Where the path forks beneath some overhead cables, turn left. When you arrive at a junction of five paths, take the ahead and left path crossing over a wooden footbridge and following the path across the field towards a small red-brick building. Again, do not worry if you go wrong here, there are multiple paths criss-crossing the area so you can easily find your way back onto the route. Follow the footpath along the hedge, then turn right onto the footpath before Heather Hall. Continue along the footpath until you come to a wooden footbridge. Cross it and follow the path around a field until you emerge onto a road in Heather, near to the village hall. Turn right and walk along the road until you come to a junction. To the left, you will find the two pubs once again. To continue the walk, however, you need to go right. After a short way, the road will fork, and at this fork, there will be a footpath leading off to the left. Take this path until you reach a small lake. Turn right at the lake and walk along it with a hedge to your left. At the end of the lake, emerge onto a road/track and follow it left.

8. At the end of the track, you’ll find a T-junction. Continue straight ahead, leaving the road and entering a footpath ahead. You should now be flanked either side by metal fences keeping you out of a disused Hansen brickworks. Follow the footpath along until you emerge, then continue to follow the marked path uphill towards a farm. At the farm, turn left, taking care to avoid the horribly-placed electric fence, then turn right immediately to cross a stile and the electric fence once again. Turn left and follow the paved road back into Ibstock.

9. At the end of the road, turn right and you will be back on the road that leads down towards the Crown pub where we began this walk.

 

Pub 1: The Crown Inn

We stopped by the Crown Inn because it was on the Cask Marque ale trail. What a fantastic pub! Full of character with lots of motorcycle and rock music memorabilia on the wall. We were a bit skeptical as we walked in because we’re no bikers, but the man who served us, presumably the landlord, was incredibly friendly and welcoming. Although we were only able to stay for a half pint, the ale was exceptionally well-kept and we will definitely return if we’re back in the area! Highly recommended.

The pub’s Facebook page can be found here.

 

Pub 2: The Queen’s Head

This second pub is located approximately 100 metres from The Crown Inn. We stopped here for lunch, choosing to have the fish & chips, a smokehouse melt baguette and a pint and a half between the two of us. The food was delicious and tasty, with the bill coming to a little over £12.

The Queen’s Head doesn’t have the character, the friendliness or the authenticity of The Crown Inn. Nor does it have the choice of ales or lagers of The Crown Inn. However, the food was hearty and filling and at good value for money we couldn’t complain. Their Facebook page can be found here.

Tips:

We strongly advise using a walking GPS app such as Endomondo to follow this route, as the landscape is constantly changing, rendering the instructions out of date. On three separate occasions we strayed off the described path because the instructions were no longer clear. However, we have adjusted the instructions as best as we can for you.

Even though there hadn’t been much rain lately, some of the paths were very waterlogged. We recommend a sturdy pair of walking boots and some dry socks waiting for you back at the car.

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Derwent Water Circular, The Lake District, Cumbria

Distance: 20.85 km

Difficulty: Moderate to Hard

Dog friendly: Yes

Ascent/descent: Moderate (+/- 177 metres)

Toilets: In Keswick and near the Lodore Hotel

Endomondo route: Click here

Photos:

Directions:

This walk starts at the Kettlewell National Trust car park (N 54.56537, W 3.13476), but you can start anywhere really and follow the circular route.

1. Cross over the road at the exit/entrance to the car park and turn right onto a rocky footpath through woodland. This is Lodore Wood and is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Follow the path through two gates to almost return to the road. Take the signposted permissive path to head behind the Lodore Hotel and you will come across the Lodore Falls just a little way off the path to the left. You will be able to hear the falls before you see them! Return to the path and emerge at a road and cross over, then turn left. Walk along the roadside pavement, passing the toilets on your right, then turn right onto a footpath leading to a bridge.

2. Continue over the bridge towards a rocky knoll. Go over the knoll and follow the boardwalk to a wicket gate.

3. Follow the path that curves around the head of the lake through Manesty Park. Dogs may disturb nesting birds here, so place them on a lead. Procedd through a large gate and ahead on a path through woodland. Eventually, the path arrives at a lane. Turn right and continue along a track, then bear left to a kissing gate and ahead on a path you will come across some old mine workings. Follow the path, bearing left up the hill to a gate on your right into woodland. Go through the woodland to reach High Brandelhow landing stage.

4.Continue on the shoreline path through the woodlands, eventually reaching Low Brandelhow landing stage. Continue through the wicket gate and take a path that bears left away from the lake. After passing through another wicket gate, the path becomes a wider track, bears right and continues through two metal wicket gates. Turn right and continue to arrive at Hawse End Outdoor Centre.

5. Turn right. To continue walking to Keswick, take the second footpath on the right (after 70 metres) through a kissing gate. Descend through woodland and cross a field to reach a second stretch of woodland. Emerge from the woodland through a wicket gate. Cross a metalled road and go ahead on a footpath. This path eventually emerges beside a house. Cross over and descend towards Nichol End Marina. (See tips and map)

6. Turn left and walk along the driveway to reach the road to Portinscale. Turn right and walk along the pavement through the village of Portinscale.

7. Turn right at the first major junction. It is signposted, but you don’t see the sign until you are close. Continue along the road, going past the Derwentwater Hotel to cross the small suspension bridge over the River Derwent. Continue along the road for 100 metres and turn right. Continue across two fields to reach a lane beside a river. Turn left and then right to cross a bridge. Continue along the main road to reach a mini roundabout. Cross straight over and continue ahead into the Market Square and to Moot Hall. Head for the tourist information centre.

8. When you reach the information centre, with the centre behind you, turn right out of the market square onto Lake Road. Continue for around 150 metres. Take the paved street (still Lake Road) down to the right. At the bottom, take the left-hand turn under the subway. After the subway, turn left and continue along with Hope Park on your right. Bear right at the rotary club wishing well to go past the theatre on your left. On your right you pass Crow Park. As you arrive at the edge of the lake, continue ahead with the boat landings down on your right. The road becomes  a gravel track as you enter the National Trust site Friar’s Crag. Passing a memorial on your left, continue straight ahead to reach the viewpoint of Friar’s Crag.

9. Retrace your steps for around 20 metres and take a narrow footpath on your right leading through the trees which goes to the John Ruskin memorial. Leaving the memorial, take the footpath to your right, which very soon descends steps to reach another path. Turn right onto this path and continue along through the wicket gate and ahead with the lake on your right. Further along the shoreline, you will reach a wicket gate leading into woodland. Continue ahead on the path going round the edge of the woodland and over a footbridge. Exit the wood by another wicket gate and then turn right along a wide track. Continue past a cattle grid to some cottages and go through a wicket gate beside another cattle grid. The path bends right and, after 45 metres, bears off left to around a field.

10. Go through the gate and continue on the path to reach Calfclose Bay. The path continues beside the lake passing through a small woodland between the road and the lake. At the National Trust collection cairn, bear right. Eventually, you reach a wooden footbridge over a ghyll. Here, continue beside the lake when the lake level is low. There is a path between the lake and road amongst the crags, but requires a bit of climbing work and can be dangerous. If the lake is too high, climb the wall and walk along the roadside pavement. Continue to follow the lake, either by the pavement or the lakeside, and you will come to Kettlewell car park.

 

The Pub:

There are multiple pubs available in Keswick, with them all offering a local ale in one form or another. We like the Cask Marque pubs, because it means the ale has been tasted and tested for quality, plus you can take part in the Cask Marque Ale Trail (find out more here). So we recommend a pub called The Dog and Gun.

It has the real character of Cumbria and offers the premium ale Old Peculier, which has a rich, full bodied fruity flavour. It went down perfectly after lunch and fueled me for the home leg of the walk. Pub info here.

 

Tips:

If you’re not staying at the Lodore Falls Hotel, then there is the Kettlewell National Trust car park 2 minutes to the North (N 54.56537, W 3.13476). However, they will charge you £6.50 for the privilege. There are no toilets, but if you walk south, just past the hotel, there are toilets on the roadside. Cheaper parking options are available in Keswick, namely at the Leisure Centre.

The Lodore Falls are well worth seeing. They are located behind the Lodore Falls Hotel. Pictures 1 and 2 above will give you an idea of what to expect.

Sometimes, particularly during times of peak rainfall, the duckboards (see picture 3) can flood and become un-usable. A diversionary route is available.

The Nichol End Marina café, marked on the map above, is an excellent place to stop for lunch or for a hot drink. The menu, which you can view here, does everything from pizzas to scones to sandwiches. We had a hot chocolate and it was simply divine! Made with real whipped cream! They claimed to be open 364 days a year.

 

By Chris & Sharon