The day started frosty with icy roads and footpaths combining with frozen fields to make for tentative going early on. Sadly there were no visitors this month as the group left the little hamlet of Bewaldeth beside the A591.The snows had retreated to the high fells but a lack of sunshine and a brisk westerly ensured that the seven stalwarts, ably lead again by Derek, lingered only briefly on Binsey’s mighty summit.

The temperature grew more comfortable as we descended in a large curve north then east over Binsey’s lower slopes. Minor roads and field paths lead on through High Ireby and Ruthwaite, the birthplace of John Peel, eventually reaching Uldale where an early lunch was enjoyed.

A rather muddy traverse through to Longlands was followed by another back road to Orthwaite where hospitality chez Malcolm and Anne Busby was most welcome. After a surfeit of sparkling wine and cakes we hit the trail again; now following the Cumbria Way to eventually drop into Bassenthwaite village. From there it was a fairly simple task to return to the starting point well before dusk via the ‘Robin Hood’ road and the rather dilapidated farmstead of Greenclose.