Dog-friendly walks in Bassenthwaite

Three miles and a steep 400 metres of climbing on forest roads and footpaths from the Old Sawmill car park opposite Mirehouse, up through Sitka and larch to the bare cone of Dodd at 502 metres. The summit is out of the trees and looks down the length of Bassenthwaite Lake to the Solway and across to Skiddaw's western flank. Forestry England grade the green-waymarked route hard, and the upper zigzags are loose in places. The Lake District Osprey Project viewpoints are signed off the lower forest roads, and the Old Sawmill tea room sits at the foot of the hill.

Five miles and 320 metres of climb, about two and a half hours: a grassy round of Sale Fell and Lothwaite above the Wythop valley, with the whole length of Bassenthwaite Lake laid out below and Skiddaw behind it. Start from the roadside parking by the old church at Wythop, off the lane between Embleton and Routenbeck - space for perhaps fifteen cars and no charge, but the lane is narrow and blocking gateways causes real trouble for the farms. The fell is all short cropped grass with no rock and no stiles, which makes it easy going for any dog, but it is common grazing with sheep on it every month of the year, there is no water on top at all, and the lower plantation is worked forestry.