Alan Dawson: There is nothing wrong with the route described by Andrew Dempster in The Grahams or the track along Glen Almond from Newton Bridge, but it is worth finding a route to take in the craggy Graham Top of Creag Grianain (NN842351), which is prominently seen from Glen Quaich. A good way up is leave the track along Glen Lochan to go round the east end of Lochan a'Mhuilinn, then follow a sheep track that takes an easy-angled line toward the col at NN845349. Although this is marked by a crag symbol on LR52, the gully is broad and grassy with lots of little ledges, and there are no difficulties. The 21 gullies of Meall nam Fuaran across the glen look very fine when streaked with snow, and the rocky ledges at the top of Creag Grianain offer shelter to sit and watch the mountain hares playing.
Peter Collins: There is room for one car at NM932464. Go up the zigzags to the forest entrance, cross the fence and follow outside it steeply uphill to 100 metres short of the first corner at NM930459. Cross the fence and follow a wide grassy ride, free of all growth, which leads gently up then veers right into another, more congested, ride. At the top of this, turn left into narrow ride leading along ridge of hill, past the summit and on to the trig point.
Peter Collins: From the west, follow the upper track until you see daylight about 100 metres ahead. The trees have been felled either side of this, so there is little to impede progress to the trig pillar, which is at NJ 13670 53730.
Jim Fothergill: If biking up the forest track from the two-metre-high gate at NH233110, for an ascent through what appears to be a deer holiday camp, beware that the gate may be locked upon return.
Alan Dawson: From the west, the going is much easier and more interesting over the minor tops from Clach Criche than on the direct route to the Corbett summit.
Jon Metcalf: Forestry is trivial to avoid on the climb from the Cnoc Moy col, and is a non-event on the way back due to a prominent diagonal firebreak all the way down to a long-abandoned farmhouse. (AD: never mind the trees, just try wading through that grass on a midgy August afternoon).
Peter Collins: The extended grid reference for the start of the path from the drainage pipe in the ditch by the forest road is NN 97675 15269. A buggy has been driven up the path, smashing down all the vegetation and making for a pleasant walk up. The open top is something else and provides very heavy spongy walking. The second 300m contour ring shown on the Explorer map measured only one foot of difference from the trig point; another possible twin peak. Doesn't deserve the 'wee shite' label.
Jim Fothergill: From the Corse of Slakes Road at NX527585, head for the wall by the gap in the forest at around NX525592, from where a faint path follows the wall to the summit. The direct line is quite slow going across rough moorland.
Jim Fothergill: Park at the A711 layby at NX918718 and follow the forest track to just past the house at NX920715 where an obvious track heads into a gloomy gap in the forest. Follow this good path up past several mountain biking toys (seesaw, aerial trackway, ramps) to a wall at NX925717. Go left a short way to pick up a path on the opposite side of the wall to an unmarked bike track. Go left again to pick up another path on the right which goes to the unmarked summit. There is biking access from the (pay) car park at NX949711.
Jim Fothergill: There is a good path to the summit (not shown on LR123) from the quarry road at about SH360453.
Bert Barnett: Park on the grass verge under the tree at the farmyard entrance at Black How. Ignore the first sign to the left off the track, as a higher one uses a short track to join the path. Good path to top, well used by Coast-to-Coast walkers.
Ann Bowker: Access dates for the rest of 2005 are 28-29 May, 2-3 and 9-10 July, 6-7 and 27-28 Aug, 1-2 Oct, 5-6 Nov and 24-31 Dec. Access from the east and south is probably safe at any time, but I wouldn't risk going in from the west when firing is on, especially not via Little Fell.
Trevor Littlewood: The permit requirement is still in force as far as I know, and is a requirement of the Strathmore estate rather than the MOD or English Nature. We've been on Mickle Fell maybe a dozen times, never had a permit and never been challenged, but then again we've never been close enough to anyone who might object. The easiest routes of ascent which avoid the Warcop area start from Teesdale, though the obvious notices make it clear that you are entering the danger area. However, Mickle Fell itself is not fired at - it's simply a massive overshoot area. We have never seen any sign of any military stuff lying around on the hill.
The shortest route starts from the Cow Green Reservoir car park and follows the Pennine Way until past the Birkdale Farm enclosures. Descend to Maize Beck and make a crossing (this can be difficult), then climb by the fence/boundary stone line (nice stones - numbered), which takes you almost to the summit cairn. A longer route (with no Maize Beck crossing) starts from Hanging Shaw car park in Teesdale and follows paths and rights of way via Cronkley Farm toward Hagworm Hill, from where you can make your way generally west to the trig, which of course is still over 2km from the summit.
Ursula Stubbings: Descent is severely not recommended in or alongside the gully at about NS549020.
Graham Bunn: It was with much trepidation we approached Hail Storm Hill last October. We'd read Trevor Littlewood's Hall of Shame piece, along with Ann Bowker's description on her website, and realised it wasn't going to be a walk in the park. It looked as though it would be a very wet, very boggy trudge. The plan was to use the Rossendale Way to keep dry feet for as long as possible. The best starting point is Turn on the A680 (SD813179), but we couldn't see a parking spot. We ended up starting by a mobile tea van near Ashworth Moor Reservoir, and took a footpath above Cheesden. The path was very wet. We then followed the Rossendale Way / Coal Road, which is a good track, to Great Lodge, where the track changes direction from NE to NW. Just after this a stream heads up to near the summit on the right. We followed this and found it surprisingly easy going and reasonably dry. This stream takes you to the summit plateau slightly SE of the top.
The summit plateau appears to be more water than hill. After wandering/wading around for a while we decided the top was close to a small pile of stones. If you want to just tick the top, return the way you came and you'll remain relatively dry. We decided to visit the 476m spot height to the SE. Due to the nature of the terrain (puddles galore) you cannot walk in a straight line at all, and you'll find it almost impossible to work out where the 476m point is. We then descended toward Higher Hill and followed a wall with exceptionally glutinous terrain, due to motorbikes. The bike track then headed toward Knowl Moor whilst we followed the wall around the edge of the moor to join the Cheesden Edge path back to the car. Although we could have remained drier by starting from Turn, we did have the luxury of a return to the mobile tea van, with coffee and Eccles cakes.
Bert Barnett: Good parking at SD573444 beside telephone box. Follow the road up and through Higher Fair Snape farm, where the path is signed. I was misdirected by 'Footpath' signs at the road junctions, and spent time following what I thought was the route up the hill. The signs are guidance for low-level paths only, and can be ignored. The track and path route to the top is fine.
Stephen Dawson: There is parking for several cars at TQ448110. When the public footpath crosses a stile at about TQ441105, I stayed north of the fence to go straight up the hill. Several stiles cross the fence between the field and the golf course; that at about TQ 43498 10560 is nearest the trig, requiring a crossing of the fifth fairway and skirting around the back of the sixth green. Not many golfers were about at the end of a gloomy afternoon, and I wasn't challenged.