Crinkle Crags and Bowfell from Dungeon Ghyll

This is a dog friendly route, rated 7 out of 10, but it's very much one for strong, fit hill dogs. The terrain is long, steep and rough — pitched stone paths, boulder-strewn summits and a loose stony descent — so it's not one to take on lightly. The reward at the end is a well-earned pint in the famously dog friendly Hikers Bar at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel.

No — dogs must be kept on a short lead for the entire route. The valley is intensive Herdwick sheep country and the open fells are home to ground-nesting birds, so there's no off-lead freedom anywhere on this walk. It's worth factoring that in if your dog finds a full day on the lead hard going.

This is a serious mountain day, so only bring a dog that's genuinely fit and used to rough fell terrain. The Bad Step on Long Top is a grade 1 scramble and must be bypassed with a dog — the description notes it's easy enough to skirt. Parking is at the NT pay and display car park at the Old Dungeon Ghyll (free for NT members), but it fills fast on clear weekends, so an early start is wise.