Stratford-upon-Avon to Welford-on-Avon and back

A 17km walk for a pub lunch and back with Steve, Kathryn, Tom and Alex.

Route: leaving Darlow Drive and walking east on Alcester Road and then south via the Willows and Cherry Orchard to join the Greenway and walking along it for 2km to turn off right at a path crossroads and continue to Weston-on-Avon. Heading right towards the river and then along paths to Welford and the Bell Inn for lunch. Then heading north along the road across the river and then gingerly along the verge of the B439 to turn right on a path short-cut to join the quiet road to Luddington. Taking the second footpath on the right to walk along the river at the edge of long gardens and across the racecourse. T, here, heading ‘home’ along the extended Greenway while the others went into the town centre for a car rally and to find some gelato (but fail to find the canoli stall or the whisky shop).

Conditions: a still, sunny, warm day.

Pub: the Bell Inn, Welford-on-Avon, for Purity Ubu and Gold, a Thatcher’s shandy and lunch.

6km run from Selside

A 6km run while Lois preached at Selside Church.

Route: from the car park opposite the church, running north-west along the road to cross the A6 and take a footpath diagonally across fields to turn right on a c-road to Plough Farm. Taking a wide grassy shelf uphill across fields and then down, crossing a minor road and briefly along the A6 to take a path south-east. Detouring from the path north to look at a waterfall and then back, through endless gates and stiles to Kitcrag and then south-west to Candy Slack and back to the church.

Conditions: a cold strong wind but bright sun.

Pub: Masons at yard 46 for Lancaster Brewery Mystic and Blonde.

Dove Crag and Hart Crag via Stand Crags

A 15km walk with Richard Gipps (without Lois).

Route: leaving the car in a lay-by on the east side of the A592 100m north of the Brotherswater Inn and walking south on the path under the road to the pub and then through the campsite and across the valley turning left on a path rising into Dovedale. After a while, crossing the stream and beginning to climb. After the corner of a wall, continuing further on and turning steeply uphill short of a footbridge to gain the ridge line, pathless. Continuing along the broken ridge overlooking the valley to the left and then at the end walking uphill with a chasm to the left. Turning left to cross a stream and then, pathless again, gaining the top of the continuation of the earlier ridge to reach the clear path up from Scandale Pass. Up this to Dove Crag, then Hart Crag then descending Hartsop above How taking a rough and, sadly, very loose path to the right steeply down to the Brotherswater car park and then along a path to the west of the tarn to meet the outward path.

Conditions: cool initially and cold on the tips. One brief rain squall but dry and sunny descending.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for Mystic Jester, Mosaic and WPA, joined by Lois.

Nateby to Pendragon Castle 11km run

An 11km run either side of the River Eden.

Route: leaving the car parked on the road by the pub in Nateby and taking the path through the beer garden south-west towards the river and south along it to a bridge. Crossing this and heading 100m uphill to turn left just beyond a farm track to run round Wharton Hall dropping back to the track forming part of ‘a Pennine Journey’ and following this and then across fields to the remains of Lammerside Castle. Picking up a clear track round moorland parallel to, but above, the river to cross a C-road and continue to High and Low Cocklake, briefly mistaking a rather disappointing ruin here to be Pendragon Castle, heading north again on ‘a Pennine Journey’ back to the road and only then seeing the castle 100m further south on the east of the river. Crossing fields north-east, and then the road and walking uphill to follow an invisible path along a contour to Carr House and then a clear path just inside Right to Roam land (and now the Yorkshire Dales National Park) eventually descending by a stream to the road. Here diverting off half right to stick to paths and then turn left on a road into Nateby.

Conditions: surprisingly warm with hints of sun.

Pub: the Taggy Man, Kirkby Stephen, for Rudgate Toom to Tango and Battle Axe.

8km lower Kentmere run

An 8km run, feeling harder than other recent runs.

Route: leaving the car on the road just before the entrance to the Hollingworth & Vose factory and running into the factory area but turning left on the track towards the pottery and then along the path to Croft Head, towards Ullthwaite Bridge, and to Browfoot. Following the quiet road south, crossing the river at Scroggs Bridge and climbing, at a walk, to Middle Elfhowe and on the notherly path to Hall Lane. Turning left and gaining height to the track at Park House and on to turn left across a field to the highest point of the route, then descending through the HP Plantation on a sometimes tricky stony path and back to the car.

Conditions: after a sunny morning, cloudy and quite cool.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for WPA, Krpan and a cheese board with hummus and scotch egg.

Lyth valley run

A 6km moreorless flat (but lumpety bumpety) run.

Route: leaving the car on the roadside opposite the pub car park at Bowland Bridge and running south-west along the road over the bridge and then right on a footpath across fields, though confused by fallen trees. At Hollins, joining a walled green track to Great Hartbarrow and doglegging right left across the road. Then along a path across fields to Wood Farm and right on a track to cross the river. Crossing the road and taking a path east, rising a little, on muddy terrain and then through a scene of devastation caused by tree falls in storms earlier in the year. Turning a sharp right in the wood to head back to the road and then turning right and left to run on the road back to the start.

Conditions: cloudy and with a hint, though seldom realised, of rain - and a gentle hail shower halfway round

Pub: the Hare and Hounds, Bowland Bridge (for the first time after a refurbishment), for Adnams Ghost Ship

Rannerdale Knotts

A 7km stroll thoroughly exploring this small fell.

Route: Leaving the car at the National Trust car park and taking the path immediately opposite over a stile and, instead of following the onward path, heading then 10m to the right to join a slight ridge heading uphill. Taking the right-hand of two clear paths continuing up steep smooth grass to the pass. Here, turning left to follow the top of the ridge to the final summit of Rannerdale Knotts and then down and along to the most northerly high promontory. Doubling back to turn left, east, steeply down a clear narrow path trending left to reach a wall over the lower nose of the fell (Dale How). On the map this is marked in green as a descent either way but in fact the route to the west proved more theoretical than actual: a steep pathless descent over dead bracken, then heading south west. Briefly joining the road and then taking the steps up to a low saddle and then slowly descending the path to cross the road and follow the shoreline of Crummock as far as possible (beyond Nether How) then bending left to take obvious paths back to Buttermere with a slight detour via St James’ Church.

Conditions: a cold wind but warmer in patches of sun.

Pub: the Bridge Inn, Buttermere, for Tractor Shed Mowdy Pale Ale and lunch.

Running circuit of Loweswater

A 7km run round Loweswater.

Route: leaving the car at the substantial lay-by to the west end of Loweswater (by a former phone box) and ascending the tarmac track to Miresyke and then on a rough stony track to the green lane, all at a walk. Descending the green lane, running, to the road and then climbing gently to the track down to Maggie’s Bridge and along to the south-west side of Loweswater. Running along wide, clear, level paths with views of the lake, eventually climbing to Hudson Place and descending towards Waterend but turning right on a path to reach the car. 

Conditions: after earlier sun at Lorton, mainly cloudy.

Pub: the Swan Inn, Cockermouth, for Fyne Ales Jarl.

Brackenthwaite Hows saunter

A 5km saunter having driven up from Kendal and on the way for a pint at the Kirkstile.

Route: leaving the car at the Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park and taking a steep shortcut to reach the start of the the small path up Robin’s Steps to the summit plateau of Brackenthwaite Hows. Descending south and picking up the path within the wood by its eastern wall but, near its end, turning right onto a larger track descending north. Once beyond the foot of the lake dropping left on a minor path to pick up another bigger track to the shore. Following this round to the pumping station and here turning away from the shore to follow Park Beck (looking for otters!) and then a minor road to the Kirkstile for a pint. Afterwards, walking back to the car along the road.

Conditions: A fine sunny evening.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, for Cumbrian Ales, Life of a Mountain (a new 3.8% bitter).