A 19km run on largely waterlogged ground. Route: leaving the car at the Threlkeld Old Station car park (£5 for 4 hours and fairly empty on Easter Saturday) and heading west on the railway line to cross Threlkeld Bridge and then the first left, southwards on the first of many waterlogged paths across fields past Moss Dikes. Dog-legging right-left across a c-road along another muddy path and then left-right across the next road to descend to Bridge House and cross a modern metal footbridge to rise gently east to Wanthwaite Bridge and the start of the Old Coach Road.
Taking this initially at a run but walking three significant uphill stretches eventually reaching a byre where we had planned to cut across country. Rejecting this on grounds of wetness (foolishly, it turned out) and continuing along the road at reasonable and enjoyable pace with prairie-like views (and thus justifying the uphill trudge) to reach the start of a bridleway (GR356226). This proving to be more a route than a path, involving wading ankle deep in marsh with water-filled shoes at a walk (running being impossible on such soft ground - we did try!) to descend to Lobbs. Here spurring the intended path as simply a mud-bath and continuing on a slightly longer route down a track to a c-road and then left to Wallthwaite. Crossing another sodden field to a T-junction of c-roads and continuing with a muddy shortcut to Guardhouse. Crossing the bridge and continuing along the river bank to Mill Bridge and by a track to the start.
Conditions: cloudy initially but then a lovely sunny day. Impossibly muddy/boggy under foot.
Pub: the Horse and Farrier, Threlkeld, for St John’s in the Ale.
