An 11km solitary (L at a training day in Preston) expedition which began as a slow run but quickly became a walk in the unexpected heat and airlessness.Route: from the house running uphill to the Station Inn and then left on Paddy Lane to the second footpath on the right, heading almost parallel with the road through an inquisitive herd of cows. Across fields and through some gates to Hayfellside and beyond this to Windy Hill Farm to join a track to the right downhill and then across fields to the lane. Turning right on the c-road downhill to Beehive Bridge and then doglegging left-right onto a track and an immediate left on an uphill overgrown path near Strickley, descending to a shoe-filling watery marsh. From Blease Hall across across fields, now running rather slowly, to Bleasehall Wood and then abandoning all attempts at running to cross fields and a bridge to Stang. Here, for the first time, taking the second path to the right to Helm End and ascending the Helm at a walk. Descending, ignoring the northerly second summit, and returning through the station home.
Conditions: hot (20C), sunny and without a breeze.
Pub? too early even for the Station Inn.
