A 12km run on a hot and initially still day with fine views.
Route: leaving the car at the highest of the three NT car parks for Aira Force (High Cascades), a quarry 500m south of Dockray, and descending a gravel path across fields to join the main path down towards the waterfalls. Just after the viewing bridge, bending left to take a path to the edge of woodland and then rise - in the heat of the day - to a fine balcony route round Gowbarrow with views over Ullswater. Spurning a left turn to summit the fell and staying below Great and Little Meldrum, now cooler in the shade of a wood before descending now at a walk (because of the heat) to turn left and, after a brief rest on a bench, walk steeply uphill on a c-road.
From The Hause, descending at a run, then turning left on another road, climbing gently, then level, then down and up, to Ulcat Row. Turning left at the end of the hamlet onto a level grassy path round the north of the hill before a brief climb to join the path down towards Aira Force and soon turning off it to return to the start.
Conditions: hotter than forecast and with no breeze until reaching the c-road. Thereafter, a cooling breeze making things much more pleasant.
Pub: the Brackenrigg Inn, Watermillock, for Carlisle State Brewery Spun Gold.
