High Swinside (by road) and Low Swinside loop

A very slow 7km shuffle in hot sunshine to redeem a bleak day (L only)

Route: Leaving the cottage and running down to Boon Beck and up the road, past Scales, first for a break on the bench on the left at the brow and then on to the top above Blaze Beck where the High Swinside road comes in. Turning sharply back round the copse to run up along and down the gated road under Swinside, above High Swinside Farm, down past the Hope to Hopegill Farm and turning right at that junction.

Running down this road until a bend with a farm gate on the right and a series of footpaths leading directly northwest across fields to Low Swinside. At the wide muddy area before the farm buildings going through the gate to the left to cut across two more fields and reach the gate onto the lane after the buildings.

There turning left and running down to High Mill barn and High Mill and shortly afterwards stopping to sit on the bench on the right in blazing sun and recover a bit. Carrying on down the lane to High Lorton, turning right past Yew Tree Hall and back round to Midtown.

Conditions: Almost completely dry and hot sun even at 7pm after an exceptionally sunny spring day

Pub? A couple of shots of red wine at supper with T, celebrating 3 weeks since breaking his fibula

Great Clifton and back by bike

Inaugural 19-mile cycle commute from Lorton to Great Clifton (L) on a sunny Monday. 

Route: from Midtown out north to 4-lanes end (Hundith Hill) and there left and down to Southwaite bridge and on up to Paddle School. Across the A5086 and up Hotchberry Brow and straight on through Eaglesfield, turning right at the end of the village towards Brigham and taking the first left forking to Greysouthen.  

Reaching Greysouthen and turning right on Main Street to cycle through the village and turn left at the end, down past the village hall and out of the village, bending right at the junction, northwest and up to the Brigham-Bridgefoot road. There turning left to dip down and up through Bridgefoot and, on Chapel Brow, take the cycle path to the A66 roundabout and follow round to exit towards Great Clifton.

In Great Clifton, having meetings at the Old Ginn House, Low Middlegate Farm and Witsend before cycling back.

On the way back, taking a left turn just before Hotchberry Brow to detour past John Dalton House and then bend back to HB. Also turning right off the Paddle-Southwaite Road to return through Rogerscale, down to Lorton Bridge and home via Lorton School, Village School and Yew Tree Hall.

Conditions: bright warm sunshine all day, but with a chill in the wind on the bike

Pub: An hour or two later, the Wheatsheaf, Lorton, with T, for Black Sheep Bitter

Sale Fell with Paul and Katya

The standard 5km ascent by L with Paul and Katya (T injured) from the church

Route: leaving the car at St Margaret’s Church and walking through the churchyard to the gate to the left (broken so having to squeeze round the outside of the gate post).

Then crossing laterally to a footpath and heading uphill to the right and then round the hill gaining grounding slowly towards the west. At the end of the ridge (level with a wall) turning left uphill on clear paths to the top. Thence down to a subsidiary summit and round to Lothwaite.

Afterwards, descending on a large clear grassy path between bracken to the church. (Popping into the church but finding its Easter flowers not yet in place.)

Conditions: Light rain and high winds coming and going - a bit slippery underfoot, clear on top but no views of Skiddaw or Scotland.

Pub: Picking up T for Jennings Castle Bitter, Cruzcampo (and copious nuts) at the Embleton Spa Hotel

Aborted loop from Lanthwaite Wood due to injury

What was planned to be a 7km run over Brackenthwaite Hows to under Whiteside End and back along the shore became a 2-3km run for T and a 5km run for L when T slipped and broke his ankle.

Route: leaving the car at the Lanthwaite Wood car park (2/3 full at 11am on the Thursday before the Easter weekend) and running along the longer flatter zigzag to reach the foot of the path up Robin’s Steps. Walking this path all the way to the top of the summit (Scale Hill). Then back-tracking a little to run down the ridge and then left down hill to pick up the path to Beck How. 

Crossing the road and a foot bridge and walking uphill to turn right on the lateral footpath under Whiteside End. Part-way along, T taking a tumble and thus continuing at a slow unsteady walk to cross the footbridge under Whin Ben and reach the cattle grid at Lanthwaite Gate. L then continuing to the saddle to the south of Brackenthwaite Hows and then along the track to the car park.

Conditions: An unexpectedly glorious warm sunny morning but pretty wet and slippery (!) underfoot

Pub: Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Esthwaite Bitter