Dales Way-based 9km circuit

A 9km circuit mainly off road.

Route: from the Staveley Mill Yard, west along Kendal Road to the left turn onto the Dales Way just before the level crossing and following paths across fields to run along the river bank past Cowan Head to Bowston where the route joins the road. Turning right on a road to Bowston Farm and then along a track parallel to and then crossing the railway line and eventually carefully across the busy A591. Through woods to Ashes Lane and on this past the camp site (where tarmac gives way to track). At the point where the route back to Kendal joins from the woods, striking out across the field to a footpath sign and then across fields to cross the A591 again and more fields before crossing under the railway. Then back to the start.

Conditions: ground level cloud and drizzle. Although the river was lower than the previous week, the ground was even more sodden, waterlogged and muddy.

Pub: Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for Cumbrian Five Hop and WPA joined by Sian.

6.5km circuit of Cragg Farm hill

A short practice run after a weeks of heavy rain.

Route: leaving the car at the Mill Yard and exiting Staveley, past the collapsed main bridge, to join the Dales Way as far as Cowan Head. Then uphill on a grassy path but on sodden ground almost joining Winter Lane but heading north west across fields and then on an enclosed track to join the outward route.

Conditions: though some weeks after the major December 2015 floods, the River Kent was high, overlapping the riverside path in places and the ground was generally very muddy. Low cloud and drizzle.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for Cumbrian Five Hop and Windermere Pale Ale (and lunch).

Scout Scar run in snow

A short solitary run in 3 inches of snow (without Lois).

Route: nursing the car up a snowy Brigsteer Road as far as the racetrack and running from there up the main path towards Dave's Cairn but turning left by the Gate in the Corner descending the hill before turning right to reach the Scar and along this to the Mushroom and then back.

Conditions: cold with settled snow and a fresh wind.

Pub: the Riflemans for Abbot Ale with Lois.

Short birthday run on the Scar

An Outdoor Days entry in that driving anywhere else after the December 5th floods seemed foolish.

Route: leaving the car at the Scar racecourse and taking the main path to the summit just short of Dave's Cairn. Then south downhill passing two gates before turning towards the Scar itself and along this back to the Mushroom and back.

Conditions: warm, dry cloudy. Later: some sun for the first tiume in days.

Pub: the Shakespeare for (the first two lunches ever served there!) Theakstons Old Peculier and Shepherd Neame Spitfire.

Staveley 8km run

A short run in poor weather with Ian Lyne in a break between hail storms.

Route: exiting the Mill Yard over the footbridge and heading north east to reach the back road and along this (avoiding sodden fields) past the sewage works to the track to Side House over a fallen tree. Up the valley to join the road and down this to Hall Road. A little further on taking the path across fields and pretty bridge to Low Elfhowe and then back via Scroggs Farm.

Conditions: very windy, low cloud and drizzle and later heavier rain.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for Iti, WPA and Cumbrian Five Hop.

Reston Scar 9km circuit

A run in the rain alongside a flooding Kent with Steve Mitchell (visiting for the Bond film).

Route: leaving the car in the Staveley mill yard having first checked that it would not flood and crossing the swollen river by the footbridge to run along the side to Barley Bridge. Along Brow Lane to take the cycle path along the busy A591, turning right on the road uphill to Hugill Hall, along flooded tracks (eventually simply running through the many flooded sections) before turning right on tarmac down into the valley and along the road past the river, which had broken its banks, crossing it and back to the footbridge into the mill yard via Scroggs Farm.

Conditions: constant rain though not torrential and largely flooded under foot.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for WPA, Cumbrian Five Hop and Brodie’s Prime (and lunch).

Seven Sisters

A damp autumnal walk with Emma and Nathan.

Route: leaving the car at Exceat Bridge and heading south initially on a paved track by water along the valley bottom but later turning left onto the South Downs Way to climb Haven Brow. Then keeping close to the edge of the crumbling chalk cliffs and following an obvious route as far as the visitor centre at Birling Gap. Then back a short way before heading inland over Went Hill to East Dean for a pint. Across fields to climb up to cross the A259 and follow paths in woods round Friston Place and along woodland paths to Westdean. Over a stepped hill back to the start.

Conditions: windy with some light rain.

Pub: the Tiger Inn, East Dean for Tonbridge Union Pale and Beachyhead Legless Rambler.