Staveley based 6km run around Spring Hag

A tactical 6km run, Lois having left Greenbelt 2023 at 6am.

Route: leaving the Staveley Mill Yard via the foot bridge over the River Kent and taking the muddy path south east across fields in the direction of the sewage works. Turning right along the road and then left 400 yards later on a steep drive before crossing a stream below a small waterfall at Side House and rising gently onto the edge of the fellside. Then turning left through Birk Field farm to join the minor road north and following this up the valley on road past Littlewood Farm. Taking the second path to the left to rise briefly and then descend easily to join the road back to Barley Bridge and the footbridge back into the Mill Yard.

Conditions: cloudy but warm.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for Hawkshead WPA and Jester Simcoe Pale.

Dove Crag and Hart Crag via Stand Crags

A long promised (for 15 years) 15km walk with Peter Lucas.

Route: leaving the car in a lay-by on the east side of the A592 100m north of the Brotherswater Inn and walking south on the path under the road to the pub and then through the campsite and across the valley turning left on a path rising into Dovedale. After a while, crossing the stream and beginning to climb. After the corner of a wall, continuing further on and turning steeply uphill short of a footbridge to gain the ridge line, pathless and through manageable bracken. Continuing along the broken ridge overlooking the valley to the left and then at the end walking uphill with a chasm to the left. Turning left to cross a stream and then, pathless again, gaining the top of the continuation of the earlier ridge to reach the clear path up from Scandale Pass. Up this to Dove Crag, then Hart Crag then descending Hartsop above How taking a rough and, sadly, very loose path to the right steeply down to the Brotherswater car park and then along a path to the west of the tarn to meet the outward path. 

Conditions: surprisingly warm and dry and much sun.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for Mystic Jester Simcoe Mosaic.

Scout Scar 7.5km run

A run in the 7-8km post (second) Cto5km stage of fitness and an Outdoor Day because of the still scarcity value of Scout Scar visits.

Route: leaving the car at the standard Brigsteer Road parking space (SD 494 899) and walking to nearly the top of the escarpment and then running south west towards Heslington, turning right to run along a green path and then up Pook’s Peak (slowing to a walk) and along to the next gate on the left. Heading south, again, for 50m, to pick up a path right to reach - 200m later - the edge of the Scar, a little to the west of Dave’s Cairn and along to the Mushroom. Back to the trig point and then down the hill east to the main racecourse-Dave’s Cairn path but crossing it to join the Trippy Path. Walking uphill parallel to the wall to the Gate in the Corner and back to the start via the Spooky Building.

Conditions: a partly cloudy but unexpectedly hot Sunday afternoon after a blustery weekend.

Pub? bottled cider and then retsina on a Zoom call with Paul and Katya back at Thornton Towers.

Fellbarrow cycle circuit

A 26km cycle circumnavigation of Fellbarrow, the longest cycle ride in perhaps a year.

Route: leaving the cottage and cycling past the shop to Low Lorton, over the river and past Rogerscale. To avoid the worst of the road surfaces, turning right at the fork to reach and turn left onto the Paddle School road and then left again to pick up the road back to Brandlingill and the usual anti-clockwise route. Deciding to avoid the steep section at Mosser by turning right to Pardshaw and after a while left on a rough tarmac road eventually climbing to Mockerkin and then climbing further to the top of Fangs Brow before descending to Loweswater and the Kirkstile Inn for a pint. Afterwards, home via Thackthwaite.

Conditions: some sun and some clouds. Warm.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, for Cumbrian Ales Cumbria Red and (keg) Session IPA.

Sale Fell

A short 5km walk with Pete Taylor.

Route: having picked Pete up from the 10:41am arriving 600 bus from Carlisle in Cockermouth, leaving the car at St Margaret’s Church (above the Pheasant Inn) and walking through the churchyard to the gate to the left, crossing laterally to a footpath and then 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 and then descending on a large clear grassy path between bracken to the church. 

Conditions: after torrential rain the previous day, some sun and cloud and quite warm. 

Pub: the Coledale Inn, Braithwaite, for Corby Blonde, Birra Moretti and lunch.

7km Kentmere run including the Three Rivers path

A 7km run as part of an informal 5-10km running programme.

Route: leaving the car parked near the Ullthwaite Bridge, crossing the bridge and running along the track past Croft Head and right along a path through the pottery to the Hollingworth & Vose factory. Here finding the original path now blocked using the newly-signed alternative which runs around the factory to rejoin the original route. Running along the green valley bottom path towards Kentmere Hall almost missing the slightly trespassy path at a crossroads in the woods (because it was disguised as an overgrown single track path) to ascend to reach the main track south from Kentmere, climbing slowly onto the moors. At the crossroads of paths at a stream crossing, taking the left turn descending the Three Rivers path, to the controversial resurfacing past Croft Head, now somewhat bedded in, and down the road to Ullthwaite Bridge and the car.

Conditions: a dry still but muggy day, perfect, it transpires, for irritating flies.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for WPA and Mosaic.

7.5 circuit of Buttermere

A 7.5km run round Butttermere, the furthest this year.

Route: leaving the car at the NT car park (free to members and with a few spaces at 3:45pm on a sunny Friday afternoon) and running past the Bridge Hotel and Allerdale Court Hotel to the lake and then via the footbridge to the path on the far, western, side of the lake. Along this to the head of the lake and then back first on the road and then on the newly re-engineered path on the eastern shore, this time through the tunnel. At the end of the lake, turning right at the fork to head directly to the village and thus to the Buttermere Court (nee Fish).

Conditions: a surprisingly dry and sunny day after a month of largely rain.

Pub: the Buttermere Court for Corby Lakeland Summit.