Claife Heights 12km run

A 12km run on a day of disappointing weather.

Route: from the Cuckoo Brow Inn, along Cuckoo Brow Lane past Moss Eccles Tarn over to Scab Moss where tree felling had changed the look of things. Then along a Forestry Commission road down to Wray and on a metalled road to its end at Beyond Fields and Red Nab. Then taking the undulating lakeside path before trending to the right arduously up hill to cross the shoulder of the hill and drop back into Far Sawrey behind the pub.

Conditions: Despite a fine forecast, a cloudy day with the threat of showers and exceptionally wet under foot.

Pub: Cuckoo Brow Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold.

Troutbeck Tootle

An 8km run into a northerly gale in wet and icy conditions.

Route: Leaving the car on the first left turn before the church in Troutbeck and running through the Limefitt caravan park, past its Haybarn Inn and thus onto the bridleway towards the head of the valley on the eastern side which is flat or even downhill for 2km before rising gently. At the Tongue, taking the first footbridge to cross the stream to pick up the track on the other side of the valley but diverging from it on a grassy footpath across a field to join the quiet and on this occasion icy road back along the valley bottom. At the point where the road turns right to Old Town, taking a narrow walled path (Truss Lane) straight on crossing one very large flooded section (unhelpful lay bounded by brambles) and eventually rising to meet the main road. Crossing over and heading another 200m up a narrow road to take a left turn on a path descending to the church and hence back to the start.

Conditions: just above freezing point and with an icy North wind. Some snow and ice but also wet.

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

An attempt on Lingmoor Fell

A New Year's Eve walk with Emma and Nathan and Andrew and Helen.

Route: leaving the cars at Elterwater (both National Trust car park and the informal parking outside the village), crossing the river and taking the road towards the quarry turning right to follow a path by the river eventually climbing to the quarry view. Then taking a path rising up hill to dog leg left and the right onto the hillside rising into cloud and increasing rain. At the main switch back left, Emma and Nathan turning back leaving the others to reach the summit ridge in heavy rain and cloud and so turning left to drop down into Little Langdale for a pint in the Three Shires. Then heading south along the road to take the track past Wilson Place cottage and farm to return to Elterwater finding Emma and Nathan in Wainwright’s.

Conditions: low cloud and heavy rain.

Pub: the Three Shires, Little Langdale for Loweswater Gold during the walk. No pub after.

Circuit above Brigsteer

A 7km+ run onto the Scar from Brigsteer.

Route: leaving the car in a large layby (space for 10+ cars) north of the village and running back, south past Brigsteer on the lower road but branching left on a footpath signed St John’s Church just beyond the village. Uphill across a couple of fields to turn right on a track and then branching diagnonally left off it across the large field to Helsington Church. North to the entry to the Scar and along the eastern path to climb eventually to the gate in the corner of two
walls before dropping past a large cairn (Dave’s Cairn) down off the Scar to Barrowfield Farm. Right then left to take a footpath descending through trees and across pastures eventually to strike a very quiet minor road. Left along this to reach the main Brigsteer-Underbarrow road and back to the start.

Conditions: a day of blue sky and sun but lingering heavy frost and cold air.

Pub: The Rifleman’s, Greenside, for Greene King Abbot Ale.

Staveley 10km road run

A 10km road run to avoid sodden off-road paths.

Route: from the Mill Yard, Staveley along School Lane and Brow Lane to join the noisy A591 as far as Ings. Through the village as far as the Watermill and then turning left gradually gaining altitude on a gated country road. Turning left again at the end of the road and descending before another left turn and rising to the summit of the run with views of snow-covered fells. Then descending via the Crook Road back into Staveley.

Conditions: Initial warm sunshine, later cloud. (After the run, rain.)

Pub: The Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for Jingle Fells and Cumbrian Five Hop.

Long Scar from Clapham

A Christmas day walk with Mark and, initially, Sandra and Max.

Route: from Croft House taking the bridleway above the valley to Clapdale, descending to the valley floor and past Ingleborough Cave. Through a hand gate and then climbing onto the hillside to reach the obvious cave on Long Scar. Then along the plateau to get a view over Crummack Dale and of Moughton Scars. Then back the same way but descending into Clapham Bottoms and back down Clapdale Drive past the lake and thence home.

Conditions: Initially sunny with blue skies. Later a cold wind, cloud and some drizzle.

Pub: Back home for Espresso Martinis before an excellent Christmas dinner chez Mark and Sandra.

Variant circuit of Loughrigg

A 12km run on a suddenly beautiful autumnal day.

Route: from the lower Ambleside car park, taking the path through the graveyard, round the church and then left through Rothay Park to cross the River Rothay and turn right onto the Under Loughrigg road. Turning left, before the road re-crosses the river, onto a rising road then shady track to reach views of Rydal Water. Picking the upper, increasingly stony, path, eventually rising to reach the caves and then keeping to higher paths to reach the start of Loughrigg Terrace. Along this and then the higher track, at the end, through trees to reach the summit of Red Bank. Descending, left, to reach a track round the north of Loughrigg Tarn. Near the end of the track, but before reaching tarmac, taking a sharp left onto a stoney walled track rising and turning to circumnavigate the hillside rising to reach a spur and following a grassy path, right, to reach Lily Tarn. Descending on a grassy, muddy path to reach the main track over Loughrigg and thence back over the bridge over the Rothay and back to the start.

Conditions: a cool but cloudless sunny day.

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