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.

Penrith to Kendal cycle trip

A 67km day trip with Ian Lyne on a short dark damp Autumnal day.

Route: having just made it onto the 10:28am train (maximum two bikes permitted!), setting off from Penrith station at 11am and heading west on the B5288 to Greystoke where the famous (C2C) cycle café was sadly closed. Joining Sustrans route 71 south on minor roads with some very steep ascents past Thackthwaite to Dockray for a pint. Then on in increasingly damp conditions downhill to Ullwaster and along the lake to the Brotherswater Arms for lunch. Then steeply up the Kirkstone Pass and coasting down to Troutbeck. Over the shortcut to Ings and the Beer Hall at Staveley. Then home in the gloom (without lights) via Burneside from 5pm.

Conditions: low cloud and light rain.

Pubs: Royal Hotel, Dockray for Corby Amber and Heskett Newmarket Skiddaw. The Brotherswater Inn for Barngates Red Bull Terrier and OSB Detention, Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for Cumbrian Five Hop, Hoppy Black and WPA.

Kendal to Mabbin Hall Sunday stroll

A 9km Sunday walk to retrieve a car left after (almost) watching, with Simon and Sally, the finale of Nashville Season 3 and making a small impact on a feast of southern-style food and drink!

Route: across the strawberry fields and through Natland to pick up the path towards Cracalt House and hence south to join the route of the old canal, clear in parts and in others a narrow trod across undulating fields. Across the viaduct in Sedgwick and by fields to the road bridge over the A591. Then along the Avenue through Levens Deer Park to Levens Bridge. After 50m on the road, taking a tarmac track up hill to pick up a lateral path and thence to a narrow green lane to Mabbin Hall and the car.

Conditions: a mild autumnal day with some watery sunshine.

Pub: the Hare and Hounds, Levens for Eden Brewery, Rocket and Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Lakeland Gold.

Tiny stroll in Craggy Plantation (again)

A 3.5km walk with Steve, Kathryn, Tom and Alex having not been able to park at the head of Kentmere to do the Raven Crag scramble. 

Route: from the Mill Yard, across the footbridge and north east to join the road bending left to climb towards Craggy Plantation. Entering the woods and, after stopping to try a rope swing on a slippery 45-degree slope, following the path round, gaining height to a view north towards the head of Kentmere. After another pause for more rope swings, leaving the wood and descending steeply across fields to pick up the road at Barley Bridge back to the footbridge and hence the Brewery.

Conditions: mainly cloudy and grey, but warm with hints of sun.

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

Harrison Stickle

An expedition submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Cub Scout achievement badge (for Tom) with Steve, Kathryn, Tom and Alex.

Route: leaving the car at the National Trust car park at New Dungeon Ghyll (free for members) and heading north west past the pub to cross Dungeon Ghyll, before bending left to climb up to the west of Pike Howe, behind it and back to its summit, Alex scampering ahead. Then on across the grassy shoulder past the steep ravine to climb Harrison Stickle from behind. Then down a clear rocky path to Stickle Tarn and down the heavily re-engineered path mainly on the east side of the stream (full of parties of ghyll-scramblers towards the bottom).

Conditions: initially warm, sunny and still but biting wind and cloudy when on the top and some of the way back down.

Pub: the Stickle Barn, New Dungeon Ghyll, for Tirril Original and Coniston Bluebird XB.