Head of Kentmere 14km run

A circuit amid mountain scenery if a little too much on tarmac and hard tracks.

Route: Leaving the car parked on the roadside just before the entrance to the Hollingsworth & Vose Waterfoot factory and taking the road north towards Kentmere, turning right to Green Quarter. After about 2km, taking a left turn onto Low Lane, a stony bridleway. Along this to rejoin the familiar route at Overend to follow the track to Tongue House. Then by a narrow grassy path, marshy in places, to reach the footbridge just south of Kentmere Reservoir. Back along the bridleway, first downhill and then rising above Hartrigg, descending and rising again just before Kentmere. Turning right to find a footpath and then near the Nook taking a shortcut to Kentmere Hall and back along the pleasant grassy track to the factory and hence the car.

Conditions: initially a warm and sunny first day of spring, though clouding over.

Pub: The Hawkshead Brewery for WPA and Cumbrian Five Hop (and lunch).

Staveley 8km run

A short run to fill the short time available.

Route: exiting the Mill Yard over the footbridge and heading north east across fields past the sewage works to the track to Side House. 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: mild, cloudy but some hints of blue sky

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for WPA and Hop Black.

Claife Heights to High Wray Bay 12km run

A run on rare sunny and warm March day.

Route: from the Cuckoo Brow Inn, along Cuckoo Brow Lane past Moss Eccles Tarn over to Scab Moss taking the path off the foresty track where tree felling in 2015 has still changed the look of things. At the crossroads 100m down the path, turning left back onto the forestry track and following this to the probable highpoint of the route, to be joined by the more familiar track and downhill in sweeping turns to Wray. Here, going on through the hamlet to find a path across fields to High Wray Bay. Turning right to take the undulating undulating lakeside path / cycleway for 3 km 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: Warm and sunny with blue skies (and some cloud).

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

Low Fell

A ~7km run, but walking the steep uphill section.

Route: leaving the car by the phone box just short of the Kirkstile Inn and running across a field on a footpath to cross the road at Foulsyke and heading north through woods to Pottergill. Walking very steeply uphill to reach the saddle just south of Low Fell. Then back and steeply down to Crabtree Beck and then south on a small path curving round the lower slopes of Darling Fell to join a rough track near a disused quarry. Back along the road to the car.

Conditions: at the start, a very cold wind. Cloudy.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Loweswater Gold and American Invasion.

5km run from the Linthwaite House Hotel

A pre-breakfast run.

Route: from the hotel, southwest on paths to Lindeth then southwest on muddy tracks and across fields to cross the A5074 and on stony tracks to Bellman Houses. Shortly after, curving north east to tackle a flooded section of track before recrossing the main road and running along a green lane to join Lindeth Lane. Along this to Lindeth and back to the hotel.

Conditions: early morning sun, bitterly cold thus some of the mud frozen.

Pub: too early! Breakfast at the hotel – first beer of the day at the Clove Hitch on Hope Street, in Liverpool

Tiny stroll up Brant Fell

A tiny early evening stroll after Lois’ leaving lunch from Cicerone at the Linthwaite House Hotel.

Route: leaving the Linthwaite and walking south west on muddy footpaths to Lindeth and turning north on Lindeth Lane to cross the Crook Road. After 200m taking a footpath north west under Brant Fell and after a little while heading uphill to the summit. Descending past a tiny reservoir and through woods to a viewpoint. Then descending into Bowness for a beer, film and meal.

Conditions: a cool pleasant evening with a subtle sunset.

Pub: the Flying Pig, Bowness for Ringwoods Porker.

Rollright Stones from Long Compton

A 10km muddy stroll with Steve, Katherine, Tom and Alex.

Route: leaving the car in the car park of the Red Lion and heading north along the main road to take Butlers Road and Back Lane to find a track heading across fields. After 2km and after crossing a small stream, heading right down a field close to a hedge to cross a small bridge at the bottom and then following a bridleway up muddy fields eventually to cross a road on the top of the ridge. Turning right to circumnavigate a field before crossing another road and following a footpath parallel to the ridge but slightly downhill to the west. After crossing the A3400, two more fields and a wood, bearing right to look at the Whispering Stones, the Rollright Stone Circle and the Kings Stone. Then continuing along the road SW to take a path north across fields and then a quiet road back to Long Compton.

Conditions: some hints of sun but a stiff wind.

Pub: the Red Lion, Long Compton for Hook Norton Hooky; Goff's Jouster, Wickwar Cotswold Way and lunch.