Circuit from Kendal to take in Skelsmergh church

A 9km run so that Lois could see the Skelsmergh church war memorial before conducting a Remembrance Day service the following day.

Route: taking the 41 bus to the Kendal bus station and running north along the riverside footpath to cross the footbridge over the river and run along the east side of the river to the A6. Crossing the river on the road bridge and turning left along Gilthwaiterigg Lane, initially between industrial units becoming a more countrified c-road. Turning right on a footpath at Gilthwaiterigg, between buildings and across a precarious ladder stile, to run over fields, past signs of the Thirlmere aqueduct, to reach a busy c-road near Lowegroves; turning right down the A6 to the road to St John the Baptist, Skelsmergh. 

After looking at the war memorials, continuing downhill to turn right onto a path north of the River Mint past a campsite to where the Thirlmere aqueduct crosses the river and using this to get to the other side (an easy climb of two metal fences and a wide path above the pipes). Then following the river to turn left on the A6 to find a footpath/snickleway starting left off White Stiles, eventually across the tall iron footbridge over the railway line to Lidl (where buying spirits) and continuing at a walk to Masons at Yard 46. (Returning home by bus.)

Conditions: a completely colourless grey day.

Pub: Masons at Yard 46, for Cumbrian Ales, Loweswater Gold. 

7km circuit of Lorton village

A run round the village on a grey November afternoon before driving back to Kendal.

Route: leaving the cottage and running south along the road and round the corner past the village hall to the lane to Hill Mill and then on to Low Swinside. Crossing to the far side of the farmyard to find a path over three fields to reach a c-road, turning right, north, for 500m. Taking a right turn onto a path across a field to join the enclosed track back to Hill Mill. Turning left and following a track by the stream back to the same c-road and right to a crossroads in the middle of Lorton. 

Turning left to the main Low Lorton crossroads and right past the pub to the new footpath at the north end of the village back to Church Lane and back to the church. Then left on another footpath to the c-road past Lorton Park and home.

Conditions: grey but mild and dry.

Pub? No but, earlier, the Punchbowl, Great Broughton, for East London Brewery, Walthamstow Green Hopped Pale Ale and Unsworth’s Yard, Cartmel, Last Wolf.

Circuit of Loweswater

A 7km run round Loweswater on a dry but grey October day.

Route: leaving the car at the substantial lay-by to the west end of Loweswater (by a former phone box now defibrillator) and ascending the tarmac track to Miresyke at a slow run and then walking on a rough stony track to the green lane. Descending the green lane, running, to the road and then along it, climbing gently, to the track down to Maggie’s Bridge and along to the south-west side of Loweswater. 

Running along wide, clear, level paths with views of the lake, eventually climbing to Hudson Place and descending towards Waterend but turning right on a path to reach the car. 

Conditions: 12C and mainly cloudy. 

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater (surprisingly packed at 1pm, Saturday), for Cumbrian Ales Esthwaite Bitter and Grasmoor Dark.

Heysham stroll

A 3km post Sunday pub lunch stroll with Erin.

Route: Leaving the car in the car park of the Royal Hotel, Heysham, where we had just lunched, and turning left along Main Street to reach the St Peter’s car park. Turning right along a path to look at the outside of the current church and look out to sea towards Arnside Knott. Returning to the car park to continue slightly uphill on a short path to the ruins of the eighth century Saxon chapel with carved Viking stone graves. Then dropping down to a promontory at GR409617. Continuing a little along the coast, south, for views of the nuclear power station and then returning to the entrance to the ruins. Turning right into National Trust land comprising stone steps among trees and boulders before descending to another gate out into the church car park. 

Exiting left onto Main St and taking the footpath off Bailey Lane along the sea ramparts, taking the first tarmac path right to Knowlys Road and following this to turn left on Heysham Road to the Bookmakers Micropub for a pint. Lois and I walking briskly back to the car afterwards in increasingly heavy rain.

Conditions: a cool grey October day turning wet while returning to the car.

Pub: the Royal Hotel, Heysham for Thwaites IPA and lunch. Afterwards, the Bookmakers Micropub, Heysham for Eden River Bonejuice, Durham Brewery Dark Angel stout and Herefordshire Cider Celtic Tiger.

13km circular run north of Kendal

A 13km solitary run (L singing a concert) on a cool autumn day.

Route: taking the 41 bus to the bus station and running along the riverside footpath to Dockray Hall Road, Burneside Road, Sparrowmire Lane and then anti-clockwise round Low Garth. At a small patch of communal mown grass, taking a narrow path behind a garden to a stile onto open fields. Following the path north until just after Madgegill, taking the right fork (some navigational error here) to emerge on the road into Burneside at a level crossing. Heading north east on Hall Road to join the route of the Dales Way through Tenement Farm to Sprint Mill and on to Burton House. Crossing the A6 and leaving the Dales Way to take a path in an overgrown ditch (brambles and nettles) to a gate onto a lower field and following a path on its left side arching round to Skelsmergh Hall and then a path south east to Dodding Green.

Doglegging right left across Helme Lane to follow a path north of the river mint past a campsite to where the Thirlmere aqueduct crosses the river and using this to get to the other side (an easy climb of two metal fences and a wide path above the pipes). Then following the river to re-cross the A6 and follow the river round Mintsfeet to a footbridge and from here left through the industrial estate to the monthly opening of the Lakes Brew Company brewery.

Conditions: cloudy and mild except in an occasional cool breeze.

Pub: Lakes Brew Company brewery, Kendal for an open day for Best Bitter and West Coast IPA. 

Across Tarn Moss to Malham Tarn

A 3.5km stroll, both suffering colds, after staying 2 nights in Kettlewell.

Route: impulsively leaving the car in marked small car park in a disused quarry (GR883 388) and walking 20m west to backtrack through a gate on a walled track, turning right onto a board walk across flooded marsh. Keeping right at a first junction and then looping round, gingerly crossing a couple of places where the board walk was flooded (perhaps after 36 hours of heavy rain), to take another right and approach the tarn, before bending left to two old buildings (and seeing two deer) climbing onto dry land and narrow road right to Malham Tarn House. 

Bending left uphill onto a path across fields dropping back down onto the road and passing a number of somewhat shabby cottages to reach the walled track and return to the start.

Conditions: after 2 days of rain, a dry if cool cloudy October day.

Pub: the Victoria, Kirkby Malham, for Craven Brew Company, Blonde and VIP imperial porter (6.5%).

Skipton Castle Woods

A tiny, but worthwhile, 2km walk along the canal into the woods and back on a wet early autumn day on a bus-trip to Skipton while staying for two nights in Kettlewell.

Route: starting from outside the Castle Inn, in an attempt to delay a final pint, and walking west to take the steep stairs south onto the canal tow path, under the road and along the tow path overshadowed by the castle to the right, with a much lower stream to the left. The path becoming a narrow fenced raised walkway between two water courses, following this until it turned left across a footbridge and then right to enter the woods at the sawmill. 

Following an obvious broad track in surprising gloom for 1:30pm to reach Round Dam and looping round this, gaining height, to follow a track at the edge of the woods eventually being forced left to join a raised pavement between the castle and the road back to the church and crossing in front of it, back to the pub.

Conditions: after heavy rain, mere drizzle but dark for daytime.

Pub: the Castle Inn, Skipton, for Theakstons Old Peculier (‘always available’)