Midwinter run to Isel and Sunderland from Blindcrake

A near 9km run on a winter day with both icy lanes and deep waterlogged mud to contend with. (Ticking off another Outlying Fell from Wainwright, Clints Crags, by chance.)

Route: leaving the car by the side of the road in Blindcrake (just before a triangle of roads) and picking a careful way on the verge beside a hazardous frozen lane downhill towards Isel. Luckily, almost immediately finding a very muddy permissive path, parallel with the road, through trees on the right, eventually forking left to rejoin the road where a marked right of way crossed. Continuing over a stream (tributary of the Derwent) and past both the very grand Isel Hall and a road junction signed left to Sunderland to a muddy track across fields on the left at a sharp bend right in the road. This leading to a very muddy quagmire junction of fields and after, much difficulty, crossing through broken gates and a bridge to edge onto a drier, more frozen field and then a frozen track. 

Halfway along this section, Lois pausing out of respect for/to an apparently dead sheep which, on her closer inspection, proved merely to be incapable of regaining her feet in the frozen conditions. (After some attention from Lois, the sheep was righted and skittered off eventually down the lane, returned to the possibility of a future life. In sum: Lois very obviously saved a sheep’s life which would otherwise have frozen to death!) Continuing, ourselves, across fields to gain (the verge of) a frozen c-road to Sunderland. Turning left on stony farm tracks, slowly gaining altitude on fields and choosing to take the higher route, passing the clear ruins of a cottage (Thackray Cottage, owned by the gamekeeper once but burned down) to near the summit of Clints Crags - a limestone outcrop, SSSI and SAC - with wide views south over Bassenthwaite (and remains of a small quarry to the north). Descending across sodden fields to gate, and on to a tree-lined, fenced and waterlogged track, to a road, there turning left back down into Blindcrake.

Conditions: mainly grey and cloudy and 2C. A mix of frozen lanes and very muddy quagmires.

Pub: the Swan, Inn, for Brakspear Oxford Gold and Gravity.

Dalemain Round from Dacre taking in Dunmallard Hill

A 9km walk on a surprisingly sunny day (having woke to cloud in Lorton) before a pub lunch with Kate. (Taking in a Wainwright Outlying Fell, unsuspectingly: Dunmallet (Dunmallard Hill).)

Route: leaving the car outside the Horse and Farrier, Dacre, and walking downhill to turn left towards the castle, thus taking the lowest of three paths exiting the village. Joining a wide level track for about 2km along the edge of fields to Dalemain. Exiting through the car park (having admired a herd of deer sunning themselves just over the fence) onto the A592 and heading south for 100m to a stile to the right and then continuing across fields rising slowly to the flat summit of Flusco Hill. Descending to cross the A592 to take a muddy path past a private fishing pond and then along the River Eamont to the car park by the new bridge at Pooley Bridge. 

Failing to find a direct path up the hill marked on the map (which might have been unpleasant, anyway) taking a path backtracking anti-clockwise round Dunmallard Hill, past a junction and winding its way to the summit (no real views through the trees). Descending the same way to the junction and then crossing a field, bending left to cross the A592 again and across another muddy field rising to a c-road. Turning right then left at a T junction, along periodically icy roads, to reach Dacre.

Conditions: 2C but warm in the sun. A mixture of muddy and frozen ground under foot.

Pub: the Horse and Farrier, Dacre, for Eden River Fuggles Blonde, Kirkby Lonsdale Jingling Lane and lunch.

14km circuit to the Kirkstile Inn

A spontaneously-extended icy walk to the Kirkstile Inn, and back, on a glorious cold and frosty day.

Route: Leaving the cottage comparatively late (11:45am) and walking up the Boonbeck Road and then right on the lateral footpath to a farm and driveway back left to Scales and then up the enclosed track to reach the balcony path to High Swinside, with some of the recent heavy rain locked up in frozen mud. Then south along the road to the footpath on the left along to the new footbridge under Dodd and then continuing along the valley-side path. Spurning a shorter route that would have secured provisions for an evening meal (ie before the LVS shut), continuing to the path to Beck House and Pickett Howe, which involved a tricky crossing of Coldgill beck in spate. Reaching the road near Palace Howe and picking a way across occasional patches of ice along roads to the Kirkstile Inn for beer and a light lunch.

Afterwards, taking the Thackthwaite Road, again with some icy patches, back to Lorton and across the fields via the church home.

Conditions: after a cold (-2C) night following heavy rain, a beautiful sunny frosty day but with a mixture of waterlogged and frozen conditions under foot.

Pub: The Kirkstile Inn for Pinnacle, Loweswater Goldn and Vanilla Oatmeal Stout (on keg) and lunch (a scotch egg and a salmon sandwich).

Brackenthwaite Hows 7km stroll

A 7km stroll on the day after Boxing Day on a day much, much better than forecast.

Route: leaving the car in the Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park (some spaces at 11:15am) and taking the longer zigzag of bigger tracks to reach the start of the small path up Robin’s Steps to the summit plateau of Brackenthwaite Hows. Descending south and picking up the path within the wood by its eastern wall to its end, then joining the small path descending to the boat house. 

Thence round the lake and round the peel hillock (the “Horn”) and and across the obvious ‘other’ pebbly swimming beach to a muddy path at the start of the western edge of Crummock before turning sharp right uphill on a grassy path. Turning right on a lateral path below some trees, under Melbreak, and then ascending again round the northern ridge of the fell to the shortcut, right, to the stony track to the Kirkstile Inn. After a pint squeezed in by the fire, walking the 1km back along the road to the start.

Conditions: despite forecasts for low cloud and drizzle, bright wintry sun against some clouds. 

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Ales Esthwaite Bitter and Grasmoor.

Tallentire and Gilcrux muddy circuit

An 8km Boxing Day stroll to justify a pint chatting to Hal at the Mason’s Arms, Gilcrux.

Route: leaving the car at the three-way junction at the northern outskirts of Tallentire and starting along the road north past North Lodge to take a lonning on the right. This quickly becoming a muddy quagmire then a set of plank bridges crossing over what was now a stream beneath and finally what looked an impassable but inescapable muddy defile. Defeated, turning back to the road to walk along this. 

Again in a spirit of optimism turning right on a clear track to try to regain the original path but stopping short at a closed gate (no right of way) beyond which the track slowly disintegrated into a muddy field. Continuing to the pub by road. After a pint, taking the small road almost due south uphill near wind turbines. Spurning a potential short cut along a path (once bitten, twice shy) and, foolishly, (more in hope than expectation) taking a track which was not the paved route hoped for but, again, a very soggy grassy track between hedges. Following this back to Tallentire.

Conditions: an unforecast beautiful day of blue sky and sun, though with a threatening but apparently stationary black squall over the Solway.

Pub: the Mason’s Arms, Gilcrux, for Theakstons Legendary Beerd (halfway round)

Great Broughton Pootle

A tiny 2km stroll while waiting for the Punch Bowl to open at noon on Christmas Day (topped up with a stroll round Buttermere by Lois later in the day)

Route: leaving the car outside the pub, walking west along the road to the start of a green muddy track towards the river and bending left along it past the backs of houses on Main Street. At a junction turning right - away from the pub! - down on a single track muddy path to the river and then left as far as the main road bridge. Turning left slightly uphill and then up Little Brow and Meeting House Lane before turning left on Grange Avenue and then left again downhill to the pub.

Top-up by L, alone: leaving the car at the NT car park outside the village, walking up to St James’ (to discover no service happening) and then down and out through Syke Farm to walk round the lake clockwise, taking the upper route on the west side of the lake and returning over the first footbridge to the Buttermere Court and on to the NT car park.

Conditions: too warm for Christmas Day with very light drizzle; still very mild, with drizzle intensifying as the light dropped

Pub: the Punch Bowl, Great Broughton, for Ennerdale Pale, Keswick Thirst Christmas and Barngates Goodhews Dry Stout (and complementary Buck’s Fizz ‘for the ladies’); mulled wine back at No 2.

8km run round School Knott

A solitary 8km run on a blustery day of mixed weather while Lois and James had a coffee at the Jetty Museum in Windermere.

Route: getting a lift to the bus stop at the north end of Ings and running along the road heading south gently uphill, under the railway line. Ignoring the usual first right turn to continue to a second more established track (though waterlogged after heavy rain) through trees to Whasdike. Briefly joining the road to follow a causeway past a water tank into School Knott Plantation. 

Emerging from the trees at a gate to run round the hillside past the final right turn towards Windermere and continuing with right-to-roam land gently leftwards uphill round School Knott, passing through two gaps, which may soon be closed, in newly-constructed deer fencing and down to reach the normal exit from the School Knott area. Turning right to pass the tarn, joining the Dales Way in sudden heavy rain, to the road near Hagg End and walking right uphill on the road to Borwick Fold. Here turning left on a track and then sodden path over a stile into a small wood and then downhill across very marshy ground to turn left on the c-road and descend to the pub. 

Conditions: after heavy rain, a dry start followed by a rainbow and sudden heavy rain and then some sun again. Blustery wind.

Pub: the Watermill, Ings, joined by Lois and James for Bitter Ruff and Brewdolph.