Lakes Distillery to Cockermouth via Isel

A solitary (T, L working) 12km walk in running gear on a hot sunny day.

Route: taking the X4 bus from Cockermouth to the Lakes Distillery and running down to the bridge over the River Derwent at the foot of Bassenthwaite and, after a quick glance at the closed Herdwick Willies for future reference, taking a path along the north side of the river, initially confused by a new fence not on the map (best to stay further from the river leaving a fence to one’s left) and then entering a wood and along narrow muddy paths by the river before joining a more major path (coming from Armathwaite Hall). Along this through a farmyard and then along a tarmac track and then c-roads in blazing sun to cross the bridge at Isel. 

Heading west along the road and diverging slightly left on a stony track into the forestry plantation. Part way along, utterly foolishly, taking a clear line through the trees - probably an overgrown fire break - until diverted by very many fallen trees, marshy ground etc to make very slow progress for a final climb up a bank onto a forestry track. (This could have been reached, with a little extra distance but much more quickly, by simply continuing on the original forest track.) Heading east and uphill to a junction of tracks. Turning left for less than 100m to find, on te right, a steep muddy path to the summit of Watch Hill and then along the summit ridge back down to St Helen’s Road and to the Bitter End, meeting Lois.

Conditions: hot and still.

Pub: the Bitter End, Cockermouth, meeting Lois, for Strangers Brewing Co. Suntrap.

Jennings from the Rectory via Slate Fell

A 6km run (L only) after work to visit Melbreak Avenue and the new brewery

Route: Leaving the Rectory and turning north down Lorton Road to Kirkgate, where turning right along Windmill Lane and first left to run down to Melbreak Avenue (location of Delphine and Peter’s first house in Cockermouth). Running along that east to its end to join Windmill Lane again, continuing east to bend right at the end onto Bellbrigg Lonning and then cut left on the path through to the new estate. Continuing east along Horseshoe Drive and Casshow Way to the footpath running north to the gate and sign to Slate Fell.

Running up the path due east, crossing brooks and going through gates, and missing the left turn onto the track past Annfield Farm to St Helen’s Street. So continuing east all the way to the gate and path that cuts between the two summit outcrops of Slate Fell. There, just before the next gate, turning left to climb onto and explore the northerly outcrop east to west and then return to the east end to take the slanting footpath down the north flank towards the bridleway to Brick Kiln Wood. After dodging some cows and sheep, running round the edge of the field, down the side of a beck to join that bridleway and run along to the Wood and through it on the obvious path to join the road almost opposite the gate onto Watch Hill.

Turning left and running down Castlegate Drive for a kilometre or so to reach Wyndham Row and run down that to the Jennings Brewery entrance and find Tim on the far side, beside the Cocker.

Conditions: Hotter than expected at 6pm but clouding over.

Pub: Jennings Brewery Tap for Jennings Castle Bitter.

Slate Fell

A 5km run starting, for the first time, with just going up Slate Fell. Some jeopardy because of the forecast - and actual - rain.

Route: from the Rectory, heading along Strawberry How Road to the Sustrans route and then left along the Greenway and right across Bitter Beck to Casshow Way. At the end of the road, left along an informal path slightly uphill to a sign pointing right to Slate Fell. Then across fields, slowly uphill, eventually going left through a gate into the adjacent field and then, as the path starts to descend, right off the path to get to the summit (Lois doing a little impromptu victory lap). Then back along the lower path to Brick Kiln Wood, along St Helen’s St and via the small park behind the Kirkgate Centre to the Swan.

Conditions: windy with rain forecast and some light rain arriving half way.

Pub: the Swan Inn, Cockermouth for Brakspear Oxford Gold.

An attempt at the shoulder of Loughrigg

A short walk on a hot day with Pete, but not Lois.

Route: leaving the bus station at Ambleside and heading past St Mary’s Parish Church, briefly on Vicarage Road, and through Rothay Park to cross the footbridge onto Under Loughrigg Road. Talking the zigzagging steep tarmac track, very slowly, up hill, onto the gravel track though trees and just out onto open fellside. 

At this point turning back - thus not carrying on as planned over to Rydal Caves and the pub - and retracing the outward route.

Conditions: very hot (27C) with the gentlest of breezes.

Pub: picked up in the motor in Ambleside by Lois, the Badger Bar, Rydal for Corby Lakeland Summit.

Three quarter circumnavigation of Blencathra

A solitary (T, L working) 16km jog (though with very much more walking than running) round Blencathra from Bowscale to Threlkeld.

Route: starting having been dropped (by L on the way to Penrith for a business meeting) at Bowscale and running north to Mosedale and then left along the road to the west, this remaining paved (though badly damaged in places) as far as the junction with the Cumbria Way at the end of the valley. Then turning left on an unforgiving hard stony track (not at all loose, however) for 2km before it gave way to a marshy path. Underneath Great Calva, beginning very slowly to gain a little altitude before a steeper pull up to Skiddaw House. 

Descending into the valley between Lonsdale Fell and Mungrisedale Common, crossing the valley and Glenderaterra Beck and then not spotting the choice of a lower path but gradually ascending higher above the stream to reach the Blencathra Field Centre. Then descending the road to a carpark to pick up the path through the village by Blease Gill.

Conditions: 19C and hazy sun but cooled by a breeze.

Pub: the Horse and Farrier, Threlkeld, joined by Lois after her meeting in Penrith for Bowness Bay Fell Walker.

Silver How

A solitary (T) 7km linear walk aside from the presence of the birthday frog. (L working.)

Route: taking the X5 and 555 buses from Cockermouth to White Moss and walking over the footbridge to reach the foot of Loughrigg Terrace and up this to the lower exit near the summit of Red Bank. 

Doglegging right left onto a path to Hammerscar Plantation and then following the top of the blunt ridge to Spedding Crag and then north on paths obvious on the ground (though not marked on the OS Landranger map) to the summit of Silver How. 

Descending to the west/left of a small ridge for a short (10 feet) and steep rocky descent to cross Wray Gill and then following a ridge down, the path becoming stony and a bit of a stream, to Allan Bank and thence to Tweedies, Grasmere.

Conditions: after several days of rain, a sunny and sometimes hot day.

Pub: Tweedies, Grasmere, for Brew York and Northern Monk Monk’s Bar Pale.

8km run from Bassenthwaite village to the lake around Scarness

An 8km run from Bassenthwaite village to, and along, the lakeshore and back. 

Route: leaving the car by the green in Bassenthwaite village and heading south by southwest past the school and near the church to cross the A591. Taking an unsigned gate in the corner of a field and heading west to meet a track but just before turning left to head south across fields and then along a narrow path by a stream, forced to pick our way where a footbridge must have collapsed and the barbed wire fence fallen into the path alongside brambles. 

At a path crossroads by a second footbridge to the right, running left to Scarness and then taking a good path towards the lake and round it to gain a newly installed replacement boardwalk. Along this by the lake round a vague promontory to rejoin the road, turning left and taking the first path to the right to Mire Side and back along a C-road to recross the A591. then taking a left turn to cross a field and crossing the next c-road for another path before finally turning right to reach the start. 

Conditions: a breeze, brief spit of rain and threatening clouds but not as cold as it appeared.

Pub: the Sun Inn, Bassenthwaite, for Hobgoblin Gold.