Criss-crossing Wythop Valley 6km run

A third (5.7km) run in a row on a damp lunchtime.

Route: leaving the car at the informal parking area near Brumston Bridge and running up the track towards Kelswick and then right (for the first time) on a grassy (invisible) path downhill, over a footbridge and then trending left to reach a gate onto the road at Old Scales. Turning left for 400m and then left on another new path across two gates and then a slightly overgrown 50m to reach the familiar path in Chapel Wood. Heading slowly up hill for 1km to turn right parallel to windblown small trees, past a pond and then right at a junction along a straight straight gently downhill. Then joining the road, which proved unexpectedly uphill, back past Old Scales and then eventually downhill to Eskin, right downhill and then a final 100m section up hill to the car.

Conditions: a day of light rain but mainly running in the dry with just a bit of drizzle on the return.

Pub: the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, for Lakes and Dales Bitter.

Braithwaite to Thornthwaite and Knott Head

A 6km run on a fine August late-Saturday morning.

Route: leaving the car just opposite the Coledale Inn and descending the snicket opposite the Orthodox Church and then across the bridge to turn left up Whinlatter Pass and immediately right on a path past the Hope Memorial Camp and then along the path to the left running laterally north. Running through a number of gates on a narrow path with views of Skiddaw to the right. Then a small ascent to the left and then descent to cross a track and proceed in the same direction on another track to Seldom Seen above Thornthwaite. 

Here turning left, often at a walk for the next 1km, on first the road past the last house and then a path through the forestry plantation with Comb Beck to the left. On reaching a gravel forest road, turning left to cross the stream and swing back north, east and then south again with wide views of Skiddaw, rising gradually to meet the Whinlatter Pass. 

Running down the pass to Knott Head and taking a gravel track left, back down towards Hallgarth and turning right on the outward path, staying right through the Hope Camp and joining the road again briefly a little higher up. Back to the pub. 

Conditions: 18C, sunny and warm.

Pub: Coledale Inn for Great Corby Corby Blonde and Lakes and Dales Bitter.

Slate Fell 6km run

A 6km late afternoon/early evening run back in town.

Route: leaving the car at the Kirkgate Centre and exiting to the rear to run along Melbreak and Thirlmere Avenues and Windmill Lane and Bellbrigg Lonning to join and head east on the Greenway, left across Bitter Beck to Casshow Way. 

At the end of the road, turning left along an informal path slightly uphill behind the houses to a sign pointing right to Slate Fell. Then across fields, slowly uphill, walking about 100m then running again eventually going left through a gate into the adjacent field and then, just over a stile, as the path starts to descend, right off the path to get to the summit. 

Descending across fields to enter Brick Kiln Wood and here missing the main path, veering right, to go anti-clockwise round the gorge edge and end up on the ver very edge of the wood to the right/north, crossing the stream on an unfamiliar set of stepping stones and arriving earlier onto the main road before the road to the golf course joins. 

Then left on St Helen’s Street and turning left to cross the footbridge into the small park behind the Kirkgate Centre, forking left to go round the Bitter End to add some length and then back to the car.

Conditions: a warm sunny evening.

Pub: Jennings Brewery for Captain Jack’s Marra and then the Castle Bar for Cumbrian Ales Loweswater Gold and Ennerdale Summer Lovin’.

Variant Lorton 5km run

A new variant for a potential regular 5km run from home.

Route: From the cottage heading south down the road and turning left on the road to High Mill and on to Low Swinside. Crossing the farmyard and exiting on a path across fields south west to a road. Turning right and heading north west turning into a field on the right and exiting onto the stony track back to High Mill. 

Turning left on the charming path by Whitbeck back to the road and right to the mid-Lorton crossroad. Continuing towards the church turning right across a field and back past Lorton Park home.

Conditions: 18C with sun and cloud.

Pub: the Punch Bowl, Great Broughton, for Bank Top Brewery Flat Cap and Great Corby Stout.

Ben Vrackie

An 11km steep walk up the nearest fell to Pitlochry while staying to celebrate Lois’ and Emma’s 60th birthdays.

Route: leaving the car at the first Ben Vrackie car park just above Moulin (because unconvinced of the existence of the slightly higher second car park) and walking steeply uphill. At a tall hand-gate, signed ‘The Ben’, turning left and walking uphill, in trees, past the first of many benches with a dry stream (Moulin Beck) to the left. Exiting the path onto a track and then joining a single track path to the right, finally existing the trees onto open fellside. Continuing uphill past a signpost, marking the arrival point of the return route, up to a saddle between Stac an Fheidh and Creag Bhreac and then down to the dam. 

On the far side of the dam, immediately joining a stony stepped path uphill which eventually became constant steps to the summit. Descending the same way, no faster than the ascent, but turning right on a clear path, though unmarked on the map, round the dam and then uphill, under Meall n h-Aodainn Moire to the pass Bealach na Searmoin and then down to the rejoin the outward path.

Conditions: initially grey and cloudy but gusty higher up and then sometimes hot in the developing sun.

Pub: Moulin Hotel for Moulin Light, Orchard Thieves cider and lunch with James, Jo, Emma and Nathan.

Stroll from Pitlochry to Moulin and back

An 8km stroll with James meeting Jo, Emma and Nathan at Black Spout Fall and at the Moulin Hotel.

Route: leaving the AirBnB at 2 Tummel Crescent and walking into the town centre via a shortcut path through trees, under the railway line and onto Atholl Road to visit the Post Office. Then east to and right on Ferry Road and back in the direction of ‘home’, at this point spotting J, E and N driving the other way. Circuiting a sports field on the bank of the River Tummel to turn left on Bridge Road and right on Perth Road, past the Blair Atholl Distillery, and then left to the Black Spout car park and following signs to the waterfall to find the others. 

Continuing upstream before turning left on paths signed Moulin, across a field with views of Ben Vrackie, having a glancing occultation with the edges of Pitlochry again before crossing a field to Moulin and the Moulin Hotel for lunch. 

Afterwards, turning left to reach Craiglunie Road and left down Golf Course Road. Bending left off that onto a track into suburbia and heading downhill, via some steps, across Atholl Road to Station Road and Rie-Achan road, passing under the railway and following paths to the stony beach by the lake (Loch Faskally). Then along a rising path towards the dam but finding the footpath across the dam closed for building works and instead descending the 100-Step Path and following the river back to the start.

Conditions: initially cloudy and cool. Later (from lunch) sunny and 23C.

Pub: The Moulin Hotel for Ale of Atholl (strangely sour and unpleasant), Old Remedial (strange and unappealing but not actively unpleasant), Moulin Light (off) and Braveheart (a perfectly fine light beer) and lunch.

Sale Fell

A 4km late morning walk with James.

Route: leaving the car at St Margaret’s Church and walking through the churchyard to the gate to the left, crossing laterally to a footpath and then heading uphill to the right and then round the hill gaining ground slowly towards the west. At the end of the ridge (level with a wall) turning left uphill on clear paths to the top. 

Thence down to a subsidiary summit and round to Lothwaite and then descending on a large clear grassy path between bracken to the church. 

Conditions: a warm (23C) sunny day.

Pub: The Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, for Lakes and Dales Bitter and Pale.