Kirkstile Inn 5km run

A 5km run at 5:30pm in autumnal evening sun to start the weekend.

Route: leaving the car sneakily in the car park of the Kirkstile Inn (for the brief period of the run before having a pint; the car park getting full for evening meals) and, for the first time, running south on the road then track uphill past Kirkhead, then taking the longer diagonal right, before the pine trees, then left laterally contouring round under the face of Melbreak before a steep descent. 

Turning right, staying above High Park, and ascending to slight saddle beneath Dropping Crag to gain views of Crummock Water and Rannerdale Knotts. Continuing a little further south before taking a path diagonally sharply left, dropping down the slope towards the lake through bracken and some marsh to the stony swimming beach. 

Then round the ‘Horn’ anti-clockwise, ignoring the shoreside path to the foot of the lake and instead taking a hand-gate a little further on to boardwalks within a copse across marsh and thus to the familiar bridge over Park Beck. For once, crossing the bridge and continuing on a multi-gated track to Muncaster House, then left across fields to Gillerthwaite and back along the road to the pub.

Conditions: 14C but warm sun.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, for Cumbrian Ales Loweswater Gold and Life of a Mountain. 

Circuit of Long Fell (4.5km run)

A short run at the end of a Sunday afternoon (on a day L had spent at Loweswater Show).

Route: leaving the car at the old school building at Wythop Mill and running slowly uphill to the entry point to Ling Fell, then taking an initial zig zag to reduce steepness, continuing gradually uphill clockwise on a track, becoming grassy and then a path. 

Then descending parallel with, and above, Tom Rudd Beck, bending off the right of way to maintain altitude and to join Green Lonning at a gate a little later. Descending to the road and walking back to the car. 

Conditions: a warm strong breeze and a low sun with blue sky and clouds.

Pub: the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, for Lakes and Dales Gold and Bitter, taken in the garden to avoid a Trump supporter in the small bar.  

Embleton Spa from home by road

Less than 8km road run from home to Embleton Spa on a grey September weekday evening (L only, T injured)

Route: Leaving home and following the road north to the end of the village and on to the right-hand turn up to Armaside Farm. Taking this to run up to and past the farm and on north and then north west to the road between Hundith Hill and St Cuthbert’s Embleton.

Turning right there to run along the road past the Strawberry How turnoff to the next left turn down past the vicarage to the A66.

Then crossing the A66 to the back road through Embleton and turning right to run along the road to the Embleton Spa Hotel.

Conditions: Barely spitting with rain until the A66 and then beginning to rain lightly - torrential once safely in the bar.

Pub: Embleton Spa Hotel for Cumbrian Ales Esthwaite Bitter with Tim.

6km run round Cockermouth including across the Derwent

A 6km evening run, marking L’s return from Greenbelt, at the end of summer.

Route: leaving the car in the Kirkgate car and crossing Kirkgate, the next car park and the footbridge to run along the bank of the Cocker to the dilapidated wooden steps up to the Greenway. Running along this past the cemetery to turn right on the Sustrans route to enter the cemetery at a hand gate. 

Exiting at the main gate and doglegging across Lorton Road to Vicarage Lane onto Culgarth Avenue to the two short snickets to reach Dale View. Down steps onto the path above the Cocker along to the footbridge at Double Mill. Heading down river but bending slightly left up hill and round Harris Park to Fern Bank and Gallowbarrow and across Main Street to take the foot bridge across the river. 

Then right round the park with views across the Derwent to the brewery and Castle, bending left round a field and then back along a path into the industrial quarter and back across the foot bridge. Here, T suffering a muscular twinge and falling to a walk along Main St and left on High Sand Lane to take the footbridge onto Brewery Lane and the Jennings Brewery.

Conditions: cloudy but dry, but not an evening (at 6:30pm) for sitting outside.

Pub: the Jennings Brewery for Back Yam and Sneck Lifter.

A stroll on the shore of Derwentwater with Andrea

A 5km stroll (T only; L at Greenbelt) with Andrea Higginson along the start of the shore of Derwent Water with an attempt on the Castlehead Wood viewpoint.

Route: walking from near the Crosthwaite Church (and bus stop for the 77) along the B5289, past the Shell garage, into Keswick turning right at the roundabout, past Booths and along Crow Park Road to the end. Taking a slight left turn through a hand gate onto a gravel foot path across the grassy park and following this round the park to the Theatre by the Lake. 

Turning right to the boat jetties (very busy on a bank holiday) and then along the lakeshore to Friar’s Crag (also busy) and then onward and left round the shore. At an obvious junction, turning left on a gravel path to Cockshott Wood, staying to the east and then right on a newly-surfaced path to cross the B5289 into Castlehead Wood. 

Following the hill round clockwise and ascending a slippery path up to its very shoulder. But, deeming the final rock steps impractical, retreating to the north to turn left on Springs Road, Ambleside Road and St John’s Street to the Wainwright Pub. Afterwards, a quick walk back to catch the 3:30pm 77 home.

Conditions: the forecast rain not arriving until safely in the pub.

Pub: the Wainwright Pub for Fell Tinderbox and Inches cider.

Cockermouth and Embleton 26km cycle circuit

A 26km cycle ride to try out cycling to Cockermouth for the first time (for T) since living at 1-2 MTC. (T only; L at Greenbelt.)

Route: from the cottage, cycling down to Low Lorton, over the bridge and then right steeply but briefly uphill past High Rogerscale and then along and mainly slightly down to the junction with the Paddle School road. Turning right and descending to Southwaite and then rising up a noticeable incline to the Hundith Hill crossroads. Across this, descending and re-ascending gentle inclines to turn left, over the A66, onto Strawberry How to Lorton Road and down Kirkgate to the Jennings Brewery.

After a pint sitting outside, ascending Brewery Lane, then left on Castlegate Drive and continuing on a gradual but cumulative uphill for 1km. Then descending at speed past Lambfoot to Embleton for a brief pause at the pub for fortifying beer and crisps. Crossing the A66 and heading uphill to Wythop Mill and then more steeply up the road between houses to the right before descending to the St Margaret's Church, Wythop, rising again to the junction with the road from Lambfoot, past the Cockermouth turn-off to the right to take the short cut on the left on terrible tarmac past Armaside Farm back to Lorton Road. Left along this home.

Conditions: thin sun giving way to cloud but not the forecast rain.

Pub: the Jennings Brewery, Cockermouth, for Jennings Cocker Hoop; the Embleton Spa Hotel for Cumbrian Ales Loweswater Gold.

Watch Hill

A damp 6km evening run before L departed for a long weekend away at Greenbelt the next day.

Route: leaving the car at GR 137312 at a lay-by at the intersection of the Cockermouth to Embleton road with the road to Setmurthy Common and taking the hand gate to a clear path running slowly uphill for about 1km towards Watch Hill though slowing to a walk for part of the later stages. 

Bending left again at a run on the marked path to enter the woods and taking the rightmost of two forks to follow a path in a clear part of the woods until it descends to a rough forest road. Following this east to a small path on the right through older deciduous trees, gaining ground to the summit tree-free. From here on a lower clearer path to the left to the end of the ridge and the spot named ‘Watch Hill’ overlooking Cockermouth. Then running downhill back to the road and thus the car. 

Conditions: high cloud and drizzle but surprisingly warm.

Pub: the Bitter End, Cockermouth, for Alnwick American IPA.