Brackenthwaite Hows 5km run

A first return to Brackenthwaite Hows in 13 months and the first while living at 1-2 Midtown Cottages.

Route: leaving the car in the car park of the Kirkstile Inn (because at 11:15am on the first Monday in February) and running down the road towards the Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park, but carrying on up the hill to turn right along a track into the woods 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 join the small path descending to the boat house. Thence round the lake to the pumping house. Here turning right to follow Park Beck to Park Bridge and back along the road to the pub.

Conditions: not quite as cold as the official 5C. Drizzle easing as we started.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, for Cumbrian Ales Esthwaite Bitter.

Braithwaite to Thornthwaite and Knott Head

A 6km jog (for T becoming very much a trudge).

Route: leaving the car in the car park of the Coledale Inn (11:15am on a quiet Friday) 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 muddy path with 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, 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 to avoid the muddiest stretch near the end and joining the Pass again briefly a little higher up. Back to the pub.

Conditions: 3-4C, windy, damp and unappealing to start with but, in the end, dry, still and brightening.

Pub: the Coledale Inn for Great Corby Corby Blonde. 

Circuit of Buttermere

A 7.5 km walk with Angie and Alistair.

Route: leaving the car at the NT car park (largely empty on a damp January Friday) and walking past the Bridge Hotel and Allerdale Court Hotel to the lake and then via the footbridge to the path on the far, western, side of the lake. 

Along this to the head of the lake and then back first on the road and then on the  re-engineered path on the eastern shore, this time through the tunnel. At the end of the lake, turning right at the fork to head directly to the village and back to the car.

Conditions: a cool feeling 6C and in, while heading south on the west side, a stiff wind. 

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater for Cumbrian Ales, Loweswater Gold and lunch.

Circuit of Cogra Moss from Lamplugh

A 7km run on largely flat ground, the second run in two days after a fallow period, hopefully to start a return to fitness.

Route: Parking on the large lay-by opposite St Michael’s church, Lamplugh, and crossing a ladder stile 100m to the north to take a marshy track along field edges to a gate in the corner. Then turning right to step across a beck on treacherous stepping stones (thus deciding not to return this way), and across another field to join a track, steeply down and up to Dockray Nook. Thence passing Felldyke Bunkhouse on the right, to the track junction above Felldyke to turn left uphill at a junction on a gravel track, at a walk initially, and then, descending slightly, running with the gorge of Rakegill Beck to the left, to reach the dam at the west end of Cogra Moss. 

Continuing straight on a level track anti-clockwise round the reservoir for 3km. Returning, on a newly-made soft gravel path, rising a little, and then descending past the dam. Running back down to Felldyke and, after the bunkhouse, turning left, marked Stegcroft Bridge, through a farmyard with horses, diagonally across one field and then left on a path past two fields to emerge onto the road just south of Inglenook caravan park. Continuing right on the road, past a junction, uphill back to the church.

Conditions: occasional glimpses of sun, cold, dry, still. Soft going across the fields.

Pub: The New Cock and Bull, Cockermouth, for Cumbrian Ales Loweswater Gold and Timothy Taylor’s Golden Best.

Low level circuit of Sale Fell

An 8km jog, walking the up-hills: T's first run in about 10 weeks.

Route: leaving the car opposite the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, and running and then walking up the road to Routenbeck and then past St Margaret’s Church, Wythop to Wythop Mill. Walking left up the hill to the informal car parking area and along the road with Sale Fell to the left to Kelswick and then right on a grassy track to the remains of a chapel and then on a lowly rising path through woods. 

Turning right along an avenue of wind-blown stunted trees and then into the forestry commission land. Descending to a junction and running left downhill and then walking uphill, right at a fork and right onto a path. On reaching a metalled track, taking a slight right turn to reach the road near access to the lake and back along the road to the Pheasant to meet Kate R for lunch.

Conditions: initially cold (4C) with a threat of rain that never arrived.

Pub: the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, for Bowness Brewery Swan Blonde.  

Rannerdale Knotts

An impulse walk on a cold, frosty, sunny day, the first Monday after the Christmas and New Year break.

Route: leaving the car at the NT carpark (plenty of space at noon on a Monday after the holidays) and taking a gate across the road, directly opposite, uphill, trending left, to the start of the Rannerdale Knotts ridge. Following this to the end. 

Returning the same way but staying on the ridge to the very last moment and descending steeply towards Buttermere, then turning left on a path to a stile into the woods by Mill Beck. Following this back to Buttermere village.

Conditions: very cold but bright sun.

Pub: the Buttermere Courts Hotel, hotel lounge area for keg Brixton Reliance Pale Ale.

High How, Low Swinside and the Wheatsheaf

An impulsive late afternoon 9km stroll to work out access to High How and savour our new surroundings.

Route: Leaving Midtown Cottages and walking north along the road to reach the hand-gate to the left of Oaklands and follow the path marked for Fernwood, across a field, the foot of the Whinlatter Pass, and another bit of field before turning left onto a track running just below the house. At the end, turning right on the road, bending left and then right to arrive in the large, empty parking area beside Highside Cottage (holiday rental, unoccupied only two days after NYE).

After some deliberation opening the rusty farm gate on the far side to walk uphill to another farm gate and, through that, turn immediately right, in front of a patch of defended patch of woodland, onto a track leading uphill through an open farm gate. On the far side, turning left to follow uphill to the right hand side of the woodland and then through a rusty hand-gate into a small plantation with paths going all directions across it (perhaps for tree planting). Turning right and then left and then right again to cross it (tracking uphill again), emerging at a handy stile over the newish perimeter fence.

There joining a farm track leading up and then bending right in front of fence to a junction of tracks - one going on up towards the summit of Kirk Fell, one heading on, contouring round the fell and one leading diagonally down towards woodlands. Taking the last and soon branching off left on a path to contour round the fell and join another very clear farm track heading east towards the junction of walls northeast above the summit of High How.

Finding the wall-crossing much easier than previously (built up by some kind soul), stepping over this easily, walking to the summit of High How and down the ridge, west, towards Lorton, to bend left and join the established zigzag track to the farm gate back down on Whinlatter. At the gate crossing over to the bench above Tenter Lane and then taking a slight footpath, through an old slate opening, down to join the green lane and dogleft left right to carry on down Tenter Lane.

At the end, turning left and walking round to find the village shop closed, ducking back to walk down the land to High Mill and gradually on up to Low Swinside. There taking the track on the far side of the parking area and following it, now a faint path (in the gloaming), southwest across four fields towards the road descending from High Swinside. 

Turning right to follow the road north-northwest all the way, across the crossroads, to St Cuthbert’s and there talking the path from the churchyard to Low Lorton, by the light of the moon, fortunately over frozen ground, and walking right to the pub.

After the pub stop, continuing on to the ‘new’ made path at the end of the village and following it across the first field to Church Lane - and taking the continuing path across the next field to reach the B5289 and walk south--southwest back to Midtown.

Conditions: About 0C, still but the ground largely frozen, cloud scattered and high, with good views across the Solway until dusk (and a beautiful almost-full moon for the homeward leg)

Pub?: The Wheatsheaf, Lorton, for Brakspear’s Oxford Gold and caffe latte