Loughrigg circuit

A sunny evening 13km run on roads and tracks.

Route: From the lower Ambleside carpark, taking the path through the graveyard, round the church and then left through Rothey Park to cross the River Rothay and turn right onto the Under Loughrigg road. Turning left, before the road re-crosses the river, onto a rising road then shady track to reach views of Rydal Water. Picking the upper, increasingly stony,  path, eventually rising to reach the caves and then keeping to higher paths to reach the start of Loughrigg Terrace. Along this and then the higher track, at the end, through trees to reach the summit of Red Bank. Descending, left, to reach a track round the north of Loughrigg Tarn. At the end of the track, on reaching the road again, turning rapidly right, then right, then left to descend steeply to Skelwith Bridge. After crossing the river, heading straight on to rise murderously steeply to reach Skelwith Fold and then descending along a very quiet Bog Lane to Clappersgate and then back along the main road to the start.

Conditions: Warm and sunny.

Pub: The Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for WPA and NZPA.

A woodland circuit from Pool Bank

A woodland stroll to look at the bluebells with Robin, Virginia, Neil and Anne.

Route: Leaving the car, after some deliberation, by the side of the road in Pool Bank and taking the more southerly path through Cowclose and Colehowe Wood to cross the Winster to join the road at Swallow Mire and follow it round past Hodge Hill Hall up to Cartmel church (St Anthony’s) and then up the road to the path to the monument on Cartmel Fell. Retracing our steps to the church and then taking a path south to cross more woods and join a minor road and following this to Little Thorphinsty, just before which taking a path through more bluebell-filled woods. Then 100 yards up a road to enter Crag Wood eventually turning left, eastwards to cross the Tarn Green Road and follow tracks through Cow Head Wood, recross the Winster and meet the gated road near Askew Green and back along this to Pool Bank.

Conditions: Cloudy but warm.

Pub: The Hare and Hounds, Bowland Bridge for Ulverston Flying Elephants and Kirkby Lonsdale’s Tiffin Gold.

Scout Scar 5km run

Lois' first run off road since she broke her arm in February, in her new Inov8s.

Route: From the layby (at GR 494899), a short ascent then bearing left to reach and then descend the escarpment and south across the fields before bending right onto the green track with views of the estuary. At the three way junction, taking the right track slowly gaining height back towards the top of the escarpment but taking the gate just before it anddoubling back then to cross to the cliff edge of the Scar. Along this to the trig point and then back though the gate in the wall corner to descend along the edge of the escarpment to the start.

Conditions: Cloudy with a hint of sun.

Pub: Finding the Riflemans closed, Romneys for Hawkshead Red and Lancaster Brewery Java Ale.

On-road loop round Ings

A second venture round a 14km on-road loop (this time to protect Lois’ broken arm) in Dales Way country.

Route: As before, leaving the car at the Mill Yard in Staveley and taking the noisy cycle path / pavement by the A591 past Ings and then up the side road towards High Borrans but taking the first left towards Heaning. On this occasion, the green lane directly to the A591 was passable leading directly to the narrow gated road signed to Blackmoss on the far side. Once on the hillside, taking the first left to meet the Dales Way and then following it back down into Staveley.

Conditions: Cloudy and breezy.

Pub: The Hawkshead Brewery for Cumbrian Five Hop and WPA.