A 24 mile event (for us, walking uphill and running downhill) from Hesket Newmarket with four beer stops on the tops. Ian Lyne and Alison Gilchrist also taking part.Route: from the official start behind the pub, regaining the village centre and then turning left and left again for Wood Hall. Crossing a field to rise to a stile and then turning left along the wall before bushwacking uphill to find a higher lateral path round the end of West Fell before descending to cross Carrock Beck and strike directly up the hillside in the direction of Carrock Fell summit for the first beer. Running back to Round Knott and then descending pathless, slowly and steeply through bracken to reach and easily cross a very low River Caldew on stepping stones. Then steeply and pathlessly climbing Bowscale Fell eventually gaining the path from Bowscale Tarn. Running down past, but not up, Bannerdale Crags to climb Foule Crag and reach the second beer stop at Blencathra. Then running down across to Mungrisdale Common, turning sharp left and then right to find a path leading to Skiddaw House and a refreshment break. A long slog up Sale How to Skiddaw and a third beer and then crossing a fence further north to run down over Hare Crag before a slow climb to Great Calva. Then running north west to cross the saddle and walking up to Knott and running down to the pass above Gransgill Beck and the Lingy Hut. A gradual ascent to High Pike for the final plastic cup of Old Crown ale and then a 3-mile run down to the road and back to Hesket Newmarket.
Conditions: Warm and sunny at the start giving way to cloud with a gentle breeze on the tops. A torrential downpour after finishing.
Pub: The Old Crown, Hesket Newmarket for Scafell Blonde.
