Variant circuit of Loughrigg

A 12km run, before meeting Angie and Alistair for supper in Ambleside, replacing some of the road running of the previous route with higher paths on the fell.

Route: from the lower Ambleside car park, taking the path through the graveyard, round the church and then left through Rothay 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. Near the end of the track but before reaching tarmac, taking a sharp left onto a stoney walled track rising and turning to circumnavigate the hillside rising to reach a spur and following a grassy path, right, to reach Lily Tarn. Descending on a grassy, muddy path to reach the main track over Loughrigg and thence back over the bridge over the Rothay and back to the start.

Conditions: sunny and cloudy but none of the predicted rain.

Pub: the Wateredge Inn, Ambleside for Barngates Cracker. Later, the Lily for supper and Loweswater Gold.

Red Screes from Kirkstone Pass

A walk and run (just under 10km) on a glorious Easter Saturday.

Route: starting from the carpark opposite the Kirkstone Pass Inn and heading straight up the re-engineered path to the top of Red Screes at a brisk walk. Then running down the grassy and occasionally marshy ridge towards Ambleside as far as the Struggle. Taking the left turn, a little further down the the road, on an initially level track which then drops to cross the stream on a bridge and back up the far side of the valley onto the track linking farm cottages. Up this walking and running by turn to near the top of the Struggle and then walking steeply back to the start.

Conditions: warm and sunny. Very heavy queuing traffic from Ings at least as far as Troutbeck Bridge forced a change of plan to start the route at the Kirkstone Pass rather than Ambleside.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for WPA and El Dorado.

Cycle ride to Arnside

An evening cycle ride to Arnside.

Route: from home down Oxenholme Road to Natland Mill Beck Lane and thence to gently uphill to Natland, along through Sedgwick, Hincaster to Ackenthwaite. Then along Paradise Lane to Beetham and the steep climb and speedy descent to reach Black Dyke Road eventually to arrive downhill into Arnside to reach the Fighting Cocks. After a pint, along the front to visit Jo and Roger for coffee (new machine!) and then back on the same route out (for L to Asda), though T feebly taking the direct route home via Oxenholme.

Conditions: bright sun and blue sky but cool by 7pm.

Pub: Fighting Cocks, Arnside, for Thwaites Coiled Spring.

Circuit above Brigsteer

A 7km+ run onto the Scar from Brigsteer.

Route: leaving the car in a large layby (space for 10+ cars) north of the village and running back, south past Brigsteer on the lower road but branching left on a footpath signed St John’s Church just beyond the village. Uphill across a couple of fields to turn right on a track and then branching diagnonally left off it across the large field to Helsington Church. North to the entry to the Scar and along the eastern path to climb eventually to the gate in the corner of two walls before dropping past a large cairn (Dave’s Cairn) down off the Scar to Barrowfield Farm. Right then left to take a footpath descending through trees and across pastures eventually to strike a very quiet minor road. Left along this to reach the main Brigsteer-Underbarrow road and back to the start.

Conditions: a gorgeous sunny Good Friday.

Pub: the Hare and Hounds, Levens, for Lancaster Brewery Lemon Grass and Unsworth Yard The Land of Cartmel.

Evening cycle ride to Bowland Bridge

A 30km cycle ride to the Hare and Hounds, Bowland Bridge to have supper with Jane, Andrew and the boys.

Route: from home into town, then up Gillinggate and relentlessly on up and over the top of Scout Scar along the Underbarrow Road. Steeply downhill on the twisting road to Underbarrow, then rising up and along through Crossthwaite, crossing the A5074 and coasting gently downhill to Bowland Bridge. After supper, returning in the dark, struggling a bit with the relentless climb to the top of Scout Scar and arriving home at 11pm.

Conditions: warm sun with a cool breeze on the way out; pitch black, clear skies with nearly full moon and chilly on the way back.

Pub: the Hare and Hounds, Bowland Bridge for supper and Stringers Yellow Lorry.

13km circuit of Spy Crag and Millrigg Knott

A 13km run in Kentmere.

Route: leaving the Staveley Mill Yard by the footbridge over the river and turning south east on a path across fields to turn left onto the back road. Taking the first path to the right of this and climbing through woods to reach Spring Hag and left on a bridleway to reach the elevated plateau. Then by road and then track past Ghyll Bank to approach High House but turning diagonally left, downhill before it, somewhat pathless and very rough on the ground but with fabulous views. Gradually gaining altitude again on a stoney track before taking a grassy path first rising and then descending, and becoming rough under foot, through the HP Plantation. Back along the road to Ullthwaite Braideg and then by track and then a quiet road to recross the river at Scroggs Bridge. Along a path to join the start of Hall lane and then back to the footbridge into the millyard.

Conditions: cloudy and cool.

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

Short run to the Stratford-upon-Avon obelisk

A short pre-theatre run to the obelisk in Welcombe Hills country park while staying at 1 Percy Street.

Route: from 1 Percy Street along Clopton Road to its end and then on a faint path slightly uphill across mown grass to the corner of the field. Then north along a muddy bridleway (crossing ridges and furrows) for 200m before turning right and descending slightly to the obelisk. Then back south past the Welcombe Hotel, through the Dingles, to reach Welcombe Road. At the end, right on St Gregory's Road, left on Maidenhead Road to reach the canal and back along the tow path to Clopton Road and back.

Conditions: a warm sunny evening with a cool breeze.

Pub: the One Elm, Stratford-upon-Avon for Purity Ubu.

Broadway Tower

A short stroll with Emma and Nathan.

Route: leaving the car in the short stay car park in Broadway and taking a path across fields south and then east and then taking a south easterly path too soon. Regaining the main path up to the Tower by crossing a field and then back on the Cotswold Way.

Conditions: sunny and cloudy with lots of lambs.

Pub: the Crown and Trumpet, Broadway, for Codger and Stanway Gold.