Silverdale shoreline 10km loop

A nearly 11km jog along the shore and over the shoulder of Arnside Knott.

Route: leaving the car cheekily at the end of the back entrance to the Woodlands and running through the centre of Silverdale (dodging the crowds of attendees at the Silverdale & Arnside Art & Craft Trail 2015) and down to the coast. The tide being out, picking a way first across rocks (visiting the cave) and then up to 100m out on the sand making a beeline for the end of the bay at Park Point (though, once there, regaining the shore with some difficulty across wet sand). Then across a grassy sandy cove and again gingerly over rocks to New Barns. Here turning inland across field and then gently climbing woodland tracks gaining height to cross a shoulder of Arnside Knott and descend. Crossing the road at Hare Parrock, past Arnside Tower and then along mainly woodland paths under Eaves Wood to descend to the start.

Conditions: after a dismal day, blue skies and hot sun.

Pub: the Woodlands Hotel, Silverdale for Stewart Brewing Scotch Ale and Copper Cascade.

Top of Windermere cycle circuit

A 60km local cycle ride with a surprising degree of novelty.

Route: from home, into town, up to Greenside and steeply over Scout Scar on the Underbarrow road descending at speed for early doors at the Punch Bowl, Underbarrow beer festival. An hour later, along the road to Crosshwaite but turning right up very steep tiny roads (signed initially to Starnthwaite) to cut the corner (right, then left, then right from Crosthwaite) to join the A5074 as far as Winster. Then taking a right up Lindeth Road as far as the Crook Road and down that to the ferry. On the far side, turning right at the Claife Viewing Station along first a tarmac road and then the stony track along the lake shore (fine on a hybrid/Moulton) to join a minor road near Wray Castle and then via Clappersgate to Waterhead. The Wateredge Inn being too busy, pressing on down the lake to turn left up another steep road to Troutbeck, then descending to cross the valley and ascending again cutting the corner to Ings and then Staveley and the Beer Hall. After a couple of pints (with Mike and Chris Dunn), home via Burneside.

Conditions: sun, cloudy sun and wind but very warm in the sun.

Pubs: the Punch Bowl, Underbarrow for Stringers Plan B, Heskett Newmarket Red Pike, Lancaster Duchy, Tirril Grasmere Gold, Springhead Maid Marian. The Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall, Staveley for Windermere Pale Ale and Cumbrian Five Hops.

Circuit of Coniston

A ~17 mile hilly, mainly off-road, run.

Route: leaving the car on the side of the road by The Ruskin Musuem (just; free) and heading through the village and down Lake Road to pick up the Cumbria Way through a camp site and then along the lake shore until forced inland near Sunny Bank Jetty. Crossing the road and heading, with the Cumbria Way, by the side of a stream up a gently rising valley to rather desolate (wild, empty, hilly! – LS) moorland. After a grazing occultation with a minor road, continuing up a narrow defile to reach Beacon Tarn. At this point leaving the Cumbria Way to follow the outflow stream down to the foot of the lake. Across the river and taking a path to the left across two fields to join the road as far as High Nibthwaite. Now ascending on a stony track on the shoulder of the fellside with views across the lake. Lois being in some difficulty from here (owing to her dodgy piriformis! – LS), the run being increasingly mixed with walking now along forest tracks before descending, with some navigational confusion (one should turn left, left again and then look for a further left!), to the lakeside road and taking the path beside this back to the start.

Conditions: initially cloudy with some sun. Towards the end of the expedition, heavy showers and a strong, biting wind.

Pub: The Black Bull for (Old Man Ale and) Coniston Infinity IPA.

Circuit of the Lyth and Winster Valleys

A 30 mile evening cycle ride after a day of low cloud.

Route: from home to Burneside via Valley Road and the riverside cycle path. After the station and bowling club, taking the quiet road across the railway line rising uphill to cross the A591 and continuing along Ratherheath Lane past the tarn to join the Crook Road and stopping for a half at the Sun Inn, Crook. Heading towards Underbarrow but turning right up the very narrow Broom Lane, descending to the road to Crossthwaite but turning left along Mill Lane before the church so to cross the A5074 and climbing steeply (amid some sort of farming activity, delaying progress) up the shoulder of Whitbarrow. A long winding descent and ascent to Pool Bank and then taking a right fork for a gated road to Witherslack over Strickland Fell. Along the cycle route under Whitbarrow to the Hare and Hounds at Levens (where sadly we had missed the Fell Brewer Progressive Pale Ale which was the goal of the route). Then over Sizergh Fell via Natland to Kendal to pick up fish and chips at Fryer Tux and then home.

Conditions: cloudy sun.

Pub: The Sun Inn, Crook for Theakstons Sundowner and the Hare and Hounds, Levens for Salamander Brewery, Golden Salamander and Unsworth Yard, Crusader Gold.

Dales Way-based 10km circuit

A 10km run generally on good paths and tracks.

Route: from the Staveley Mill Yard, west along Kendal Road to the left turn onto the Dales Way just before the level crossing and following paths across fields to run along the river bank past Cowan Head to Bowston where the route joins the road. Turning right on a road to Bowston Farm and then along a track parallel to and then crossing the railway line and eventually carefully across the busy A591. Through woods to Ashes Lane and on this past the camp site (where tarmac gives way to track) across moorland to a crossroads with Crook Road. Across this up the road for 400m and then turning right to follow the Dales Way on a path across a field and then steeply downhill into town and following its route back to Kendal Road and hence back to the start.

Conditions: cloudy with very light drizzle at the end.

Pub: Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for Hawkshead Black Hop, NZPA and WPA.

Callander Crag and Bracklinn Falls

A gentle 9km hike and run on the final morning of the Callander cycle holiday when the others had left.

Route: from Poppies onto Tulipan Crescent and daringly through the barriers to climb through the debris of storm-toppled trees to reach the summit of Callander Crag. Then descending to a road to run north before crossing the river and detouring to look at Coire Eas na Callich (Scout Pool). Ascending on a forest track before descending on paths by the river to the waterfalls and new bridge at Bracklinn Falls. A final woodland route then leading back to the start.

Conditions: surprisingly sunny and warm.

Pub: a little later, the Castlecary Hotel, Castlecary for very cheap but rather sour An Teallach Kildonan and Beinn Dearg Ale.

Circuit of Loch Katrine

A 75 km cycle circuit with Ian and Steve.

Route: leaving Poppies and heading south on the A81 climbing slowly through forest and descending on a rough surface to turn right past Port of Menteith to have coffee and shared slices of huge cakes at Aberfoyle. Then taking the narrow B829 passing Loch Ard and then rising slowly past Loch Dhu and Loch Chon before a fine descent to Stronachlachar in brilliant sun and showers for bottled beer. Then on the undulating private road round the head of Loch Katrine and east on the north shore meeting Emma and Nathan as, more or less prearranged, for a picnic lunch. Past Loch Achray to reach the Byre for a final beer and then home along the north side of Loch Venachar and the back road to Callander.

Conditions: some brilliant sun but also strong headwinds, cloud and showers at times.

Pub: Pier Cafe, Stronachlachar for Black Wolf William Wallace. The Byre, Brig o' Turk, for Fallen Down Original Motive.

Callander to Glen Ogle viaduct and back

An almost linear 40 mile cycle ride with Steve on a day of heavy rain.

Route: from Poppies along the muddy narrow Rob Roy Way through the Pass of Leny to join tarmac past the Forest Village and then on increasingly stony tracks as far as Strathyre. Joining a new section of wide smooth tarmac parallel to the A84 as far as Mhor 84 for coffee. Then along a narrow, fine gravel twisting cycle track climbing gently then climbing steeply on tarmac switchbacks to gain the upper railway line and following this past the viaduct to the summit of the pass. Back to beyond the switchbacks and down to Lochearnhead for lunch. Then back on the cycle track to Strathyre and then a busy run down the A84 as far as the bridge beyond the Forest Village. North again for one mile for coffee and then back to Callander on the cycle track.

Conditions: heavy rain, as forecast, all day.

Pub: Clachan Cottage Hotel for Belhaven IPA.

Callander and Aberfoyle cycle circuit

A 40 mile cycle circuit with Ian and Steve.

Route: leaving Poppies in torrential rain and crossing the river to join the A822 heading south then turning left on the B8032 to Deanston Distillery for coffee and then the tour. Afterwards, taking the B826 to Thornhill and doglegging to head due West on a merely gently undulating A823 stopping because of dire weather at the inn at Port of Menteith (no real beer). Then on to Aberfoyle and the Forth Inn for Jaw Brew, Drop. Afterwards, though with remarkably little by way of beer legs, ascending the well engineered road to the summit of the Dukes Pass and descending at speed to circuit Loch Achray and along the north side of Loch Venachar to the back road on the south side of the river back to Callander.

Conditions: torrential rain followed by sun.

Pub: the Forth Inn, Aberfoyle for Jaw Brew Drop.

Callander to Strathyre and back

A 30km run there and back along the Rob Roy way with Ian and Steve for the outward trip.

Route: from Poppies onto the Rob Roy way along a tarmac single track path as far as a the A821 thereafter it becoming a smooth soft surface rising very gradually through trees to pass the Falls of Leni. Shortly after, along the tarmac road past the Forestry Commission holiday village to reach Loch Lubnaig. Climbing gradually on a rougher stony track and the descending to cross marshy looking fields nearer the Loch. A steep zig zagging ascent to another stony track before a descent to Strathyre and the Inn at Strathyre for a couple of pints and scampi and chips. Then back the same way but pausing for an espresso at the Forest Village.

Conditions: low cloud and rain to start. Gradually clearing for the return run.

Pub: the Inn at Strathyre for Strathbraan Due South and lunch with Emma and Nathan.

7km Calłander circuit

A quick run on first arrival in Callander on a pleasant sunny evening.

Route: from Poppies hotel, a little way East back into town to find the Rob Roy cycle track along a disused railway line. Along this to the main road then, after a mistaken continuation, following a path initially by the road but rising away from it through gorse. Then taking a minor road west to cross the river and a little to the east taking a path on the right. Not entirely deliberately, following a path through a caravan park to fall back onto the minor road, cross the river and return to the hotel along a flooded cycle path.

Conditions: warm evening sun.

Pub: the riverside inn for Deuchars IPA and bottled Punk IPA.