Low Fell

A ~7km run, but walking the steep uphill section.

Route: leaving the car by the phone box just short of the Kirkstile Inn and running across a field on a footpath to cross the road at Foulsyke and heading north through woods to Pottergill. Walking very steeply uphill to reach the saddle just south of Low Fell. Then back and steeply down to Crabtree Beck and then south on a small path curving round the lower slopes of Darling Fell to join a rough track near a disused quarry. Back along the road to the car.

Conditions: at the start, a very cold wind. Cloudy.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Loweswater Gold and American Invasion.

5km run from the Linthwaite House Hotel

A pre-breakfast run.

Route: from the hotel, southwest on paths to Lindeth then southwest on muddy tracks and across fields to cross the A5074 and on stony tracks to Bellman Houses. Shortly after, curving north east to tackle a flooded section of track before recrossing the main road and running along a green lane to join Lindeth Lane. Along this to Lindeth and back to the hotel.

Conditions: early morning sun, bitterly cold thus some of the mud frozen.

Pub: too early! Breakfast at the hotel – first beer of the day at the Clove Hitch on Hope Street, in Liverpool

Tiny stroll up Brant Fell

A tiny early evening stroll after Lois’ leaving lunch from Cicerone at the Linthwaite House Hotel.

Route: leaving the Linthwaite and walking south west on muddy footpaths to Lindeth and turning north on Lindeth Lane to cross the Crook Road. After 200m taking a footpath north west under Brant Fell and after a little while heading uphill to the summit. Descending past a tiny reservoir and through woods to a viewpoint. Then descending into Bowness for a beer, film and meal.

Conditions: a cool pleasant evening with a subtle sunset.

Pub: the Flying Pig, Bowness for Ringwoods Porker.

Rollright Stones from Long Compton

A 10km muddy stroll with Steve, Katherine, Tom and Alex.

Route: leaving the car in the car park of the Red Lion and heading north along the main road to take Butlers Road and Back Lane to find a track heading across fields. After 2km and after crossing a small stream, heading right down a field close to a hedge to cross a small bridge at the bottom and then following a bridleway up muddy fields eventually to cross a road on the top of the ridge. Turning right to circumnavigate a field before crossing another road and following a footpath parallel to the ridge but slightly downhill to the west. After crossing the A3400, two more fields and a wood, bearing right to look at the Whispering Stones, the Rollright Stone Circle and the Kings Stone. Then continuing along the road SW to take a path north across fields and then a quiet road back to Long Compton.

Conditions: some hints of sun but a stiff wind.

Pub: the Red Lion, Long Compton for Hook Norton Hooky; Goff's Jouster, Wickwar Cotswold Way and lunch.

10 km Loughrigg Circuit

A 10km run from the Badger Bar on a mix of terrains.

Route: leaving the car, with permission, at the Badger Bar and, because the footbridge over the river was closed after flood damage, heading south to pick to the start of the Under Loughrigg Road and turning right to take the higher path to the caves and the start of the Loughrigg Terrace. Along that to Red Bank, down to Loughrigg Tarn taking a footpath on the left to cut the corner to the path climbing relentlessly to the spur and along that to Lily Tarn. Down the normal descent path at Miller Brow. Here heading a little uphill to find a footpath cutting the corner to join Under Loughrigg Road and on this to the A591 and back to the Badger Bar.

Conditions: cold (~2C) but some sun.

Pub: Badger Bar, Rydal joined by Ian Lyne (who had completed the Cumbrian Cracker cycle ride) for Barngates Red Bull Terrier and Catnap and lunch.

Troutbeck Tootle

A quick run on a dull day with Ian (who had stayed for dinner with Cicerone folk the previous night) but without Lois.

Route: leaving the car on the first left turn before the church in Troutbeck and running through the Limefitt caravan park, past its Haybarn Inn and thus onto the be-puddled bridleway towards the head of the valley on the eastern side. At the Tongue, taking the first footbridge to cross the stream to pick up the track on the other side of the valley but diverging from it on a grassy footpath across a field to join the quiet road back along the valley bottom. At the point where the road turns right to Old Town, taking a narrow walled path (Truss Lane) straight on eventually rising to meet the main road. Crossing over and heading another 200m up a narrow road to take a left turn on a path descending to the church and hence back to the start. 

Conditions: very wet under foot but initial rain soon stopping. 

Pub: The Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for WPA and Cumbrian Five Hop and lunch, joined by Lois.