On a lovely day, a run with fine views but marred by increasing mud under foot.
Route: leaving the car with others in a layby close to the A590 near Mill Side, running uphill for 200m before turning right along a track (marked as a footpath) to Low Fell End, through the farm and across a field to a gate leading to a narrower stony path heading uphill in trees. After 100m, turning right onto a more main track and along this past Whitbarrow Cottage. 400m further on taking a sharp left turn to climb up hill and turn left again on a wide track. Following this under cliffs until it entered wood and turning right up a muddier path gaining the main plateau. The path turning muddier, heading along the obvious line to gain a first subsidiary summit with views over the Kent, the central fells, the Kendal fells and the Howgills. Continuing along the summit plateau passing wind-bent juniper trees and eventually climbing a long summit ridge to a well-built cairn. Continuing north to descend, taking the left-hand at a fork until eventually reaching a wall running east-west. Here beginning to descend to the west on steep scree to reach a permissive path in the woods and along this increasingly muddy path until it opened into a field. Here turning left on a track and over a stile to a track damaged by felling operations and almost impassably muddy. On reaching Beck Head, descending back to the car.Conditions: very sunny and warm.
Pub: the Hare and Hounds, Levens for Bowness Brewery Swan Blond and Kirkby Lonsdale Red Radical.
