An arduous near 10km solitary run.
Route: leaving the car on the top road in Troutbeck and running north to find Nanny Lane, the walled track ascending onto the fellside. Running up this very slowly until it levels and then on in very marshy conditions. Ignoring the left turn to Wansfell Pike and staying on the road to a bend and stream where the path becomes drier. Towards the end, climbing a stile to the left to find a clear grassy path, again very marshy, initially by the road but later diverging left and becoming steeper (resulting in 50 yards of walking) to reach the small cairn of the summit. Then on an undulating path along the summit, sometimes very wet, to reach Wansell Pike. Then descending to the observatory and then first missing but backtracking to take a woodland short cut to find Robin Lane, the main track looping round the bottom of the fell to Troutbeck. Running this seems quite uphill for a couple of kilometers.Conditions: low cloud and mist.
Pub: the Riflemans, Kendal, joined by Lois for Greene King Abbot Ale.
