Route: leaving the car at the Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park (free to members, initially full even on this second visit) and running down to the lake and then right along the shore past the pumping station and along under Melbreak. At the end of the fell trending right to meet and stay on the right hand side of a stream, slowing to walk to climb onto the saddle further up the valley from Scale Force. Then turning right to climb another 100m parallel to a fence to reach a low shoulder underneath the end of Melbreak. From here running again, first along a level sometimes marshy track (though far less marshy than normal) then descending to reach a firmer stony track along eventually descending to the Kirkstile for a pint. Then to the old phone box and turning right and then left on footpaths to Muncaster House and thence to the shore, again, and back to the car park.
Conditions: what had been a very windy day almost immediately calming down. Warm or hot sun.
Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Esthwaite Bitter and a girly shandy.
