Troutbeck Tongue

A 12km run round and along Troutbeck Tongue with Steve M.

Route: Leaving the car in the lay-by just before the bus stop just before the church at Troutbeck and running through the Limefitt caravan park, past its Haybarn Inn and thus onto the bridleway towards the head of the valley on the eastern side. Ignoring the first footbridge at the end of the Tongue and continuing to the second and then along the valley floor until it rises. Here taking a land-rover track across marshy ground to the top of the low ridge at the back of the Tongue. Turning left onto a narrow path across the marsh and then on a track to a stile. Continuing, rising slowly on marshy ground to the summit cairn. Descending a steep muddy path, at a walk, becoming steepest and muddiest at the very end before turning right, south, on a bridleway, and then left off it on a pleasant grassy path to the valley-bottom road. Along this for 2km and then turning left onto a walled track rising to cross the A592 onto a minor road. After 200m, turning left onto a track at a crossroads and along this back to the church.

Conditions: low cloud and misty but no rain.

Pub: the Watermill, Ings, for Windermere Collie Wobbles, Black Dog IPA and Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby and lunch.

Carron Crag and its environs

A 17km run, (increasingly) walking the (steeper) uphill bits.

Route: leaving the car where the road widens 200m north of High Nibthwaite and running back through the village to take a left turn to pick up the stony track slowly ascending onto the fellside, with improving views over the lake to all the Coniston fells. Passing Low Parkamoor and shortly afterwards entering Grizedale Forest, first on a narrow path later on wide forest roads to reach a crossroads north of Carron Crag. Turning right and immediately right again off the right of way along another forest road. After a left turn taking a stony path uphill to the (today crowded!) summit of Carron Crag. Descending onwards eventually to reach another forest road, turning right and then right again onto a path roughly parallel with the road, then joining it to a crossroads. Here turning left and following the road generally gently downhill, spurning two left turns, and turning left, over a bridge over Farra Grain gill, passed by two large, enthusiastic but apparently owner-less, hounds. Rising at a walk and then descending more steeply down the road, joined by a right of way, to turn right on a softer track that became a path through a wall and then rising, again at a walk, on what seemed a very old footpath eventually emerging from trees, descending damply then climbing under Old Parrock Hill and descending now quite slowly. Just short of Low Bethercar turning right within the Right to Roam land and climbing over a final spur, then down to High Bethecar and then descending on a treacherous path next to Caws Beck to High Nibthwaite and thence back along the road to the car.

Conditions: high cloud, dry and a surprisingly balmy 9C.

Pub: the Ship, Greenodd, for Greenodd Brewery Wanaka Light, Kiln Bitter, Caskade and Greenodd Roundabout.

Circuit of Wythop Valley

A fine 16km circuit of the Wythop Valley on a bright sunny Autumn day.

Route: leaving the car at Brunston Bridge (space for 10 cars) and walking up and along the quiet road almost as far as the farm house at Kelswick, there turning sharp left at a signpost to traverse a gently rising grassy track back to the wall at the end of the ridge, just before which turning right to follow the right hand variant of the path to the summit though switching to the left near the top for views over Bassenthwaite. Downhill in line with the Dodd to a gap in the wall and up to a subsidiary summit and then down to a subtle saddle turning right to take a scratchy path through gorse doglegging right-left to follow a path to Sustrans Route 71. At the edge of the forest plantation (currently felled) taking a path just inside the plantation but exiting to the right on a level path horse-shoeing round the ridge protruding south-west from Ladies Table. At a gate taking an initially subtle path slowly gaining height over the valley through the oak trees of Hagg Wood and targets for woodland archery dotted around. Climbing to a stile on the hillside and then descending on a narrow path to reach the forest road at Beck Wythop. Turning right and following this to gain altitude turning left, right, right and, just before the road re-enters thicker forest to the left, taking a faint track forwards to cross a fence onto the hillside at a stile. Turning left along the fence and then after a while heading half right, pathless uphill to gain the ridge and find the path from Barf to the summit of Lord’s Seat. Descending and taking the ridge to Broom Fell and then down to Widow Hause - where the forest to the left had been felled - and then up to the northern subsidiary summit of Graystones (ignoring the proper summit). Descending almost due north on the left of a collapsed wall, crossing a stile and then an easily climbed fence, staying on the left on a clear path through marshy ground. On the wide valley bottom turning right through an open gateway and then left now on right to roam land easily traversing Tom Rudd Beck to reach dry land under Ling Fell. Taking an initially steep path on the right hand side of a fence, and never far from it, to the summit right where right to the cairn. Descending north-west to find a grassy track leading on to the corpse road and thence back to Eskin and then by road to the car.

Conditions: bright low sun and a cool breeze.

Pub: the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, for Cumbrian Legenday Ales Loweswater Gold and home-made crisps.

Kendal to Underbarrow via Helsington Church

A 12km jog/walk to meet Andrew and Diane at the Black Labrador, Underbarrow, for lunch.

Route: leaving home and descending Oxenholme Road to Murley Moss and along a wet footpath to cross the A65 and join Natland Millbeck Lane, turning left onto the canal towpath (Lois taking a heavy tumble here but bravely carrying on). Across muddy fields to reach Hawes Bridge and then across the A591 to join a faint path uphill keeping a wall/hedge to the right, walking. Across a minor road and then a field with worryingly frisky cows repeatedly galloping towards us. Escaping via a farm yard and turning left along a track across fields to Helsington Church. Then by familiar ways along the edge of the Scar to the path descending to Barrowfield and then via Tullythwaite House to Underbarrow.

Conditions: low cloud and faint drizzle but no rain.

Pub: the Black Labrador, Underbarrow, for Hawkshead Bitter, Windermere Brewery Golden Retriever and lunch with Andrew and Diane who gave us a lift home afterwards.