Scout Scar 10km

An early morning 10km run within Scout Scar, for the first time in ages.

Route: leaving the car at Helsington church at 8:20am (the on-road parking just before the turning already full) and running back along the road, entering the Scar and turning right roughly parallel to the Brigsteer Road to the Embankment and then following the middle contouring path with a view of the Wandering Cairn to the left before bending left uphill to reach the Gate-in-the-Corner. Descending parallel with the wall back towards the road and bending left and the rising again to the hand-gate on the main path. Following this path back towards the racecourse though, near the end, taking the little-used right-hand alternative to maintain C-19 social distancing. Recrossing the main path and following a path with the racecourse over a wall to the right to reach the other main ascent path and following this in the direction of the Mushroom. On reaching the summit plateau wall turning right along it to the end by the Underbarrow Road and then up the gravel track with views of Cunswick Scar at the top. Then back along the edge of the Scar, following the Green Track at the end, and then back along the road to the church.

Conditions: hot and sunny even at 9am.

Pub? Well, C-19 conditions of course but 10am seemed too early to trouble the scorekeeper.

Red Screes

A 10 km walk and run from the top of the pass starting comparatively early to miss the heat of the day.

Route: starting from the car park on a layby by the Kirkstone Pass Inn as the car park was closed because of C-19 and heading straight up the re-engineered path to the top of Red Screes at a brisk walk. Then running down the grassy and occasionally a little marshy (even after the driest May on record) ridge towards Ambleside as far as the Struggle. Turning right and running down for a few hundred yards to taking the left turn following the signed bridleway, on an initially level track which then drops to cross the stream on a bridge and back up the far side of the valley onto the track linking farm cottages. Up this walking and running by turn to near the top of the Struggle and then walking steeply back to the start.

Conditions: brilliant sun and warm.

Pub? (C-19) somewhat reluctant to start drinking at noon so bottles of weak Hawkshead WPA and Fyne Brewery Jarl.

Calf Top

A 20km traverse of Britain's newest mountain walking the uphill sections and running the (flatter bits and) downhills, although mainly walking (especially on tarmac sections) towards the end of the day.

Route: leaving the car parked in Barbon and heading east along a road past the church and turning left on a track then a grassy path across fields. At a second crossroads of paths, turning right steeply uphill and through a wall to find a clear track in the grass snaking uphill to arrive at the cairn at Eskholme Pike. Continuing now less steeply to rise to the head of a valley and cross to Castle Knott. Descending, running, to the next saddle and ascending to the summit of Calf Top. Then running along the rest of the long summit ridge descending to Combe Top and Long Bank End. After a while, diverting from the ridge to arrive at Fellside and down a zigzagging road to cross the A683 and turn left on a descending track through woodland next to the river After crossing fields recrossing the A683 to climb on the c-road before continuing on a path to Ullathorns and Tossbeck and Millhouse. Then on paths via Sowermire Farm and Borwens to join another c-road and walk a final (long) kilometre back to the start.

Conditions: hot and sunny.

Pub? (C-19) bottles of Vintage Henney’s cider and Weston (Sainsbury’s) 0.9% cider in the summer house.

Between Mintsfeet and Hagg Foot beside the Kent

A 13km run along the Kent, the third such recent run.

Route: leaving the car parked in the Mintsfeet Industrial Estate near the start of the path to the footbridge over the Kent, taking this to cross the river and then descend to an informal but very obvious path along the river north. Eventually forced onto Burneside Road but taking a right turn after 50 metres to rejoin the river along a right of way across attractive gardens (of houses on Kentrigg) and then swinging round the Carus Green golf course peninsula. Crossing the Burneside Road to take a footpath raised above the road on the left to the outskirts of Burneside and then along the traffic-free short road behind Junction Cottages. Crossing the river and running 200 metres east to find a footpath (part of the Dales Way) round the mill and rejoin the river along fields to Bowston. Then along more fields to reach the footbridge at Hagg Foot. Crossing this and returning through Cowan Head and along a path to Bowston and stopping here for two half pints of cask ale (paid for by T on his phone with slow-witted recollection of the process), the first since Monday 23 March (two calendar months ago). Then retracing our steps but keeping closer to the river along an informal park in Burneside and then again on a path leaving the village and hence staying on the Burneside Road itself for 100 metres before the Carus Green golf course peninsula.

Conditions: 100% cloud and very windy to start with (after two days of high winds) but not cold.

Pub? (C-19) The Handsome Brewery, Bowston, for halves of Handsome Blonde enjoyed on the river bank 100 metres away, overseen by a heron perched in a tree.

Between Hawes Bridge and Wilson Place beside the Kent

A 5+km run on a blustery cloudy evening.

Leaving the car near the village hall in Natland and running south along the road and right to Cracalt Farm. Here finding that the farmer had deliberately blocked the footpath (and being told by one of the farm workers that ‘my boss has blocked it because his parents are vulnerable to the virus’) deciding to reverse the plan by continuing south on tracks and grassy paths to Larkrigg Hall Bridge and thence to the river to cross the footbridge at Wilson Place. Running along tarmac roads through Low Wood Park caravan site, past many derelict buildings and other structures from the old Sedgwick gunpowder works, and onto paths beside a initially dry and later full though still leat. Through trees on a clear path and then across a field, again on a clear path and finally on a path through woods that would be muddy in wetter conditions. Right over Hawes Bridge and, because of the blocked path up to Cracalt, continuing up the road to the start.

Conditions: blustery wind, 100% cloud but not cold.

Pub? (C-19) a shared can of Gipsy Hill Hepcat IPA before La Pekora Nera delivery pizza.

Beacon Hill and Knott (Great Asby Scar)

An 8km run, walking a couple of steeper ascents.

Route: leaving the car in the centre of Orton and running north to take the first right then a road left parallel to a stream. Where the road seemed to end, turning right for 100 metres on a track, then left for 100 metres and then left for 100 metres again to reach the desired northbound path, parallel to a stream and across grass, through a farm and then rising more steeply across a field to join the road briefly. After a cattle grid turning right keeping parallel with a wall on the right and rising through a small scar to a summit plateau and a Celtic cross. Then further along the wall to a gate, through this and heading downhill to another wall and then, when the grassy path bent right, heading sharp left on another faint path uphill, picking paths in the direction of the summit. From the summit aiming southwest to cairns at the edge of a plateau and bumbling slowly down through rocky outcrops to a track. Missing the planned first left and taking a second across long grass and uneven ground to join a road, right along this road and then across fields again to cross Street Lane and continue by paths into Orton.

Conditions: cloudy with gusty wind, strong and cool on the summit.

Pub? (C-19) bottles of Hawkshead WPA and Wold Top Scarborough Fair IPA in the summerhouse.

7km Kentmere run including the Three Rivers path

An evening 7km run in Kentmere for the first time in several weeks.

Route: leaving the car parked near the Ullthwaite Bridge, crossing the bridge and running along the track past Croft Head and right along a path through the pottery to the Hollingworth & Vose factory. Running through the factory yard to take the green valley bottom path towards Kentmere Hall but at a crossroads in the woods near the end, bending slightly left to rise to reach the return path, climbing slowly onto the moors. At the crossroads of paths at a stream crossing, taking the left turn descending the Three Rivers path, diverting just before the end of the controversial resurfacing onto a grassy track for 100 metres. Back past Croft Head and down the road to Ullthwaite Bridge and the car.

Conditions: cloudy but humid.

Pub? (C-19) G&T at home with a Facetime call to Paul and Katya.

Benson Knott

A 6+km run uphill on tiring terrain.

Route: unable to fit into the single car layby by the start of the path, leaving the car in a 4-car substantial layby just south of the railway line on the A685, Appleby Road, and running east 200m along the main road and at a footpath sign heading up a rough stony track then onto a grassy path making its way uphill, out of one field at the left hand corner and out of the next at a stile with an open access land map, near the trees. Heading up to the slightly lower pike to the right with a trig point and then crossing to the summit with a cairn. Then heading downhill south by southeast, initially on a track and later on a narrow path, to see whether there was any natural access to the Fisher Tarn Reservoir land (there wasn’t). Turning left, north, and keeping close to the edge of the access land over hillocks and across what would normally have been marshy ground gaining height again to reach the in-bound stile. Descending straight down a wide smooth grassy path parallel with the edge of the field before turning left along an unmarked right of way, across a stile and back to the outward stony track.

Conditions: after a day of mainly cloud, some hints of sun.

Pub? (C-19) Saltaire Cascade and Citra in the summer house.

An evening circuit north, east and south of Howe Bank Close

An urban evening run from home that went a little off track (without the Expedition Leader - "Mornin!"- and his OS app)

Route: Leaving home to run along Hayclose Road as far as Kendal Parks Road to turn right towards the new houses and left to cross the beck and run up the field to the path beside the railway line, running into Bluebell Wood. Staying with the track through the wood as far as possible, at the end (now) forced left into the estate but continuing to follow all the rightmost ginnels as far as the lane that runs up east from Valley Drive towards Birk Hagg, crossing the railway line and the beck and passing the barn conversions to run up to Singleton Park Road. There turning left and then (mistakenly) taking the next right, up the drive towards a big (unmarked) house, turning right at the end past Birklands Old Mill and crossing to a lane. Taking this to run across the railway line again and then turn left through open gates to cross two fields northeast towards the head of the deep-gorged spring.

There joining a path up to the right, over a stile beside a gate and turning immediately left to continue to cross northeast towards a house on Paddy Lane (not named on the maps). There joining Paddy Lane, running down to Hayclose Lane and along to the Station Inn, there crossing to follow the front-of-Helm road down to the A65 and on down Helm Lane towards the centre of Natland. Turning right before the green to follow Abbey Drive and Longmeadow Lane as far as the footpath leading across a couple of fields back up to the railway line.

Following this back to the A65 and turning left and then right before Brow Head Farm to cross the fields (with a brief detour round a tempting field to the right with a strong path but (now) no clear exit) back to Oxenholme Road and home.

Conditions: Initially bright but clouding over, with tantalising sun in the distance to the south

Pub? Nope, straight to supper with T.

Between Romney Bridge and Hawes Bridge beside the Kent

A 6+km flat run along the river, the day the weather changed.

Route: leaving the car by the K Shoes Factory on Natland Road and taking the signposted footpath to the factory car park and, possibly mistakenly, precariously along the river bank itself climbing back up, scaling a gate and crossing Watercrook Lane to a marked footpath, cutting the corner of the river and passing a tumulus before running alongside the river to Hawes Bridge. Crossing the bridge and following a signed path, diverging from the river to pass a mill, and then crossing the lower reaches of Scroggs Wood along the river, past the sewage works and to Romney Bridge. Back along the river through the park and then Natland Road to the start.

Conditions: much colder than of late at 9C, cloudy and windy.

Pub? (C-19) A shared bottle of Abbot in the summerhouse.

A sip of cider by the sea! Silverdale and Arnside

A 45km cycle circuit on a glorious Saturday.

Route: from the Close, down Oxenholme Road, left on Burton Road and the length of Natland Millbeck Lane and up to Natland to leave Gloria a birthday tart. Then on to the first left turn diagonally uphill to the ridge, down towards Crosscrake and left for a short spell on the A65 before turning right to follow the stream to Stainton, the canal and on to Viver. On the outskirts of Milnthorpe taking Paradise Lane to Beetham, steeply uphill to Slack Head and then through woodland descending to a junction where turning right and then the next left to Silverdale. Continuing on and dismounting the bikes to stand on the beach at the Cove. Then uphill to the back of Arnside buying a bottle of cider and arriving at the front seconds after the bore had passed. Continuing to Storth and stopping on the ex-railway embankment in the left to drink the cider and eat cashews to be told, also, about the Belah Viaduct by an enthusiast. Then home via the flat land by the estuary, Heversham and Well Head Lane.

Conditions. Hot and sunny. 21C.

Pub? A shared bottle of cider on the grassy front near Storth.

Scout Hill

A 9km run with extended walking interludes.

Route: leaving the car parked on a layby of the A65 just west of Jubilee Lane near Fowlstone and taking a path off a yard in Fowlstone and immediately turning left, north-west, following a footpath sign, apparently through a garden and then heavy going slightly uphill in long grass, crossing three fields to reach Crabtree. Turning right up a track, at a walk, and at a Y-junction heading north uphill to the corner of a field and then across fields for 1.5km keeping a wall on the left and ignoring the possibility of roughing it to the top of Scout Hill to the right. Descending to a c-road and heading generally downhill past Tarnhouse Tarn and High Row Farm and then, boldly and with no right, turning right onto a track obviously made to service the summit transmitter and following this, at a walk, to the summit. Descending south-west to pick up a faint track, through a gate and down to join the footpath to Lupton High (and a donkey). Keeping south-east first across lush grass hiding uneven hard mud and then down a track back to the start.

Conditions: cloudy but very humid giving way to some sun (the clouds clearing later in the day).

Pub? (C-19) A shared bottle of Abbot in the summer house.

Scout Scar with Burnbarrow trespass

A very short (4.5km) run though breaking new ground

Route: leaving the car parked on the Brigsteer Road just before the turn off to Helsington church and running onto the Scar. Keeping to the left and running round to the geological fault-line. Descending off the main path close to the wall as far as a gate. Turning left through it, not strictly legally, onto a verdant field and heading back uphill to climb above Burnbarrow Scar and look around. After exploring, descending again down to Barrowfield and then walking back steeply up onto the Scar. Running past Dave’s Cairn onto the top of the plateau and then south parallel to the wall and Pook’s Peak, back onto the green track and thence to the car.

Conditions: still, cloudless sky and sunny. 16C.

Pub? (C-19) a bottle of St Austell Proper Job (for T) in the summer house.

Old Hutton, Bendrigg and Millholme

A 15km evening cycle ride.

Route: from the Close heading uphill on the B6254 past the station and the Station Inn descending eastwards and then climbing past Middleshaw and Old Hutton. Just before the M6 turning left and climbing to cross the motorway, turning left and continuing to climb to Bendrigg, then descending and continuing as far as a view of the dam of the Killington reservoir but too low to see the water. Returning to take a right to cross the motorway, descending and then turning right and left to Millholme and trending left to follow the road to St Sunday’s Bridge and thence home.

Conditions: hazy sun but a cool breeze.

Pub? (C-19) A can of Galway Bay Brewery, Bay Ale Red Ale for T while L did further exercise.

Saint Sunday's Beck through Bleasehall Wood

A 10km Sunday afternoon run on a glorious day.

Route: from the Close heading uphill past the station to the Station Inn and right onto the Helm, crossing the ridge at the northerm end, descending to the tarn and then steeply down to find a gate out onto the road near Helmside Farm.

Taking the footpath to Underhelm Farm and across fields with a good view of a substantial Victorian air valve/syphon well to join the B6254 and heading east for 200 metres. There turning right towards Strickley and then heading left uphill over a hillock along the edge of a field with views from the top. Descending to cross a field, a footbridge and then another field to reach Blease Hall and, along a track and then besides fields meeting first Gloria and Paul and then the Williams family and then reaching Bleasehall Wood at peak bluebell season and running through.

From here along rutted fields by St Sunday’s Beck to cross a footbridge, uphill to Stang and a little along a road before taking the first footpath to the right, due north, rising to gain a view of the Helm and then descending towards the rather diminished tarn. Rising uphill to the road under the Helm, climbing to the summit of the Helm from the east and along the ridge to descend home.


Conditions: a much better weekend than forecast and a fine sunny day, 17C.

Pub?

Whitbarrow Scar

A fine if slow ~10km run around novel parts of Whitbarrow Scar.

Route: leaving the car at the side of the quiet road which probably formed the original route of the A590 near the road to Raven’s Lodge and running up this, past the farm and then left along a track under White Scar gaining height.

Shortly after entering a wood and passing a bench, angling right uphill to climb onto the top of the plateau and then through and back through a wall to gain more height to enjoy fine views south over the Kent Estuary. Then taking paths rising gently, with views over the Winster valley and to the Lakeland Fells to reach the summit. Further north and east to cross a wall stile and, where the marked path turned left, continuing forward to a T-junction.

Here, doglegging left then right on a faint but definite path for 100 metres to reach another later track and turning right on this with a wall of limestone to the left. Following this, quickly becoming overgrown, for 2km, at times at walking pace picking a way round, under and over fallen trees and generally descending until the valley broadened slightly with grass under foot. Continuing slightly uphill until the higher ground to the left (east) came to an end and descending, with limestone under foot, to another T-junction. Here turning right and running slightly uphill to reach a wooden byre with cows and descending steeply left on a clear track, through a gate, left at a junction and right onto a path and following this down to Rawsons and then on a track back to Raven’s Lodge and thus the car.

Conditions: cloud and sun but warm.

Pub? (C-19) Bottles of Hawkshead WPA and Moorhouse Pendle Witches’ Brew in the summer house.