Lorton to Braithwaite over the Lord's Seat fells

A 13km run from the cottage to Middle Ruddings to say goodbye to Andy, Liz and Tom on their penultimate day at the helm (sniff).

Route: from the cottage taking the steep cyclists' route to the start of Whinlatter and crossing to take the rough path zig-zagging up and then contouring round below High How. Turning up right to gain the How and then bearing left to leave the field in the corner and then contouring west and then north on the fairly new track. After descending slightly, heading right up a grassy track to the southern outlier of Kirkfell and then following faint paths north to the summit and clearer ones east and then southeast (over a subsidiary summit) to reach Graystones. From here heading north to meet the fence and follow it down right to cross Widow Hause (the slopes below all clear-felled now) and on up to the summit of Broom Fell and on to Lord's Seat on clear paths, with occasional marshy bits, passing a steady stream of friendly walkers. From Lord's seat following the obvious path down southeast and, at the second clear turning, bearing left to join the 'North Loop' MTB route and run 1.5km down, bearing slowly round the east side of Seat How.
Due south of Seat How, turning down left on a wide grassy path through trees bending round the head of the Comb Beck ravine, and then turning left again to join the excellent reinforced Two Gills Path  running steeply down the narrow wooded valley with the first gill/beck, crossing another wide forest track and dog-legging right-left across a forest road to continue down to follow Comb Beck down to Thornthwaite on wider paths.

Reaching Thornthwaite and running down through the village to turn right in the centre on the track running south out of the village to come to a minor road. Crossing this to pick up the trail on a much smaller footpath, later on overhung by trees and fenced in to the left, exiting to the left over a stile to run down a field to Lane Foot Farm and turn right along a minor road to the back entrance to Middle Ruddings.

Conditions: Surprisingly bright and sunny with excellent visibility most of the way after a week of terrible weather, clouding over for 3 hours of bus stop (in-)action

Pub: At Middle Ruddings, in two shifts (pre and post the non-arrival of a theoretical 1437 bus to Buttermere): Twisted Wheel Brew Co, Speed Wobble, Fell Brewery, Numbers Game, Full Circle Brew Co, Looper, Keswick Brewing Co, Time for a Pint and Brew York, Brownie Pints.