Cycle circuit of the north half of Lake Windermere

A 33km final day of the relocated Back in the Saddle cycle holiday with Ian and Steve.

Route: taking the 10:30am train from Oxenholme to Windermere and heading north on a very busy A591 to Ambleside to buy take-away provisions from the Apple Pie Café and Bakery. Heading south round the one-way system to Rothay Bridge, Clappersgate, and then the minor road (aka Sustrans 637) to Skelwith Fold and steeply uphill to reach the road under Black Crag to the Drunken Duck for a pint outside (and sneakily eaten lunch). Onwards to Knipe Fold and descending to cycle through Hawkshead and west round Esthwaite Water, briefly contemplating but rejecting a half pint at the Cuckoo Brow, and look at the recently-sold Firbank (Philip Sparling’s cottage). Descending to the ferry - via the Hatch (ice cream!) - and then steeply climbing to have a cream tea bravely in fine drizzle on the terrace at Blackwell. Then back to the station via Bowness and the A5074 to catch the 3:54pm train.

Conditions: despite a better forecast, another damp and drizzly day.

Pubs: The Drunken Duck, Barngates, for Barngates Cracker, Goodhew’s Dry Stout. Later The Factory Tap, Kendal, (without Lois) for Fyne Jarl, Fyne Sublime, Fell Crag and Thornbridge Jaipur 

Arnside and Silverdale cycle loop

A 45km cycle second day of the relocated Back in the Saddle cycle holiday with Ian and Steve.

Route: from the house down Oxenholme Road and along Natland Mill Beck Lane and Wintergreen Lane to reach Natland Road to Natland. Along to Sedgwick and Hincaster (stopping to investigate the canal tunnel, completed Christmas Day 1817) eventually taking the second turning for Heversham for Steve to point out his (maternal) grandparents’ much-frequented holiday house. Then via Sustrans route 700 across Milnthorpe Marsh to rejoin the road to Arnside and cycle to the Albion for a pint outside, to await the Arnside Bore (forlornly). Afterwards, steeply ascending the hill to reach the coast at Far Arnside and then the Woodlands Hotel for a further beer. Heading onwards via Beetham along the overgrown Paradise Lane to Ackenthwaite and home via Viver, the end of the canal and the rising ridge to descending into Natland and the outward route.

Conditions: another damp and grey day but with little sustained rain.

Pubs: the Albion, Arnside, for Thwaites Gold and the Bore; the Woodland Hotel, Silverdale, for Titanic Machiato and Cross Bay Citra. Later: Indiecraft, Kendal, for (2/3 glasses of) Verdant Marylou, Verdant Remembering V2, Deya Steady Rolling Man, Tempest Elemental and Fell Tropical Mango Hi-Gloss.

 

Lyth Valley cycle loop

The 35km first day of the 3-day relocated Back in the Saddle cycle holiday with Ian and Steve.

Route: leaving the house and heading down Oxenholme Road into Kendal, crossing Romney Bridge, turning right and ascending via Anchorite Fields and Gillinggate to Brigsteer Road to the edge of Scout Scar and thence to St John’s Church, Helsington, pausing to look inside. Descending to the Wheatsheaf, Brigsteer, for pre-prandial half pints. Then on via Underbarrow and Dobby Lane to the Crook Road to Staveley and the Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall. Home via the back road from Barley Bridge turning right into Burneside and back via Kent Bank and later Valley Drive.

Conditions: initially persistent drizzle and low cloud but later a few brief glimpses of sun.

Pubs: the Wheatsheaf, Brigsteer, for Robinson’s Dizzy Blonde and Cumbria Way and Bowness Bay Fellwalker; the Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall for Brodie’s Prime, WPA, Mosaic, and Hawkshead Bitter. Later the New Union, Kendal, (Beer Festival) for Lakes Brew Co West Coast IPA, Floreffe Dubbel, Arbor Blue Skye Drinking, Marble Pint, Fallen Local Motive, Top Out First Crack and Lakes Brew Co Pale Ale.

NHS couch to 5km session around Great Broughton

The final session of week 6 of the couch to 5km (running for 25 minutes).

Route: leaving the car parked oustide the Punchbowl and heading west on a minor road (also Sustrans 71). At a corner failing to find the track to the right and crossing a field instead, joining the track at the next corner. Following a green track to turn left on a road (towards Broughton Moor) and turning right on a path through a nature reserve. Turning left on the next road and then right on another rather soggy green track back to Little Broughton and thence Main Street, Great Broughton and the pub.

Conditions: significant rain and low cloud.

Pub: the Punch Bowl, Great Broughton for Keswick Brewery KSB and Thirst Quencher.

Eco Parish Walk for COP26

A group walk to represent walking from Lorton to the COP conference in Glasgow.

Route: from St Cuthbert’s Church heading south to the crossroads and then on to Hopebeck, turning left to pass the Hope to High Swinside Farm. Following the path/green lane to Scales and down the road, past the village shop to Lorton Low Bridge and then to High Rogerscale for a picnic lunch at Rosemary’s house. Continuing west to Sandybeck Bridge to Abbeygate, past Southwaite Mill and along the road to Stanger. Then crossing fields past Stanger Spa to the start.

Conditions: initially low cloud and drizzle, then drying with even a hint of sun for lunch, with a light shower later.

Pub? a bottle of still cider with lunch. Much later Jarl at the Swan Inn, Cockermouth.

Great and Little Mell Fells

A 10km walk on a damp day with Paul Taylor.

Route: leaving the car in a layby (~6 cars) at the Hause and taking the path north towards Little Mell but immediately turning left to follow a fence line on a sometimes nettly path to Lowthwaite and joining the road to Green Row. Here, turning left on a signed path and taking the second right to descend towards a marsh. Accidentally following the tracks of previous walkers and ploughing on straight across a wet and unstable marsh getting very wet feet. On the far side, following a redirected path round Brownrigg Farm to turn right on the road. Shortly taking a left turn on a track towards Great Mell Fell and continuing along the track to the south west, diverting off it at a stile to join a path circling the fell. Diverting right off this on a clear uphill path between bracken and choosing options to keep on the vague ridge to the summit. Descending the same way but, at a slanted crossroads of paths, heading left to descend through the wood and picking up a circumnavigating path at the foot of the fell and turning right to reach the outward route and return to the marsh. This time following the route marked on the map by a fence for a much easier crossing. Setting off south along the road to a clear track heading gently uphill before switching back north to a broken stile. Continuing to a lateral partial hedge and here choosing simply to head directly uphill to the ridge and a subsidiary summit. Crossing two more fences (barbed wire calling for care) and a locked gate to reach the summit. From there descending directly to the Hause.

Conditions: low cloud, light breeze and sporadic light rain.

Pub: the Horse and Farrier, Dacre, for Corby Blonde, Fell Alph and lunch.

NHS couch to 5km session round Sale Fell

Today, a series of 5 minute runs with rather more uphill than might have been expected.

Route: leaving the car at St Margaret's Church above the Pheasant Inn and walking briskly through the churchyard to its upper rear gate and then across to the main footpath heading uphill to the right, round the hill gaining altitude slowly towards the west. Running to the shoulder and then onwards and downhill with gorse to left and right. Joining the metalled road to pass Kelswick and the remains of the old Wythop Church, continuing, for the first time, on a woodland path through Chapel Wood gaining altitude again. Turning left and walking steeply uphill to the shoulder at Lothwaite. Running back to the start.

Conditions: surprisingly sunny and warm.

Pub? The recently reopened Pheasant Hotel for iffy Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold and a soft drink.

NHS couch to 5km run from Mawbray Banks with later swim

The end of week 4 of the couch to 5km programme and what may have been the final swim of the season.

Route: leaving the car at the car park on the dirt track opposite the road into Mawbray from the B5300. Running north along wide grassy tracks through the scrubby grass and later sand dunes of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Site of Special Scientific Interest. Passing the mainly dried-up pools in which Natterjack Toads breed and then running along the dune edge by the shore. When the road squeezed close to, turning right down a tarmac cycle path by the road. At another small car park, turning back into the grassland and roughly retracing the outward route.

Later, parking at the Lanthwaite Wood NT car park (2/3 full at 3:30pm) and walking round to the pebbly beach under Dropping Crag on Melbreak and swimming for long enough to feel significant core body heat loss.

Conditions: cloudy and with a breeze but surprisingly warm.

Pub: after the run, the Lowther Arms community pub, Mawbray, for Hesketh Newmarket Skiddaw and Doris’ 90th Birthday and a light lunch of rich mushroom soup and fine bacon roll.