Brackenthwaite Hows run

A 6km run plus 1km walk back to the car 

Route: leaving the car at the Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park and taking a steep shortcut to reach the start of the the small path up Robin’s Steps to the summit plateau of Brackenthwaite Hows. Descending south and picking up the path within the wood by its eastern wall to join the small path descending to the boat house. Thence, round the lake, round the ‘Horn’, along the further swimming beach to walk up the hillside beyond the wall and to join the higher level path from along the lake. Experimenting, by taking a faint path on the left to attempt to maintain altitude and cut a corner but in fact finding no continuing path and running across a steep slope on soft ground hidden by leaves (so, not to be repeated). Continuing round the end of Mellbreak before descending to the Kirkstile Inn for lunch. Afterwards walking back along the road to the car park. 

Conditions: cold but bright and sunny.

Pub: The Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater for Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Esthwaite Bitter, Vanilla Oatmeal Stout and lunch.

Scout Scar 6.5km

An Outdoor Day because, as the first post Couch to 5km solitary off-road run, there seemed to be some jeopardy. (T only; L at church.)

Route: Route: from the normal midway layby (at GR 494899), a short steep ascent then bearing left to reach and then descend the escarpment and south across the fields towards Helsington before bending right onto the green track with views of the estuary. At the three-way junction, taking the middle track at a walk to reach the top of Pook’s Peek, to the next gate heading back left and then right to reach the the cliff edge of the Scar to the trig point and then the Mushroom. Back to the trip point and through the gate in the wall corner to descend along the edge of the escarpment to the start.

Conditions: after a damp autumn, a lovely sunny day.

Pub: after an Asda shop, Romneys for Agnes Ghost and **

High Crag via Sheepbone Rake

A walk on a blustery day with Ian Rawe.

Route: leaving the car at the NT car park, Buttermere, and walking to the west side of the lake and ascending the steps towards Red Pike for 10m, then turning left onto a grassy horizontal track, parallel to the lakeside path. Following this - marshy and wet after recent rain - as far as a fork, shortly after a stream crossing, where bearing right on a fainter path to a stile out of the woods. Turning left along a faint path above a wall, then gaining height more steeply into Burtness Combe. Picking up the path to High Stile for a while before turning left off it to head back into the combe towards the start of Sheepbone Rake, which involved some hand over hand work over moss and bilberry plants. Eventually ascending the Rake on a mix of path and scree and then heading right, surprisingly steeply, up chimneys to the summit plateau. Changing plans because of the wind and descending to Scarth Gap and back along the west of the lake.

Conditions: dry and warm for November but very windy on the summit.

Pub: the Buttermere Court (aka Fish) Hotel for Allendale Brewery Wolf and Wagtail and Great Corby Lakeland Summit and Mandarina