A 13.9km run along the river.Route: leaving the house and descending Oxenholme Road to Romney Bridge to pick up the riverside path and then along the pavement to the path by the Abbot Hall. After the footbridge diverting left because of flood works and then along the New Road new park, spuriously choosing to cross the new footbridge (Tim’s first time!) to Thorny Hills, back over Stramongate Bridge and then along the river. By the footbridge from Mintsfeet, descending to a muddy track along the river, exiting onto Aikrigg Avenue and along Burneside Road before taking a right turn onto another muddy track under the houses on Kentrigg and then round the Carus Green golf course (again very muddy) to join the paved footpath along Burneside Road to Burneside, diverting right along the park and then right on the c-road past Croppers’ paper mill to the Dales Way.
Across fields by the river to Bowston Bridge and then staying on the east of the river, past Cowan Head to Haggs Bridge. Again staying on the east of the river along a woodland track through Beckmickle Ing (perilous roots hidden by leaves) to join the Staveley ‘back road’ past the sewage works and then across fields to the footbridge into the Mill Yard.
Conditions: Warm sunshine (with tiny spits of rain in the air between Burneside and Bowston)! Forecast rain arriving only after finishing.
Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for Cumbrian Mosaic (keg) and Prime Porter (with a wake going on downstairs).
