A circuit of Sale Fell

A 7km run on a day of very mixed weather.

Route: Leaving the car opposite the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, and running 50m past the pub towards the fell but immediately turning left on a footpath, first, across the pub’s Residents’ Lawn, and then, through trees, rising gradually into Forestry Commission land. At a junction (call this ‘Point P’), turning right along a track but very soon bending slightly left onto a level path exiting the forest at Routenbeck. Turning left and running uphill on the road to take a diagnonal left path shortly before the church and following this, sometimes walking, in heavier rain and strong headwind to reach the western limit of Sale Fell (a low shoulder) before continuing, descending, on a narrow muddy path to Kelswick (herding sheep along the path in front of us). 

Continuing past the remains of the old church into Church Wood, rising slightly and, at a narrow Y-junction, taking the rightmost fork to avoid climbing and then to enter the forestry land at a gate. Running first along a track and then a gravel forest road, taking one zigzag but then continuing on a mapped shortcut, steeply and muddily downhill at a walk, crossing another forest road to take another direct path to Point P. Here, turning right to explore a path towards the fort and then running left along the road back to the start.

Conditions: cool in light rain driven hard by the wind rounding the fell, but surprisingly warm out of both wind and rain by the end.

Pub: the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, for Bowness Bay Brewery, Swift Bitter.

Ambleside to Grasmere over Loughrigg

A solitary 8.5km walk (Lois at a meeting and then addressing Grasmere School).

Route: taking the 11:21am train from Oxenholme to Windermere and then the 505 bus to Ambleside and walking past St Mary’s Church and across Rothay Park to Underfell Road. Taking the wide track up over the shoulder of Loughrigg and then right on muddier paths to the summit. 

Descending on a steep path, in the process of being pitched by Fix the Fells, and then left from the end of the terrace into the woods. Descending gently on a wide woodland track as far as the junction with the road but turning back right to meet the lakeshore path. Following this back along eventually climbing back to the road and then, right, along that to Tweedies, Grasmere.

Conditions: 8C, mainly cloudy but some hints of wintry sun.

Pub: Tweedies, Grasmere, for Cumbrian Ales Loweswater Gold.

Circuit from Kendal to take in Skelsmergh church

A 9km run so that Lois could see the Skelsmergh church war memorial before conducting a Remembrance Day service the following day.

Route: taking the 41 bus to the Kendal bus station and running north along the riverside footpath to cross the footbridge over the river and run along the east side of the river to the A6. Crossing the river on the road bridge and turning left along Gilthwaiterigg Lane, initially between industrial units becoming a more countrified c-road. Turning right on a footpath at Gilthwaiterigg, between buildings and across a precarious ladder stile, to run over fields, past signs of the Thirlmere aqueduct, to reach a busy c-road near Lowegroves; turning right down the A6 to the road to St John the Baptist, Skelsmergh. 

After looking at the war memorials, continuing downhill to turn right onto a path north of the River Mint past a campsite to where the Thirlmere aqueduct crosses the river and using this to get to the other side (an easy climb of two metal fences and a wide path above the pipes). Then following the river to turn left on the A6 to find a footpath/snickleway starting left off White Stiles, eventually across the tall iron footbridge over the railway line to Lidl (where buying spirits) and continuing at a walk to Masons at Yard 46. (Returning home by bus.)

Conditions: a completely colourless grey day.

Pub: Masons at Yard 46, for Cumbrian Ales, Loweswater Gold. 

7km circuit of Lorton village

A run round the village on a grey November afternoon before driving back to Kendal.

Route: leaving the cottage and running south along the road and round the corner past the village hall to the lane to Hill Mill and then on to Low Swinside. Crossing to the far side of the farmyard to find a path over three fields to reach a c-road, turning right, north, for 500m. Taking a right turn onto a path across a field to join the enclosed track back to Hill Mill. Turning left and following a track by the stream back to the same c-road and right to a crossroads in the middle of Lorton. 

Turning left to the main Low Lorton crossroads and right past the pub to the new footpath at the north end of the village back to Church Lane and back to the church. Then left on another footpath to the c-road past Lorton Park and home.

Conditions: grey but mild and dry.

Pub? No but, earlier, the Punchbowl, Great Broughton, for East London Brewery, Walthamstow Green Hopped Pale Ale and Unsworth’s Yard, Cartmel, Last Wolf.

Circuit of Loweswater

A 7km run round Loweswater on a dry but grey October day.

Route: leaving the car at the substantial lay-by to the west end of Loweswater (by a former phone box now defibrillator) and ascending the tarmac track to Miresyke at a slow run and then walking on a rough stony track to the green lane. Descending the green lane, running, to the road and then along it, climbing gently, to the track down to Maggie’s Bridge and along to the south-west side of Loweswater. 

Running along wide, clear, level paths with views of the lake, eventually climbing to Hudson Place and descending towards Waterend but turning right on a path to reach the car. 

Conditions: 12C and mainly cloudy. 

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater (surprisingly packed at 1pm, Saturday), for Cumbrian Ales Esthwaite Bitter and Grasmoor Dark.