Brackenthwaite Hows 7km stroll

A 7km stroll on the day after Boxing Day on a day much, much better than forecast.

Route: leaving the car in the Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park (some spaces at 11:15am) and taking the longer zigzag of bigger tracks to reach the start of 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 its end, then joining the small path descending to the boat house. 

Thence round the lake and round the peel hillock (the “Horn”) and and across the obvious ‘other’ pebbly swimming beach to a muddy path at the start of the western edge of Crummock before turning sharp right uphill on a grassy path. Turning right on a lateral path below some trees, under Melbreak, and then ascending again round the northern ridge of the fell to the shortcut, right, to the stony track to the Kirkstile Inn. After a pint squeezed in by the fire, walking the 1km back along the road to the start.

Conditions: despite forecasts for low cloud and drizzle, bright wintry sun against some clouds. 

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Ales Esthwaite Bitter and Grasmoor.

Tallentire and Gilcrux muddy circuit

An 8km Boxing Day stroll to justify a pint chatting to Hal at the Mason’s Arms, Gilcrux.

Route: leaving the car at the three-way junction at the northern outskirts of Tallentire and starting along the road north past North Lodge to take a lonning on the right. This quickly becoming a muddy quagmire then a set of plank bridges crossing over what was now a stream beneath and finally what looked an impassable but inescapable muddy defile. Defeated, turning back to the road to walk along this. 

Again in a spirit of optimism turning right on a clear track to try to regain the original path but stopping short at a closed gate (no right of way) beyond which the track slowly disintegrated into a muddy field. Continuing to the pub by road. After a pint, taking the small road almost due south uphill near wind turbines. Spurning a potential short cut along a path (once bitten, twice shy) and, foolishly, (more in hope than expectation) taking a track which was not the paved route hoped for but, again, a very soggy grassy track between hedges. Following this back to Tallentire.

Conditions: an unforecast beautiful day of blue sky and sun, though with a threatening but apparently stationary black squall over the Solway.

Pub: the Mason’s Arms, Gilcrux, for Theakstons Legendary Beerd (halfway round)

Great Broughton Pootle

A tiny 2km stroll while waiting for the Punch Bowl to open at noon on Christmas Day (topped up with a stroll round Buttermere by Lois later in the day)

Route: leaving the car outside the pub, walking west along the road to the start of a green muddy track towards the river and bending left along it past the backs of houses on Main Street. At a junction turning right - away from the pub! - down on a single track muddy path to the river and then left as far as the main road bridge. Turning left slightly uphill and then up Little Brow and Meeting House Lane before turning left on Grange Avenue and then left again downhill to the pub.

Top-up by L, alone: leaving the car at the NT car park outside the village, walking up to St James’ (to discover no service happening) and then down and out through Syke Farm to walk round the lake clockwise, taking the upper route on the west side of the lake and returning over the first footbridge to the Buttermere Court and on to the NT car park.

Conditions: too warm for Christmas Day with very light drizzle; still very mild, with drizzle intensifying as the light dropped

Pub: the Punch Bowl, Great Broughton, for Ennerdale Pale, Keswick Thirst Christmas and Barngates Goodhews Dry Stout (and complementary Buck’s Fizz ‘for the ladies’); mulled wine back at No 2.

8km run round School Knott

A solitary 8km run on a blustery day of mixed weather while Lois and James had a coffee at the Jetty Museum in Windermere.

Route: getting a lift to the bus stop at the north end of Ings and running along the road heading south gently uphill, under the railway line. Ignoring the usual first right turn to continue to a second more established track (though waterlogged after heavy rain) through trees to Whasdike. Briefly joining the road to follow a causeway past a water tank into School Knott Plantation. 

Emerging from the trees at a gate to run round the hillside past the final right turn towards Windermere and continuing with right-to-roam land gently leftwards uphill round School Knott, passing through two gaps, which may soon be closed, in newly-constructed deer fencing and down to reach the normal exit from the School Knott area. Turning right to pass the tarn, joining the Dales Way in sudden heavy rain, to the road near Hagg End and walking right uphill on the road to Borwick Fold. Here turning left on a track and then sodden path over a stile into a small wood and then downhill across very marshy ground to turn left on the c-road and descend to the pub. 

Conditions: after heavy rain, a dry start followed by a rainbow and sudden heavy rain and then some sun again. Blustery wind.

Pub: the Watermill, Ings, joined by Lois and James for Bitter Ruff and Brewdolph.

9km walk from Staveley to Kendal

An impromptu 9km train-hop-style walk back to Kendal after a pre-Christmas lunch with Catherine (Dixon) at the Eagle and Child, Staveley.

Route: from the pub, walking south along the road and taking the left turn onto the muddy path of the Dales Way. At the Y-junction, turning right along another muddy, hedged track to a stile and then, for the first time, staying left across a field uphill on the right of way to Cragg Farm. Detouring to explore the small summit rocks and then continuing down to Cowan Head and then, on the Dales Way, by driveway and track, to Bowston. Here crossing the river to continue on the Dales Way on the east side, looping round the Croppers factory complex over the main road and across a level-crossing. 

Turning left across sodden, muddy fields to the outskirts of Kendal and across the Hallgarth estate to a footpath uphill to the right of St Thomas’s primary school, down across Kendal Green and down along Caroline Street to the New Union for a beer. Thence to the bus station to take the 41 bus home (around 5:15pm).

Conditions: after a stormy morning, a dry, still second half to the afternoon, dropping dark by the end of the walk.

Pub: after lunch at the Eagle and Child with Catherine (Loweswater Gold and Barngates Goodhew’s Dry Stout), the New Union, Kendal for Barngates Tag Lag.

7km run round the east rim of Kendal

A solitary 7km run on a wintry day to go to an open day at the Lakes Brew Co.

Route: from home, running down Hayclose road and turning right up Kendal Parks Road, under the Lakes Line, past a farm and under the WCML to turn left along marshy fields to Singleton Park Road. Left on this and then right up a narrow, walled snickleway to climb across fields at a walk and then left along Paddy Lane.

Crossing the old Sedburgh Road to turn left, again, down a track, over the WCML, to enter Kendal near Fowl Ing. Along Mint Street, crossing the Shap Road to enter the Mintsfeet Industrial estate. Left down a snicket and then right to reach the Lakes Brew Co. 

(After a beer, taking the snicket to the steep footbridge across the railway to take a bus home.)

Conditions: a chilly 6C cloudy day.

Pub: the Lakes Brew Co brewery for an open day for Bitter (disappointing today) and Rivers and Lakes IPA.

Kettlewell to Starbotton and back

A 7km walk up and back down Wharfedale on a very blustery day (aftermath/fringes of Storm Darragh) with Andrew, Helen, Angie and Alistair.

Route: Leaving the Racehorses Hotel, Kettlewell, and crossing the road bridge to the west side of the valley and climbing very slightly, ignoring the Dales Way to take a track uphill. Ignoring a signed path heading higher and following a wall on the right, then, ignoring a possible path to the right, continuing on the track zig-zagging once to trek right, with a sense of altitude and in strong headwind with some rain to Moor End. After another 500m, descending on a narrow stony path through trees to a sodden path leading to a footbridge over the Wharfe to Starbotton. Then taking a grassy path initially steeply uphill to find a horizontal path under the woods back to Kettlewell.

Conditions: despite initial rain and a forecast for heavy rain, the rain remained light although blown in strong wind and then later stopped.

Pub: the Fox and Hounds, Starbotton, for Lamb Pale, Lamb Mild, Wensleydale Blonde and Dark Horse Craven Bitter and a light lunch.

Skipton Castle Woods

A short 4km stroll extending the walk of six weeks earlier and now with added friends: Angie, Alistair, Andrew and Helen.

Route: from the Coach Street car park, crossing to the canal towpath and heading north, under a road and along a narrow path, fenced on both sides, overshadowed by the castle to the right, with the canal to the right and a stream, this time in spate, to the left. The path becoming a narrow fenced raised walkway between two water courses, following it until it turned left across a footbridge and then right to enter the woods at the sawmill, following an obvious broad track. 

This time taking a narrow signed path left up-hill and walking around the perimeter of the woods, crossing the brook at a footbridge and returning,  downstream to Round Dam. Turning left, gaining height, to follow a track at the edge of the woods eventually being forced left to join a raised pavement between the castle and the road back to the church and crossing in front of it, back to the town centre. 

Conditions: despite a forecast storm and after overnight (and morning) heavy rain, a dry if cold day.

Pub: the Woolly Sheep Inn, Skipton, for Timothy Taylor’s Landlord and Timothy Taylor’s Northern Rising Unity Stout.

6 km run on Giggleswick Scar

A 6km run before forecast rain while on the way to a birthday weekend in Kettlewell (with Angie and Alistair, Andrew and Helen).

Route: leaving the car in a lay-by opposite Scar Top Garage and taking a somewhat marshy path just to the east of it uphill and across fields in the direction of Feizor Thwaite to meet the ‘A Pennine Journey’ path. Turning right along this and descending towards Settle. At a Y junction just outside Right to Roam land, bending right up-hill to find, hidden in woods, a stile back into moorland on a very muddy path. Heading up-hill and round the end of the Giggleswick Scar plateau, considering and rejecting a shortcut, reaching a view over the large quarry. Then following a balcony path along the scar with a view of at least one cave higher up to the right, eventually reaching the outward path and thence to the car.

Conditions: grey and still and dry.

Pub: the Talbot, Settle, for Craven Brew Company BYB (Best Yorkshire Bitter) and a light lunch.