Slate Fell

A 5km run starting, for the first time, with just going up Slate Fell. Some jeopardy because of the forecast - and actual - rain.

Route: from the Rectory, heading along Strawberry How Road to the Sustrans route and then left along the Greenway and right across Bitter Beck to Casshow Way. At the end of the road, left along an informal path slightly uphill to a sign pointing right to Slate Fell. Then across fields, slowly uphill, eventually going left through a gate into the adjacent field and then, as the path starts to descend, right off the path to get to the summit (Lois doing a little impromptu victory lap). Then back along the lower path to Brick Kiln Wood, along St Helen’s St and via the small park behind the Kirkgate Centre to the Swan.

Conditions: windy with rain forecast and some light rain arriving half way.

Pub: the Swan Inn, Cockermouth for Brakspear Oxford Gold.

An attempt at the shoulder of Loughrigg

A short walk on a hot day with Pete, but not Lois.

Route: leaving the bus station at Ambleside and heading past St Mary’s Parish Church, briefly on Vicarage Road, and through Rothay Park to cross the footbridge onto Under Loughrigg Road. Talking the zigzagging steep tarmac track, very slowly, up hill, onto the gravel track though trees and just out onto open fellside. 

At this point turning back - thus not carrying on as planned over to Rydal Caves and the pub - and retracing the outward route.

Conditions: very hot (27C) with the gentlest of breezes.

Pub: picked up in the motor in Ambleside by Lois, the Badger Bar, Rydal for Corby Lakeland Summit.

Three quarter circumnavigation of Blencathra

A solitary (T, L working) 16km jog (though with very much more walking than running) round Blencathra from Bowscale to Threlkeld.

Route: starting having been dropped (by L on the way to Penrith for a business meeting) at Bowscale and running north to Mosedale and then left along the road to the west, this remaining paved (though badly damaged in places) as far as the junction with the Cumbria Way at the end of the valley. Then turning left on an unforgiving hard stony track (not at all loose, however) for 2km before it gave way to a marshy path. Underneath Great Calva, beginning very slowly to gain a little altitude before a steeper pull up to Skiddaw House. 

Descending into the valley between Lonsdale Fell and Mungrisedale Common, crossing the valley and Glenderaterra Beck and then not spotting the choice of a lower path but gradually ascending higher above the stream to reach the Blencathra Field Centre. Then descending the road to a carpark to pick up the path through the village by Blease Gill.

Conditions: 19C and hazy sun but cooled by a breeze.

Pub: the Horse and Farrier, Threlkeld, joined by Lois after her meeting in Penrith for Bowness Bay Fell Walker.

Silver How

A solitary (T) 7km linear walk aside from the presence of the birthday frog. (L working.)

Route: taking the X5 and 555 buses from Cockermouth to White Moss and walking over the footbridge to reach the foot of Loughrigg Terrace and up this to the lower exit near the summit of Red Bank. 

Doglegging right left onto a path to Hammerscar Plantation and then following the top of the blunt ridge to Spedding Crag and then north on paths obvious on the ground (though not marked on the OS Landranger map) to the summit of Silver How. 

Descending to the west/left of a small ridge for a short (10 feet) and steep rocky descent to cross Wray Gill and then following a ridge down, the path becoming stony and a bit of a stream, to Allan Bank and thence to Tweedies, Grasmere.

Conditions: after several days of rain, a sunny and sometimes hot day.

Pub: Tweedies, Grasmere, for Brew York and Northern Monk Monk’s Bar Pale.

8km run from Bassenthwaite village to the lake around Scarness

An 8km run from Bassenthwaite village to, and along, the lakeshore and back. 

Route: leaving the car by the green in Bassenthwaite village and heading south by southwest past the school and near the church to cross the A591. Taking an unsigned gate in the corner of a field and heading west to meet a track but just before turning left to head south across fields and then along a narrow path by a stream, forced to pick our way where a footbridge must have collapsed and the barbed wire fence fallen into the path alongside brambles. 

At a path crossroads by a second footbridge to the right, running left to Scarness and then taking a good path towards the lake and round it to gain a newly installed replacement boardwalk. Along this by the lake round a vague promontory to rejoin the road, turning left and taking the first path to the right to Mire Side and back along a C-road to recross the A591. then taking a left turn to cross a field and crossing the next c-road for another path before finally turning right to reach the start. 

Conditions: a breeze, brief spit of rain and threatening clouds but not as cold as it appeared.

Pub: the Sun Inn, Bassenthwaite, for Hobgoblin Gold. 

A slow 7km stroll for lunch in Cockermouth and back with chums

A slow 7km stroll for lunch in Cockermouth, and back, with Caroline and Paul.

Route: from the Rectory, walking south to Strawberry How Road to a southerly entrance to the cemetery and through it to the Greenway. Along this across the Cocker and then taking the riverside road to Market Place to cross the bridge for a view of the collapsed building and then to the Bitter End for lunch. Afterwards, taking Rubbybanks Road and the path through the riverside part of Harris Park to cross the footbridge at Double Mills. Along the side of the river to Simonscales Lane, Rose Lane and home.

Conditions: contra the forecast, an afternoon of sun.

Pub: the Bitter End, Cockermouth, for Pentland IPA and lunch.

6.5km run across Cockermouth

A 6.7km run at the end of a damp day for once going all the way along the Greenway and clockwise round the fields across the river from the castle.

Route: from the Rectory, running south on Lorton Road and then left on Strawberry How Road to the end of the houses. Turning left on a path to the Greenway and along this, past Lidl and across the Level, to its end near Aldi (2km along the full length). Then back along Crown Street and over Gote Bridge as far as the cycle track opposite the road to Papcastle. Following this behind the industrial estate to its end to enter a field, bear right to a stile, run round the next field by the river and cross to the mown riverside area opposite the castle. 

Turning left across the footbridge and then detouring to take the riverside path back underneath it, along Waterloo Street and High Sands Lane, left along Market Place and over the bridge to a viewpoint back to the Market Place bridge from the south to look for a large tree apparently stuck on the weir (no clear sign) and then ascending to the grass by Mackreth Row to descend slippery steps to the muddy track along the river, thence to Tweedmill Lane and home.

Conditions: a muggy, cloudy, damp day but the rivers now sounding healthy again after a period of spring drought.

Pub? No but half a can of Lidl Loch Lomond Brewery Stag Do.

5.5km Cockermouth run (taking in Highfields)

A 5.5km run to explore snickleways at the edge of the houses along the north-east extremity of the town (the Highfields estate).

Route: from the Rectory, running south on Lorton Road and then left on Strawberry How Road to the end of the houses. Turning left on a path to the Greenway and along this to just after the Sandybeck Way road bridge over Bitter Beck to take the winding path right and then left onto Sandybeck Way, up to Ullswater Drive and anti-clockwise round Gable Avenue. Halfway round, at the end of some houses, taking an informal path at the top of a grassy bank, at a fence corner, to reach and run round sports fields and then cut through to the perimeter path starting at the end of Highfield Road. 

At a fork at All Saints primary school, running down to cross the footbridge, run along Tanyard Garth and turn right onto St Helen’s Street and then back along Castlegate Drive to Beech Lane, climbing to the highest point of the run and then descending via Isel Road to the Jennings Brewery to look at the new brewing equipment and chat to the Head Brewer. Then, the Waterloo footbridge on Brewery Lane being closed, heading over the road bridge back along Market Place, Challoner St and along the river to the other footbridge and via the carparks to the Bitter End for a half to celebrate official confirmation of the purchase of No 1. 

Conditions: generally cloudy but some sunny patches and quite warm.

Pub: The Bitter End for half pints of Fyne Ales Jarl and Pocketful of Sunshine Session IPA.

Lake Vyrnwy Blue Walking Trail (round Craig Garth-bwlch)

A 7km stroll awaiting check-in at the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel and Spa on the first damp day after three weeks of sun.

Route: from the car park at the west side of the dam, waking south-east on a c-road and then a metalled track slightly to the right, gaining height at the north-east end of Craig Garth-bwlch before turning to the right and descending on a wide stony track along the edge of the valley. At the far end of the hill following the track steeply uphill on Glyndwr’s Way before descending and eventually gaining a view of the lake and dam to the start. 

Afterwards exploring a sculpture trail under the dam (the Dam Trail) and crossing back to the start of the walk over the dam itself.

Conditions: a cloudy, muggy day with hints of drizzle.

Pub: The Tavern, Lake Vyrnwy Hotel and Spa, for Stonehouse Brewery Flipside IPA and For Victory Pale Ale.

Bryn Euryn, Rhos-on-Sea

A short nostalgic ascent of Bryn Euryn after visiting T’s grandmother’s house.

Route: leaving the car parked outside 28a Francis Avenue and walking along Allanson Avenue and left on Rhos Road to reach the Bryn Euryn nature reserve. Taking a steep path to the right to the ruins of Llys Euryn and then south-west uphill under trees before emerging with views to the west. Climbing first to a subsidiary summit with views of 28a Francis Avenue and then via a narrow path through bushes to ascend to the actual summit. 

Descending on a very narrow tunnel-like path to find the descending summit trail, thus completing a circuit of the hill. Afterwards, walking down Rhos Road to visit the beach and tiny Chapel of St Trillo and then the Tapps at Rhos micro pub.

Conditions: another warm sunny day.

Pub: Tapps at Rhos for Gwynty Ddraig Orchard Gold and Black Dragon ciders and Conwy Glogwyn Gold.

The Great Orme/Y Gogarth

A 7km walk up the Great Orme from Llandudno while staying in Betws-y-Coed with James.

Route: from the Town Hall car park heading north on Chapel Street, Avon Avenue and Llewelyn Avenue to reach Cwlach Rd and at a fork staying on the lower footpath staying at constant altitude with views over the town (Lovers’ Walk), then climbing onto a slightly higher tarmac path. At a junction turning right on a stony path called the Zig-Zag Trail and following this up between rocky outcrops to a lower summit plateau and then north-west to double back to the right (north-east), gaining height before turning left (north-west, again) and crossing the tram tracks for the summit complex. 

Descending north east, joining St Tudno’s Road to visit St Tudno’s Church and then taking an enclosed path slightly uphill and then level, herding sheep along it. Descending past the ski centre (with a laughably slow luge run) to Happy Valley Botanical Gardens and thus back to the start (via some shops).

Conditions: lower down, warm in direct sun but a cool breeze on the summit.

Pub: Swallow Falls Hotel, after driving most of the way back to the cottage, for Conwy Brewery Welsh Pride and Clogwyn Gold.

Clogwyn Cyrau

A short steep ascent to the viewpoint opposite a rented cottage in Betws-y-Coed, on the first night staying there with James visiting for 6 days from Chicago.

Route: from the cottage, descending to turn right on the A5 and left across a bridge over the Afon Llugwy on the B5106 and then left on a c-road, climbing to a path on the right. Detouring off the metalled track to take a snicket (marked on the map as the path, but proving an unnecessary complication as it simply rejoined the track. Turning off to join a trippy stony path through trees initially zig-zagging but then going straight, roughly north. Taking an unmarked right turn to reach the summit, descending slightly to the south to reach the edge of the cliffs to be able to see the cottage. 

Afterwards, largely retracing the outward path but sticking to the metalled track and then heading into the village to investigate Hangin’ Pizza and the pub. 

Conditions: warm and still, and too hot in jeans.

Pub: Stables Bar, Royal Oak Hotel, for Conwy Welsh Pride, Rampart and Clogwyn Gold.

Hopegill Head

A 16km walk with Richard Gipps (who was renting a cottage in Lorton), Lois picking James up from Penrith station.

Route: Leaving the cottage and walking up the Boonbeck Road to Scales and then along the green track to High Swinside and along the road and then footpath to the new footbridge over Hope Beck. Continuing along the lower path over one obvious and one less obvious stream but trending uphill (otherwise too soon) to find the clear main path (just above a large white stone). Continuing uphill, remembering to take a half right uphill to reach a ruin and thence the saddle behind the Dodd. Then slowly up the clear path to Whiteside and left to Hopegill Head. 

Descending over Sand Hill to Coledale Hause and turning right to descend into Gasgale. Walking along a sometimes difficult path with a couple of awkward steps and an awkward descent near the end to reach the path back along the east of the valley (T taking a headlong tumble).Turning left to Miller Place, right along the c-road and then by paths via Low Swinside to Lorton.

Conditions: after two weeks of sun, a cool breeze and cloud while climbing though some hot still weather on the return.

Pub: the Pheasant Bassenthwaite for Bowness Bay Brewery Swan Blonde and Lakeland Walker Pale Ale.