Midwinter run to Isel and Sunderland from Blindcrake

A near 9km run on a winter day with both icy lanes and deep waterlogged mud to contend with. (Ticking off another Outlying Fell from Wainwright, Clints Crags, by chance.)

Route: leaving the car by the side of the road in Blindcrake (just before a triangle of roads) and picking a careful way on the verge beside a hazardous frozen lane downhill towards Isel. Luckily, almost immediately finding a very muddy permissive path, parallel with the road, through trees on the right, eventually forking left to rejoin the road where a marked right of way crossed. Continuing over a stream (tributary of the Derwent) and past both the very grand Isel Hall and a road junction signed left to Sunderland to a muddy track across fields on the left at a sharp bend right in the road. This leading to a very muddy quagmire junction of fields and after, much difficulty, crossing through broken gates and a bridge to edge onto a drier, more frozen field and then a frozen track. 

Halfway along this section, Lois pausing out of respect for/to an apparently dead sheep which, on her closer inspection, proved merely to be incapable of regaining her feet in the frozen conditions. (After some attention from Lois, the sheep was righted and skittered off eventually down the lane, returned to the possibility of a future life. In sum: Lois very obviously saved a sheep’s life which would otherwise have frozen to death!) Continuing, ourselves, across fields to gain (the verge of) a frozen c-road to Sunderland. Turning left on stony farm tracks, slowly gaining altitude on fields and choosing to take the higher route, passing the clear ruins of a cottage (Thackray Cottage, owned by the gamekeeper once but burned down) to near the summit of Clints Crags - a limestone outcrop, SSSI and SAC - with wide views south over Bassenthwaite (and remains of a small quarry to the north). Descending across sodden fields to gate, and on to a tree-lined, fenced and waterlogged track, to a road, there turning left back down into Blindcrake.

Conditions: mainly grey and cloudy and 2C. A mix of frozen lanes and very muddy quagmires.

Pub: the Swan, Inn, for Brakspear Oxford Gold and Gravity.

Dalemain Round from Dacre taking in Dunmallard Hill

A 9km walk on a surprisingly sunny day (having woke to cloud in Lorton) before a pub lunch with Kate. (Taking in a Wainwright Outlying Fell, unsuspectingly: Dunmallet (Dunmallard Hill).)

Route: leaving the car outside the Horse and Farrier, Dacre, and walking downhill to turn left towards the castle, thus taking the lowest of three paths exiting the village. Joining a wide level track for about 2km along the edge of fields to Dalemain. Exiting through the car park (having admired a herd of deer sunning themselves just over the fence) onto the A592 and heading south for 100m to a stile to the right and then continuing across fields rising slowly to the flat summit of Flusco Hill. Descending to cross the A592 to take a muddy path past a private fishing pond and then along the River Eamont to the car park by the new bridge at Pooley Bridge. 

Failing to find a direct path up the hill marked on the map (which might have been unpleasant, anyway) taking a path backtracking anti-clockwise round Dunmallard Hill, past a junction and winding its way to the summit (no real views through the trees). Descending the same way to the junction and then crossing a field, bending left to cross the A592 again and across another muddy field rising to a c-road. Turning right then left at a T junction, along periodically icy roads, to reach Dacre.

Conditions: 2C but warm in the sun. A mixture of muddy and frozen ground under foot.

Pub: the Horse and Farrier, Dacre, for Eden River Fuggles Blonde, Kirkby Lonsdale Jingling Lane and lunch.

14km circuit to the Kirkstile Inn

A spontaneously-extended icy walk to the Kirkstile Inn, and back, on a glorious cold and frosty day.

Route: Leaving the cottage comparatively late (11:45am) and walking up the Boonbeck Road and then right on the lateral footpath to a farm and driveway back left to Scales and then up the enclosed track to reach the balcony path to High Swinside, with some of the recent heavy rain locked up in frozen mud. Then south along the road to the footpath on the left along to the new footbridge under Dodd and then continuing along the valley-side path. Spurning a shorter route that would have secured provisions for an evening meal (ie before the LVS shut), continuing to the path to Beck House and Pickett Howe, which involved a tricky crossing of Coldgill beck in spate. Reaching the road near Palace Howe and picking a way across occasional patches of ice along roads to the Kirkstile Inn for beer and a light lunch.

Afterwards, taking the Thackthwaite Road, again with some icy patches, back to Lorton and across the fields via the church home.

Conditions: after a cold (-2C) night following heavy rain, a beautiful sunny frosty day but with a mixture of waterlogged and frozen conditions under foot.

Pub: The Kirkstile Inn for Pinnacle, Loweswater Goldn and Vanilla Oatmeal Stout (on keg) and lunch (a scotch egg and a salmon sandwich).