Roseberry Topping run

A 9.5km run en route to a weekend in Beverley with Paul and Katya.

Route: Leaving the car parked at the car park at the bottom of Roseberry Lane (£3.80 for 2 hours and almost full at 1pm on a Friday, clearly Easter holidays for many), running along the Lane gently uphill to the trees. There taking a right turn diagonally uphill south to a gate onto grassy field (Point P) beneath a tiny pyramidal summit with a strange building on it. Keeping right along a fence bearing right (path not marked on map) to a hand-gate leading to a very clear narrow hedged footpath leading down and up south west beside two fields.

At a complex junction continuing south, later through trees skirting a summit/hidden quarry to the right. Turning left round a field and descending to turn right onto the drive from Aireyholme Farm (tarmacked), following this south, losing altitude and then climbing to reach Dikes Lane. Running very slowly left up this to Gribdale Terrace where joining a path and continuing, sometimes at a walk, up to a saddle with large car parks.

Crossing the road to take the Cleveland Way up to the edge of the summit plateau, crossing the fence right into access land and running north for 2km to reach a hand-gate, turn left and descend steeply west on a pitched, paved path. After the saddle ascending again to the summit on a footpath to the right of the main path to join hordes of Geordie families on the summit rocks.

Descending the path to Point P, but through the gate, in the woods, turning sharp right to maintain altitude heading north for 500m and then following two zig-zags to avoid steps to top of Roseberry Land and run back to the car.

Conditions: Overcast but still and not cold.

Pub: The White Swan, Stokesley, for Wilde Child Dreams of Cascadia and Milestone Chocoholic Dark Chocolate Stout.

First ride to/from the Midtown Cottages from the Rectory

A 12km early evening cycle ride to have a beer with Ian and Jo and see Ian’s pictures of Nepal. An Outdoor Day because T would not have considered this 6 weeks earlier.

Route: from the Rectory, south on Lorton Road to High Lorton and after a film show and a bottled beer, home the same way. (Lois coming home via St Cuthbert’s for Easter week church photos – going the extra mile you might say.) Simples!

Conditions: a warm enough evening slowly clouding over after a sunny day.

Pub? Bottled Ennerdale Pale with Ian and Jo.

Cycle circumnavigation of Fellbarrow from Cockermouth via Dean

A 35km cycle ride, the furthest for T in a couple of years.

Route: from the Rectory, heading south on Lorton Road to the Hundith Hill crossroads and right to Southwaite and across the A5088. Climbing slightly to Eaglesfield and turning left, signposted Deanscales. At the outskirts of Deanscale, turning right to Dean, stopping here to look at the church. Continuing to Branthwaite and left on a surprisingly hilly road roughly parallel to the river to reach Ullock. 

Recrossing the A5088 and climbing slowly to Mockerkin and very slowly to the summit of Fangs Brow. Descending slowly and cautiously taking the opportunity to photograph Belted Galloways as an excuse to pause. Then on to the Kirkstile for a pint. 

Afterwards taking the Thackthwaite road to Low Lorton but continuing on and up through Rogerscale and forking to reach the road to Southwaite and back on the outward route.

Conditions: some sun, later partly clouding over, and a chill wind

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater, for Cumbrian Ales, Loweswater Gold.

6m Cockermouth run including Simonscales Mill

A late afternoon 6km run.

Route: From the Rectory, heading up Rose Lane to Simonscales Lane, over the brow of the hill and down, over the A66, onto a gravel track to Simonscales Mill. Turning right along the bank of the River Cocker, diverting slightly uphill to avoid some cows but otherwise keeping to the side of the river to Double Mills. 

Crossing the footbridge and running slightly uphill round Harris Park to exit on Fern Bank and descend Gallowbarrow. Then along the riverbank path, over the footbridge on Brewery Lane, past the brewery and along the footpath through the sports centre to St Helen’s Street. Back to cross into the grassy area behind the Kirkgate Centre and onto Kirkgate and to the Swan Inn for a (£2.80!) pint, walking home afterwards.

Conditions: after a grey and drizzly day, slightly sunny.

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

7km Cockermouth Run

A sunny, solitary (T), 7km late afternoon run round Cockermouth. 

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, briefly diverting right onto grass overlooking the Tom Rudd Beck and running underneath the new road bridge back to the Greenway. Then right on a path to Bellbrigg Lonning and anti-clockwise round this as far as Kirkfell Avenue. Turning left onto Waste Lane: a pleasant enough green track between housing estates. 

Emerging and turning right onto St Helen’s Street and then left onto a path through to the leisure centre and then left and right onto Wyndham Row, crossing the Cocker on a footbridge on Brewery Lane and running along Waterloo Street to turn right onto a riverside path. Taking this under and beyond the footbridge and then bending back round to cross the bridge to turn right on a path along the river opposite the Jennings Brewery and then castle. Stopping to photograph a heron at comparative proximity and then going through a hand-gate into a field to a stile on the far side, and then left onto a footpath back towards the town and the road bridge across the Cocker. Joining the Greenway at Aldi and along this under Lorton Road to the cemetery and home.

Conditions: after a few cool days of cloud and rain, a warmer sunny day

 Pub? No. Some bottled Lidl cider back at the Rectory. 

Blake Fell from Waterend with Steve & Kathryn

A 12km walk on the Loweswater fells with Steve and Kathryn (L; Tim at home ill)

Route: from just by the defribillator at Waterend, walking down and across the plain of the restored Dub Beck, and up to turn right just before Hudson Place to cross a field, turn right alongside the fence to cross the next couple of fields and then track left up the hillside to join the main track from Fangs Brow. Following that south and, where it bends south east, carrying on up the fellside on a grassy path to the first ‘pile of stones’ and then bending south and south west to the summit of Burnbank Fell. 

From there following the ridge fence down and up, due south, past another pile of stones to the summit of the walk at Blake Fell, and taking a breather and shelter from the wind, briefly, in the summit cairn. Then continuing on south-south-east, roughly along the fence line, down and up, to the cairn on Gavel Fell summit. From there retracing our steps to cross a stile and walk north-east over a little craggy top and then down the flanks of Gavel Fell, skirting Black Crag, to join the bridleway above Whiteoak Beck and then the track down, right to High Nook Farm. 

From the farm, taking the permissive path on the north side, across fields and into woods, down to Watergate Farm and along the side of Loweswater back to Hudson Place and then on to Waterend.

Conditions: Almost constant sunshine and a stiff breeze, very slowly clouding over by the end of the walk. Very very dry underfoot after a long, hot, dry spell.

Pub? After first trying the Royal Yew, Dean and the Trout, Cockermouth, ending up at the Cumbrian Baker for bacon sarnie, hot cross buns, hot chocolate, coffee and tea

6km run round the north east side of Cockermouth

A 6km early evening run round the north east side of Cockermouth across a new-to-us footbridge.

Route: from the rectory, running through the cemetery to the gate onto Sustrans Route 71 and then left across the new road bridge on Sandybeck Way. Following this round to take the third left connecting - for pedestrians only - to Ullswater Drive. Turning left from this onto Swinside Close and via a path to Loweswater Close and via Gable End to Slatefell Drive. Following this to the end and then along a path to a footbridge over Bitter Beck. 

Turning 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. Keeping close to the river to reach Aldi and then back along the Greenway to a gate half way along the cemetery and hence home.

Conditions: yet another sunny day, after a week of such days.

Pub? No because earlier, before lunch, the Punch Bowl, Great Broughton for Brimstage Trapper’s Hat. 

Cycle circuit of Watch Hill to the Pheasant Inn

A solitary 20km cycle ride (T; L at a meeting).

Route: leaving the rectory and cycling down Kirkgate to Market Place, Castlegate and up left onto Isel Road. Following this consistently gradually uphill for 3km and then downhill, ignoring the left turn to the Isel Bridge over the Derwent. Continuing past the back of the Lakes Distillery and passing the left turn to the bridge at the foot of Bassenthwaite and thus to the Pheasant Inn for a pint in the garden. 

Afterwards, two sharp ascents: first to Routenbeck and then out of Wythop Mill, and then home at speed down the glorious slope of Strawberry How Road.

Conditions: another spectacularly sunny day after a week of such days, though cool.

Pub: the Pheasant Inn, Bassenthwaite, (part way round the circuit) for Bowness Bay Brewery Swan Blonde.

Six Bridges run, Cockermouth #2

A second attempt at a frivolous concept for a run (and hence an Outdoor Day) having forgotten to cross one of the bridges last time.

Route: from the rectory, running south along Lorton Road and and then left along Strawberry How Road to the Sustrans route to join the Greenway and along this over the Cocker. Turning left and running along the west bank to the footbridge at Double Mills. Running back down the east bank to recross the viaduct, descending the muddy steps to the riverbank road and down to cross the bridge on Victoria Road. Taking Victoria Road but this time discovering a path actually along the bank of the river, eventually climbing steps and then descending again to the cross footbridge by Toll Cottage. 

Passing the Croft Bowling Club to Croftside, then Challloner Street, turning right on Market Street to the alleyway to the Jennings Brewery and across the footbridge on Brewery Lane to High Sand Lane and left back over the road bridge on Market Street. Then right into the car park, continuing on the east bank to the footbridge then along the west bank to an alley back to Victoria Road and then along Tweed Mill Lane and back home.

Conditions: a warm sunny cloudless day.

Pub: two hours later, the Swan Inn, Cockermouth, for Brakspear Gold.