A 6.5km attempted run, though much of the first half had to be walked because of the unforgiving terrain.Route: leaving the car on a short stretch of disused road where the B5322 joins the A591 and running a little back along the former, turning right along a track and then right again through a gate, now walking steeply uphill on a grassy and marshy path. At a junction, turning right to start to contour (roughly, though still gaining height, above a wall). The path being the unofficial course of many streams and also very muddy in part, progressing slowly, often at a walk, eventually crossing Fisherplace Gill on a footbridge. Thereafter, the path becoming a narrow line of rocks partly hidden by bracken crossing a slope, thus making running impossible. Progressing instead at a slow careful walk before descending to the Swirls carpark.
Crossing under the A591 and descending to a path close to but mainly shrouded by trees from Thirlmere and making good speed on an easy gravel surface. After Dalehead Hall (invisible, too), the path moving away from the lake and with some steeper (thus walked) sections. Bearing right, uphill and round Great How and then downhill to cross and run south along the A591 back to the start.
Conditions: 13C but warm in bright sun (sometimes hidden by clouds). Very wet and marshy under foot.
Pub: the King's Head, Thirlspot, for Cumbrian Ales Loweswater Gold.
