16km Kentmere Run

A solitary run along mainly familiar paths (whilst Lois communed with St Ignatius at home).

Route: having taken the train to Staveley, running from the station through the town centre and along the A591 towards Ings but before reaching it, taking a path signed to High Reston Farm and immediately across fields, uphill through gates and over stiles to reach Hugill Hall and along a track, passing the end of the road up from Kentmere valley to reach the start of the familiar grassy path across moorland, comparatively dry today. Taking this almost as far as Kentmere Hall but doubling back through a gate onto an overgrown track, which cuts the corner back to the main valley bottom track back to the Hollingworth & Vose factory, the pottery and eventually the road to the Staveley Mill Yard.

Conditions: despite dark clouds and a shower at Oxenholme station, a warm sunny day.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, joined by Lois, for Cumbrian 5 Hops and WPA.

Cycle circuit of Scout Scar

A trip out for a lunchtime beer, extended to 40km.

Route: leaving Kendal on the Burneside Road but turning right at Bowston to take the back road to Staveley for a pint at the Hawkshead Brewery outside in the sun. Then leaving the village by via Station Road to reach and dog-leg across the Crook Road and on to Underbarrow for lunch. Along the road through Brigsteer rising surprisingly to the north edge of Levens and a descent through the village to the Hare and Hounds at the other end for a swift half before backtracking to tackle Sizergh Fell to return home via Natland. 

Conditions: hot sun with intervals of hazy clouds.

Pubs: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for Cumbrian Five Hops and WPA. The Punch Bowl, Underbarrow for Hawkshead Bitter and Hobgoblin Gold. The Hare and Hounds, Levens for Fell Yolo.

Ignatian Exercise 1.5

A quick post-work evening ascent of Red Screes in order to run down to Ambleside

Route: Kindly dropped by Tim at the Kirkstone Pass car park at 6.40ish, straight up the (largely) made path to the summit and then turning south to skirt the tarn, follow the summit wall until the ladder stile and then take the walled lane all the way down to the Struggle, thence running down the road to the Golden Rule.

Conditions: Sunny, clear and deserted on the summit and all the way down but incredibly boggy and wet underfoot (and halfway up my ankles) almost all the way.

Pub: The Golden Rule (where else?), joined by Tim, for Robinson’s Double Hop and American Pale Ale.

Reverse of the new Staveley 10km

A 9.5km run whilst Lois was at the physiotherapist.

Route: leaving the Staveley Mill Yard by the footbridge and taking the start of Hall Lane to the Scroggs Farm track and then bridleway along the valley. Turning right up the road to Elf Howe and then crossing fields to reach a higher stage of Hall Lane. Turning right and then left to gain the hanging valley and along roads to Birk Field. Then across a couple of fields to reach the bridleway down to Side House, over more fields to descend to the road and then across a bridge and back along the Dales Way to regain the Mill Yard by the path to its side.

Conditions: despite a cold day generally, hot and still.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley joined by Lois for a swift half of Cumbrian Five Hops and WPA.

High Crag, High Stile and Red Pike

A birthday walk.

Route: leaving the car at the National Park car park in Buttermere (£6 for 4 hours) and walking round the lake on the west on the permissive path along the shore. At the end of the lake, taking the diagonal partially pitched path rising to Scarth Gap. Then on a steep newly pitched path to the top of Seat and then on a satisfyingly grassed over steep pitched path to the top of High Crag, the path decaying to scree before the top. Along the tops to High Stile and then Red Pike. Descending to the saddle before Dodd (largely on horrid loose scree but finally on another made path) and then, at the birthday girl’s insistence, spurning the fine path to Bleasdale Tarn to take an interminable slippy, trippy, half-path-half-stream down the fellside and then through trees to reach the main path from Crummock Water back to Buttermere.

Conditions: a grey and very still day with clear views to Criffel and Snaefell but warm and sweaty on the uphills.

Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere, for Strands Gold Wing and Tirril Buttermere Blonde.

New 10km circuit from Staveley

A quick lunchtime run whilst Lois was at the physiotherapists.

Route: from the Mill Yard, Staveley, taking  Kendal Road south towards the level crossing but turning left before it onto the Dales Way. Along the river bank to a bridge just north of Cowan Head. Back, north, along the road for 100m to cross a style to climb pathless up hill and then along reaching a familiar track along the stream at Side House. Climbing a little further along the track before descending left across fields to Birk Field. Then up and along roads to Ghyll Bank before descending steeply across fields, doglegging across a road, to reach Elf Howe and then the bridleway and farm track to reach the road to the rear entrance to the Mill Yard.

Conditions: cloudy, warm and some light rain towards the end.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley joined by Lois for NZPA and WPA.

Potter Tarn swim

A short walk (6km there and back) and swim on a hot, humid day.

Route: leaving the car at the Staveley Mill Yard by the footbridge and walking near the river, past the sewage works and along the road as far as the steep track to Side House and beyond this to the junction on the fellside. Turning right and rising steeply to Potter Tarn for a swim. Returning via Frost Hole and the road under Craggy Plantation.

Conditions: hottest day of the year (and hottest July day since 2006!) but no sun while swimming.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall, Staveley for WPA and Cumbrian Five Hops.