Ings to Kentmere over the common

A 14-15km off- and on-road run with Ian Lyne.

Route: Leaving the car at pub at Ings and taking the steep road to Grassgarth and beyond on a stony track before taking a slight right turn towards Kentmere. Along a wet and muddy path crossing the common to reach a junction of paths by Park Beck. This time, continuing on a now more substantial track to career splendidly to Kentmere village. Back along the road for 3km before crossing the river at Ulthwaite Bridge. Then up the road climbing quite steeply back onto the hillside. This time turning right rather than left along a level track to meet the outward path before a long descent to Ings.

Conditions: A cloudy grey day with glimpses of sun.

Pub: The Hawkshead Beer Hall for Hoppy Red (a trial 4.8% beer), WPA and a new smoother version of NZPA.

An attempt on Nethermost Pike then St Sunday Crag

A dramatic day in sunny icy conditions with Ian Lyne (but not Lois).

Route: Leaving the car at the Glenridding car park and crossing via Lanty's Tarn to walk up the north side of Grisedale. Then following a faint path to a stile and a straight diagonal groove across the hillside to gain height before crossing the stream (with some difficulty in the icy conditions) to gain the east ridge. Snow now visibly still remaining on the top, a tactical retreat pathless down to the Ruthwaite climbing lodge to regain the Grisedale pass path to the tarn. Then taking the diagonal path (across some icy snowy pitches) to reach the ridge at Deepdale Hause and then to the summit of St Sunday. Down to Birks and then pathless to Arnison Crag and back along the road to the start.

Conditions: Brilliant sun and clear visibility though bitterly cold. Some snow on the Eastern Fells (hence the retreat) making the descent from St Sunday trickier than expected (with Spiders).

Pub: The Hawkshead Beer Hall for Hoppy Red (a trial 4.8% beer) and WPA.

On-road loop round Ings

A 14km on-road loop (off-road routes being flooded by molten snow) in Dales Way country.

Route: Leaving the car at the Mill Yard in Staveley and taking the noisy cycle path / pavement by the A591 past Ings and then up the side road towards High Borrans but taking the first left towards Heaning. The planned unmade road being impassable, a detour on the metalled road back to the A591and then taking the narrow gated road signed to Blackmoss. Once on the hillside, taking the first left to meet the Dales Way and then following it back down into Staveley.

Conditions: Blustery and cloudy with a threat of rain and flooded slushy roads under foot.

Pub: The Hawkshead Brewery for Winter Warmer (a trial 4.5% beer) and WPA.

A 10km circuit in Troutbeck

An icy run while everyone else was sledging!

Route: Leaving the car on the first left turn before the church at Troutbeck and running through the Limefitt caravan park, past its Haybarn Inn (!) and thus onto the bridleway towards the head of the valley on the eastern side. At the Tongue, taking the second footbridge (near the north end of the Tongue) to return on the bridleway to the farm at Troutbeck Park where the planned route was to pick up the valley bottom road. Sadly confused when harried by dogs went off piste on the west of the beck over walls (once sinking knee deep) to reach the road once it had crossed back over the pretty stone bridge. Then back to cross the main road near the Queen’s Head and run up and along through the village to drop back to the start.

Conditions: Snowy and icy under foot, sometimes treacherously so. Cold.

Pub: The Watermill at Ings for W’ruff Night and A Winter’s Tail.

Head of Kentmere run

A cold snowy run of 13-14km.

Route: Leaving the car by the side of the road just before the Waterfoot factory entrance and running along the road taking the Green Quarter turning and then along the road towards Brockstones and Hallow Bank and then descending to the valley floor to Overend where the road becomes a stony track to Tongue House. Then by a narrow grassy path, very muddy after the wet winter but partially frozen to reach the foot bridge just south of Kentmere Reservoir. Back along the bridleway, first down hill and then rising above Hartrigg, descending and rising again just before Kentmere. Then back along the road to the car.

Conditions: Low cloud and snow falling with a cool wind into our faces on the return.

Pub: Hawkshead Brewery for Hawkshead Red and WPA.

Blencathra via Hall's Fell

A stiff ascent on a wintry day with Ian Lyne.

Route: Leaving the car the Horse and Farrier and taking the path by the stream from the centre of Threlkeld, crossing the stream and then diagonally across very muddy fields to the foot of Hall's Fell. Ascending, initially sticking close to the top of the ridge but later allowing some diversions to the left to avoid greasy and slippy rocks (one ridge-top section taken à cheval). Reaching the top in snow and cloud with some ice under foot. Then along to the west to descend Blease Fell on a recently re-engineered path though still steep in places.

Conditions: Cloudy and cold with snow on the top, greasy rock and later snow under foot.

Pub: The Horse and Farrier at Threlkeld for Jennings Snecklifter.

10km run north of Ings

A 10km run onto the common between Hugill Fell and Sour Howes from Ings on tracks and muddy paths.

Route: From the pub at Ings, taking the small steep road to Grassgarth and beyond on a stony track before taking a slight right turn towards Kentmere. Then in very muddy conditions on level ground across the common to reach a junction of paths by Park Beck. Turning sharp right heading south east on a path, sometimes pitched, sometimes grass to descend into the Kentmere valley before turning right along a very muddy track just before the river at Ulthwaite Bridge. Then up the road climbing quite steeply back onto the hillside near Williamson's Monument becoming a gravel track again.Through Heights Farm and then right along a muddy bridleway (rather than left on a road), and another right to descend, at little more than walking pace, a very rocky track then to rejoin the outward route half a mile from Ings.

Conditions: Cloudy and a brief shower but mild for November. Very wet under foot.

Pub: The Watermill at Ings for Watermill Wruff night and Eden Gold.