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.

Silverdale shoreline 10km loop

A nearly 11km jog along the shore and over the shoulder of Arnside Knott.

Route: leaving the car cheekily at the end of the back entrance to the Woodlands and running through the centre of Silverdale (dodging the crowds of attendees at the Silverdale & Arnside Art & Craft Trail 2015) and down to the coast. The tide being out, picking a way first across rocks (visiting the cave) and then up to 100m out on the sand making a beeline for the end of the bay at Park Point (though, once there, regaining the shore with some difficulty across wet sand). Then across a grassy sandy cove and again gingerly over rocks to New Barns. Here turning inland across field and then gently climbing woodland tracks gaining height to cross a shoulder of Arnside Knott and descend. Crossing the road at Hare Parrock, past Arnside Tower and then along mainly woodland paths under Eaves Wood to descend to the start.

Conditions: after a dismal day, blue skies and hot sun.

Pub: the Woodlands Hotel, Silverdale for Stewart Brewing Scotch Ale and Copper Cascade.

Top of Windermere cycle circuit

A 60km local cycle ride with a surprising degree of novelty.

Route: from home, into town, up to Greenside and steeply over Scout Scar on the Underbarrow road descending at speed for early doors at the Punch Bowl, Underbarrow beer festival. An hour later, along the road to Crosshwaite but turning right up very steep tiny roads (signed initially to Starnthwaite) to cut the corner (right, then left, then right from Crosthwaite) to join the A5074 as far as Winster. Then taking a right up Lindeth Road as far as the Crook Road and down that to the ferry. On the far side, turning right at the Claife Viewing Station along first a tarmac road and then the stony track along the lake shore (fine on a hybrid/Moulton) to join a minor road near Wray Castle and then via Clappersgate to Waterhead. The Wateredge Inn being too busy, pressing on down the lake to turn left up another steep road to Troutbeck, then descending to cross the valley and ascending again cutting the corner to Ings and then Staveley and the Beer Hall. After a couple of pints (with Mike and Chris Dunn), home via Burneside.

Conditions: sun, cloudy sun and wind but very warm in the sun.

Pubs: the Punch Bowl, Underbarrow for Stringers Plan B, Heskett Newmarket Red Pike, Lancaster Duchy, Tirril Grasmere Gold, Springhead Maid Marian. The Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall, Staveley for Windermere Pale Ale and Cumbrian Five Hops.

Circuit of Coniston

A ~17 mile hilly, mainly off-road, run.

Route: leaving the car on the side of the road by The Ruskin Musuem (just; free) and heading through the village and down Lake Road to pick up the Cumbria Way through a camp site and then along the lake shore until forced inland near Sunny Bank Jetty. Crossing the road and heading, with the Cumbria Way, by the side of a stream up a gently rising valley to rather desolate (wild, empty, hilly! – LS) moorland. After a grazing occultation with a minor road, continuing up a narrow defile to reach Beacon Tarn. At this point leaving the Cumbria Way to follow the outflow stream down to the foot of the lake. Across the river and taking a path to the left across two fields to join the road as far as High Nibthwaite. Now ascending on a stony track on the shoulder of the fellside with views across the lake. Lois being in some difficulty from here (owing to her dodgy piriformis! – LS), the run being increasingly mixed with walking now along forest tracks before descending, with some navigational confusion (one should turn left, left again and then look for a further left!), to the lakeside road and taking the path beside this back to the start.

Conditions: initially cloudy with some sun. Towards the end of the expedition, heavy showers and a strong, biting wind.

Pub: The Black Bull for (Old Man Ale and) Coniston Infinity IPA.