A 14km run into Kentmere from Ings

A 13.5km run mainly on good paths and tracks, for once run anti-clockwise.

Route: leaving the car on the road in Ings and running uphill on a quiet road to Grassgarth, where the road gives way to stony track, and then gently further uphill to a bifurcation of tracks. Unusually, turning sharp right to reach the top of a tarmac road descending into Kentmere. Just before Browfoot, taking a permissive path that leads round the farm to join the riverside track to its west. Along past Crofthead and Sawmill Cottage to reach the Hollingworth & Vose factory and then taking the green valley bottom path. After 2km in Hall Wood, bearing left off the right of way but on a track to pick up the southbund track. Rising up this to cross the moorland on a clearly artificial, only occasionally submerged, raised causeway across marshes eventually rejoining the outward tracks to regain Grassgarth and then Ings.

Conditions: cloudy, but with odd hints of brightness. Still in the valley bottom and with birdsong.

Pub: the Watermill, Ings for Watermill Wruff Night while waiting for Lois then the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for WPA and NZPA with lunch.

Whitbarrow 11km run

On a lovely day, a run with fine views but marred by increasing mud under foot.

Route: leaving the car with others in a layby close to the A590 near Mill Side, running uphill for 200m before turning right along a track (marked as a footpath) to Low Fell End, through the farm and across a field to a gate leading to a narrower stony path heading uphill in trees. After 100m, turning right onto a more main track and along this past Whitbarrow Cottage. 400m further on taking a sharp left turn to climb up hill and turn left again on a wide track. Following this under cliffs until it entered wood and turning right up a muddier path gaining the main plateau. The path turning muddier, heading along the obvious line to gain a first subsidiary summit with views over the Kent, the central fells, the Kendal fells and the Howgills. Continuing along the summit plateau passing wind-bent juniper trees and eventually climbing a long summit ridge to a well-built cairn. Continuing north to descend, taking the left-hand at a fork until eventually reaching a wall running east-west. Here beginning to descend to the west on steep scree to reach a permissive path in the woods and along this increasingly muddy path until it opened into a field. Here turning left on a track and over a stile to a track damaged by felling operations and almost impassably muddy. On reaching Beck Head, descending back to the car.

Conditions: very sunny and warm.

Pub: the Hare and Hounds, Levens for Bowness Brewery Swan Blond and Kirkby Lonsdale Red Radical.

Potter Tarn and Gurnal Dubs 13km run

A surprising tough and sometimes navigationally tricky run.

Route: exiting the Mill Yard over the footbridge and heading north east across fields past the sewage works to the track to Side House. For the first time, turning right and running slowly, and sometimes walking, up the steep hill to Potter Tarn and then in front of it to climb further up to Gurnal Dubs on grassy paths, sometimes muddy. Gently descending past Low Taggleshaw on a track to below Birk Rigg and turning right to lose altitude quickly down a long grassy field with huge views of Kendal and around. Crossing the (Potter Fell) road to take rather complicated paths (with all manner of gates and stiles and lots and lots of lambs!) through farms at Larchbank, High Underbrow and Beetham Bank to join a lateral path, much less clear on the ground than implied by the map. At Braban House joining roads to Bowston and then back to Staveley on the Dales Way.

Conditions: a much better day than forecast: cloudy but with hints of hazy sun.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for WPA and Sundowner and lunch joined by Ian Lyne who had completed the long route (66 miles up to Shap and back via Dent) in the Wheelbase Spring Classic.

Head of Kentmere 14km run

A circuit amid mountain scenery if a little too much on tarmac and hard tracks.

Route: Leaving the car parked on the roadside just before the entrance to the Hollingsworth & Vose Waterfoot factory and taking the road north towards Kentmere, turning right to Green Quarter. After about 2km, taking a left turn onto Low Lane, a stony bridleway. Along this to rejoin the familiar route at Overend to follow the track to Tongue House. Then by a narrow grassy path, marshy in places, to reach the footbridge just south of Kentmere Reservoir. Back along the bridleway, first downhill and then rising above Hartrigg, descending and rising again just before Kentmere. Turning right to find a footpath and then near the Nook taking a shortcut to Kentmere Hall and back along the pleasant grassy track to the factory and hence the car.

Conditions: initially a warm and sunny first day of spring, though clouding over.

Pub: The Hawkshead Brewery for WPA and Cumbrian Five Hop (and lunch).

Staveley 8km run

A short run to fill the short time available.

Route: exiting the Mill Yard over the footbridge and heading north east across fields past the sewage works to the track to Side House. Up the valley to join the road and down this to Hall Road. A little further on taking the path across fields and pretty bridge to Low Elfhowe and then back via Scroggs Farm.

Conditions: mild, cloudy but some hints of blue sky

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for WPA and Hop Black.

Claife Heights to High Wray Bay 12km run

A run on rare sunny and warm March day.

Route: from the Cuckoo Brow Inn, along Cuckoo Brow Lane past Moss Eccles Tarn over to Scab Moss taking the path off the foresty track where tree felling in 2015 has still changed the look of things. At the crossroads 100m down the path, turning left back onto the forestry track and following this to the probable highpoint of the route, to be joined by the more familiar track and downhill in sweeping turns to Wray. Here, going on through the hamlet to find a path across fields to High Wray Bay. Turning right to take the undulating undulating lakeside path / cycleway for 3 km before trending to the right arduously up hill to cross the shoulder of the hill and drop back into Far Sawrey behind the pub.

Conditions: Warm and sunny with blue skies (and some cloud).

Pub: Cuckoo Brow Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Langdale and Loweswater Gold.

Low Fell

A ~7km run, but walking the steep uphill section.

Route: leaving the car by the phone box just short of the Kirkstile Inn and running across a field on a footpath to cross the road at Foulsyke and heading north through woods to Pottergill. Walking very steeply uphill to reach the saddle just south of Low Fell. Then back and steeply down to Crabtree Beck and then south on a small path curving round the lower slopes of Darling Fell to join a rough track near a disused quarry. Back along the road to the car.

Conditions: at the start, a very cold wind. Cloudy.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn for Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Loweswater Gold and American Invasion.