Brackenthwaite Hows 7km run

A 7km run on a lovely February day.

Route: leaving the car at the Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park and taking a steep shortcut to reach the start of the the small path up Robin’s Steps to the summit plateau of Brackenthwaite Hows. Descending south and picking up the path within the wood by its eastern wall to join the small path descending to the boat house. Thence round the lake to Highpark Farm and round the end of Mellbreak before descending to the Kirkstile Inn and then back along the road.

Conditions: sunny, still and surprisingly warm for February.

Pub: later on the journey home, the Badger Bar, Rydal for Hawkshead Five Hop and Red and lunch.

Robinson and Dale Head circuit

A 13km circuit on a sunny cold day after the sad news of Chris Hoggarth’s death.

Route: leaving the car at the Gatesgarth Farm car park (£4) at the bottom end of Buttermere and walking back along the road to the footpath running steeply up alongside Hassness How Beck, up a ridge with a perhaps a 6 foot stretch requiring hand-over-hand work, and then a long lesser climb to the summit plateau with a diversion left to reach the summit. Descending Robinson and ascending Hindscarth Edge and then Dale Head. Descending to the quarry and then ascending the old tramway to the plateau and then by the right hand, eastern track to Warnscale Bottom and back to the car.

Conditions: cold and occasionally bitterly cold in the wind (but very warm at other times).

Pub: the Bridge Hotel, Buttermere for Jennings Sneck Lifter.

10km circuit in Kentmere

A new 10km circuit in Kentmere.

Route: Leaving the car on the road just before the entrance to the Hollingworth & Vose factory and running through the factory yard to take the green valley bottom path to Kentmere Hall where doubling back to ascend slowly on a track onto the moors to reach the crossroads of paths by Park Beck and then on wet paths eventually to reach tracks approaching Williamson’s Monument. Descending a paved road back into the valley. 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 again and the car.

Conditons: a cool day but warm sun (icy, boggy, muddy and rocky terrain).

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for Cumbrian 5 Hop, WPA, XPA and lunch.

Tiny stroll in Craggy Plantation

A tiny walk in the woods, in snow, with James visiting after his African safari.

Route: from the Mill Yard, across the footbridge and north east to join the road bending left to climb towards Craggy Plantation. Entering the woods and following the path round, gaining height to a view north tout of the woods into snow. Leaving the wood and descending steeply across fields to pick up the road at Barley Bridge back to the footbridge and hence the Brewery.

Conditions: snowing with snow under foot.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for Cumbrian NZPA and Windermere Pale Ale and then the Watermill, Ings for Wruff Night, Old Peculiar and lunch.

Brackenthwaite Hows variant pootle

A short 6km run on a rainy day: a last minute change of plan (from a circumnavigation of Mellbreak) on account of the weather.

Route: leaving the car at the Lanthwaite Wood National Trust car park and taking a steep shortcut to reach the start of the the small path up Robin’s Steps to the summit plateau of Brackenthwaite Hows. Descending south and picking up the path within the wood by its eastern wall to join the small path descending to the boat house. Thence round the lake to Highpark Farm and, for the first time, taking a track and then Church Road in a direct line to the (church and) Kirkstile Inn and then, after a pre-lunch pint in an unusually quiet pub by a roaring fire, back along the road.

Conditions: grey, windy and wet.

Pub: the Kirkstile Inn, for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Pacific Voyage and Loweswater Gold.

Clapham circuit

An 11km run north and east from Clapham, on the way back from visiting Simon and Lesley.

Route: from the car park in Clapham (£2.50 for 2 hours), taking the road north and then a track east of the church through two very dark and stony tunnels and then up onto the shoulder of the hillside of Norber. Straight on and down to a crossroads with a minor road, taking a left turn heading uphill, the road becoming a track. On this to a grassy bridleway which turns left and goes uphill again near Crummack. At this point mistakenly bearing too far left (apparently, according to this blog, for the second time) and thus ending up too far to the south and east, so striking across rough rocky country to reach a significant wall and following this north to find the main track to a gate in a wall and downhill on a stony walled track (Long Lane) eventually rising to meet the outward path and return through the tunnels.

Conditions: a beautiful crisp cold sunny day but with some ice under foot.

Pub: the Royal Barn, Kirkby Lonsdale for Kirkby Lonsdale Singletrack.

Scout Scar

A tiny 4km stroll on New Year’s Day with Andrew, Helen, Anton and Lois (C) (and Lois S) before a pub lunch.

Route: leaving the car at the intermediate parking space on the Brigsteer Road at SD 49632 89922 and walking north on a clear muddy path to approach the wall heading north west. Passing through the Gate in the Corner and thence to the trig point. Down the the cliff to the west of the scar and south to ‘Dave’s Cairn’ and then back to the Gate in the Corner and back to the car via the ‘spooky building’.

Conditions: cloudy, grey and cool but dry.

Pub: the Black Labrador, Underbarrow for lunch and Windermere Golden Retriever and Black Dog.