Under Scout Scar's scar

A nearly 8km run on a cold sunny morning.

Route: leaving the car on the road north of Levens at OS Grid Ref: SD 48908 87585 at a junction of paths (space for 5-6 cars) and running north west, gently uphill on grass, following occasional posts to reach the track to Helsington Church. Then continuing onto Scout Scar, staying to the left and, at the obvious geological fault, descending under the scar on a rather trippy path (in virtue of roots and stones, though obviously recently pruned back of brambles) to Barrowfield Farm. Heading south on the track, then right onto the footpath, and then back on the track under an impressive looking Burnbarrow Scar to cross the road to Brigsteer and proceeding on a bridleway past Wells Garth. There, turning sharp right and descending, with some complaints from the ranks, crossing a field to Parkend Farm. Crossing the road and descending further, diagonally, before turning left into the woods of Brigsteer Park. Flat along the valley bottom until, eventually, climbing laboriously, via a track to the left, back to the start.

Conditions: 2C, sunny and cold, frosty and muddy underfoot by turns.

Pub: the Hare and Hounds for half pints of Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold.

Craggy Wood 6km run

A short run so as not to over-stress sporting niggles.

Route: leaving the car in the Mill Yard and heading over the footbridge over the river and then the middle path to Staveley Back Road and up to the gate into Craggy Wood. Round to the right and up and swinging left at altitude, looking out for, but finding only one of, the survey posts mentioned in a recent Guardian article. Exiting the woods and tuning right up sodden fields, over the ridge and down to Littlewood Farm. Right along the road to the walled track along the edge of Mike’s wood and picking up a metalled track turning right to descend to Staveley Back Road turning right and then left back to Staveley across fields.

Conditions: blue sky, bright sun, cool but very wet (and deeply muddy and slippery) under foot.

Pub: the Hawskhead Brewery for Hawskhead WPA, NZPA and lunch.

Whitbarrow Scar

A 7km run on the last day of the Christmas holidays.

Route: leaving the car in a lay-by opposite the Lyth Valley Inn and running uphill on a muddy snickleway, forking right and then along a track to reach the green road exiting Row. Turning right then left following a footpath sign but actually then following a track up the field, through a gate and then onto the top of the Scar bending left, past a cairn and over a stile. Here, following a more rocky path roughly parallel with a wall but bending right and climbing to a substantial well built summit cairn. Back-tracking to where a ridge of grike joins the wall and taking a stile to descend, bending left at a fork and then tracking north on sometimes very muddy paths before descending to Row and then back to the outward path.

Conditions: low cloud and drizzle.

Pub: the Lyth Valley Inn for Lakeland Gold.

The environs of School Knott

A 10km run to the east of Windermere.

Route: leaving the car in the Booths car park (free for customers for 2 hours) and running through the shop and out onto the pavement of the A591 and then east to reach a footpath to the right. Crossing surprisingly marshy farmed fields and then over the railway line before heading left past garages and then left on a narrow road. At the end, turning left at a footpath signpost and then right through a gate marked 'no camping' into Schoolknott Plantation and across grass, rising slowly and selecting middle ways at subtle path junctions to exit onto open land and thence, at a walk, up to School Knott. Descending to a tarn behind and then cutting a corner to rejoin a previously taken path ascending to reach a high-point with a good tree and views back to the central fells. Descending to cross through Hagg End, turn right on a road and then the second left path to Crag House. Descending a shallow valley and re-ascending, climbing a gate to avoid local flooding. At a signpost, taking a novel left turn to Borwick Fold, across a road and then on another footpath through a small wood before joining an open road. Taking the second left turn onto a path back through Schoolknott Plantation and then back through the housing estate, right up Thwaites Lane under the railway line and back to the start.

Conditions: surprisingly wet under foot but a sunny day.

Pub: Pie and Pint/The Crafty Baa, Windermere, for Barngates Red Terrier and Oakham Citra.

Wetherlam

A 9km walk on a glorious sunny day with Angie and Alistair.

Route: having picked up A&A in Coniston, driving back to the first left turn to the Tilberthwaite car park and ascending from there on the right hand side of the gorge of Tilberthwaite Gill and then bending right and slowly ascending through Dry Cove Bottom to the start of Wetherlam Edge. Here taking the path to scramble up occasionally greasy and icy rocks and so heading left onto the ridge to regain the sun and thence to the summit. Descending south to Lower Hows and then further south taking a left turn initially on Fix the Fells steps but losing the path and descending across occasionally damp grass to the stepping stones to the west of a small tarn and then left on the main path back to Tilberthwaite Gill descending this time on its west bank.

Conditions: cold but bright sun, with some ice underfoot.

Pub: the Black Bull, Coniston, for Consiton Brewery Infinity IPA, Oatmeal Stout and mulled wine.

Short run to the Stratford Obelisk

An early morning 5km run with James on the last day of a two day visit to Stratford (to see King John).

Route: from 12 St Gregory’s Road, west on Mayfield and Jolyffe’s Park Road to reach Clopton Road and along this to the end (from where Lois took a different route to the obelisk) and then across significant mud to reach a faint path slightly uphill across grass to the corner of the field. Then north again across deep mud to reach a bridleway (crossing ridges and furrows) for 200m before turning right and descending slightly to the obelisk. Then back south past the Welcombe Hotel, through the Dingles, to reach Welcombe Road. At the end, right back onto St Gregory's Road.

Conditions: very muddy under foot, frosty and misty and with the sun just rising as we reached the obelisk.

Pub? Not at 9am!

Whinlatter

A recuperative walk (three days after a visit to Workington A&E on Christmas Eve).

Route: leaving the car at the Spout Force car park and walking 3km up rough forestry tracks into the heart of the Aiken Beck valley. Ignoring the left turn for the Lord's Seat ascent path and following the track swinging to the right, before taking a very overgrown forest track leading to a treacherous stile out of the trees and onto the lower slopes and eventually, on moorland paths, to the summit of Whinlatter. Along the clear ridge path to Brown How and sweeping views of Lorton Vale and then following a clear path round the end of the fell and then back right, descending to the edge of forestry land. This time turning right (not left) and descending beside a fence, climbing over it at the corner to gain a slippy narrow path down through trees and rejoin the outward forest track left back to the car.

Conditions: cloudy with a cool breeze but not cold and dry.

Pub: the Pheasant, Bassenthwaite, for Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold and home made crisps.