30 March 2014

Circuit of Sour Howes and Sallows

A gruelling and very slow 15km+ run but distracting.

Route: leaving the car at Moore Howe on the Ings-Troutbeck shortcut and running slightly downhill along the stony track of Dubbs Road which becomes the Garburn Road and rises slowly uphill to the top of the pass. (On this return, the newly engineered  path seemed rather less smooth than memory presented it.) Then down the still very rocky descent (in parts at walking pace) to the Nook just outside Kentmere village but taking a footpath to the right to reach Kentmere Hall. Taking the now familiar track which gradually ascends onto the lower shoulder of Shallow Howes, across the crossroads of paths and muddy moorland to reach another junction. Turning right on a track which then slowly bends left and descends and turning right off it on a track to High Borrans and a paved road back to the main road and thence back to the start.

Conditions: very warm for March with hazy sun.

Pub: The Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for WPA and Cumbrian Five Hop.

23 March 2014

5km circuit of Spy Crag

A quick 5km run to leave time for a pint/lunch before a choir practice.

Route: from the Staveley Millyard along Back Road to cross Barley Bridge and uphill on Hall Lane as far as the sharp right turn. Then along the road to Littlewood Farm crossing the plateau of the raised valley (with fine distant views back towards the Kentmere fells) before descending steeply passed Craggy Plantation to join, briefly, the Potter Tarn Road before taking the shortcut footpath to the footbridge over the river and back to the Millyard.

Conditions: a chilly but beautiful and largely sunny spring day.

Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, for WPA and Lakeland Gold.