I always took the view that the ground here is crap everywhere, so i'd try and cross as little of it as possible by taking a direct route from the summit of Calva to the big bend in the Caldew where there is a mini landslide that creates a peaty 'stepping stone' down to the river. I;d then strike up the fell ahead and pick up the track from the summit of Mungrisedale Common which is off to the right (about 300m away). This results in a rough ride towards the bottom of the heather but is fairly fast initially.
I then supported a couple of rounds down the east fence and must admit that the running is easier and far more pleasant. But i did find that the direct route was usually a couple of mins quicker and kind of stuck with it. The little trod that has been mentioned wasn't there in 2007 when i went round.
It (the direct route) carries a greater risk of turning an ankle (something a friend of mine did badly on that slope on a recce) and so given the fact that the east fence is 'safer', more pleasant and not materially different in time, it's probably the best choice on balance, despite being arguably a touch slower, and even that assertion is based on a sample of one (me).
In short, there's hardly owt in it either way.
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