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My first ever holiday to the Lakes was in the shadow of Loughrigg Fell.... staying at Neaum Crag, which i think was just off the Coniston Road, and if i remember correctly was a very short walk from Skelwith Bridge.
I'd never even heard of fellrunning back then (circa 1998)
Neaum Crag is straight up the steep little hill behind the bus stop shelter from Skelwith Bridge - a nice spot with good access to the fells, and of course to Chesters cafe - great for takeaways. Pre Covid I used to pop in there several times a week. They are now vegetarian.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
12.18 miles, 3,229 feet, 3 hours 28 minutes: Fairfield Horseshoe c/w. Lovely sunshine, virtually no wind; terrain drying out nicely, though still wet and slippery in places. About 30 on the fell, but no large groups. Town quiet.
Are you planning to enter the Fairfield Horseshoe race...? Entries opening on thursday courtesy of your club...Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike T
Tempted, now that I know the route so much better - but from the vaccination point of view it is a bit early for me - 3 weeks post second injection takes me to early June.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
I've just entered... put down an estimated time of 1hr40 which would be a pb of over 5mins, so got a lot to live up to...!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike T
Also entered the new 9 mile Clough Head/Great Dodd race being put on by Kong the weekend before....
Clough Head is such a tough ascent - and descent for that matter, especially if the clag is down.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
10.36 miles, 3,071 feet, 2 hours 57 minutes: Loughrigg trails. Sunshine and clouds, cloud base just catching the highest tops. Quite a cold wind - though I managed in my vest. Terrain mainly dry. Quite a few about, both on the fell, and on the minor roads.
That's good to know. It's been well over a year since I've visited Ambleside or Keswick :( but once things are 'settled', and post the summer hysteria, I might give Chesters a visit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike T
When we've ever visited Ambleside, Rattle Gill Cafe has been our bijou favourite veggie pit-stop.
In Keswick, since the closure of Pedlars, we've called into Kat's Kitchen a few times for a decent veggie lunch.
Seems like another world away now!
Rattle Gill Cafe was great - it is of course closed now - and has in fact changed hands recently. The previous owners now run a deli just around the corner - Rattle Gill Deli - which is veggie and great for take aways and general goodies.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mossdog
Chesters take away section is I feel better than their actual cafe - and they provide outside seating if you don't actually want to "take away". Their scones, cinnamon buns, flapjacks and various salads are excellent.
8.72 miles, 3,189 feet, 2 hours 44 minutes: Wansfell Pike from 3 sides. Sunshine, quite a cold wind, but I was OK in a vest. Terrain mostly dry. Lots about, both on the fell and on the roads, and the P+D carpark at Waterhead was almost full.
Walk with the wife today.
12.5 miles, 1975ft, 3:50 with most of the climb in the first half with 4 climbs working our way around the East side of Darwen Tower and up over from Whitehall to Roddlesworth Visitor Centre then home.
First run outside Teesdale since the start of Lockdown 3.0. and a lifting of my injury management, self-imposed distance moratorium of 6 miles max.
Kirkby Stephen to Wildboar Fell via Bullgill and back, via Nateby. 14.39 miles, 2,464 feet, 2 hrs 38 mins.
Cold, steady, north breeze, but sunshine mainly. Counted 6 to 8 walkers on Wildboar plateau and a couple on the way up - mobbed :)
First swallow of the year spotted plus, a dipper on the upper Eden, more fell ponies than you can shake a stick at, and red squirrels x4!
Right knee seems OK for now, just a bit tight.
12.28 miles, 3,387 feet, 3 hours 26 minutes: Fairfield Horseshoe c/w. Sunny, a very cold wind on top - needed a long sleeved top. Terrain dry and soft, a delight to run on. Lots about, both on the fell and in town; all the usual free parking spots I passed were taken.
After a year of mostly walking from home, doing many of the same routes I set out to do some new routes today.
10.8 miles, 1330ft, 3:28
Managed about 5 miles of new ground, a lot of rough tracks seldom used and a few sections of public footpath in the lower Tockholes area that landowners seem intent to let go in to decline and removed footpath signage.
In a couple of instances they were intentionally blocked off.
Still 2 good days out and feet up now.
The Peloton app and online fitness programme seems to be very popular, especial for those in lockdown and who have limited opportunity to exercise outside.
However, last week I watched one of their TV ads. which featured the online coach demonstrating a 'stretch' (?) exercise with weights, which was then performed by the woman he was coaching. The exercise involved her initially holding a single dumbbell, in two hands, in front of her and down to her right hand-side, near her right hip, and then swinging the dumbbell up, diagonally across her chest, with the movement ending just above her left shoulder, and then returning to her right hip to complete the rep, and then repeated again, quickly.
I assume this was a stretch/strength exercise, but what worried me was the speed and the fact that it seems to be relying on moving weight momentum assisting the speed and swing, and relying on the shoulder and back muscles to bring the moment to a screeching halt above the shoulder and down by the hip.
Look, I'm no physio or personal trainer so i admit I might have got this wrong, but to my understanding this looked like really bad form, and that if needed at all the best and safest way to do this exercise would be controlled, slow movements.
Maybe I'm wrong? If I'm right there's going to be a lot of physio/GP appointments pending if anyone tries to emulate that exercise at home!
13.84 miles, 4,924 feet, 4 hours 9 minutes: Red Screes via Wansfell Pike and Roundhill Farm, then back the same way. A partial inversion - initially in places the cloud base was down to about 400 feet, but it gradually rose and melted away. A cold wind, particularly on the very top, but I got down to my vest on the final ascent. Terrain dry and soft. Not that many about - only 5 others on Red Screes, a few more on the Pike.
Yesterday, frustrated by not being able to run or cycle on such a glorious day I decided to go for a longer walk than usual.
From home down to Haddon Hall, over the A6 and up to Calton Pastures and its TP on the Chatsworth Estate. Down into Pilsley and then across to Hassop before calling at a friends in Rowland for a brew. Up onto Longstone Edge, over the moor to Wardlow and up to Wardlow Hay Cop. Down into Hay Dale and then over the river Wye at Upperdale and up onto the Monsal Trail. Just before the Headstone Tunnel up steeply to the Monsal Head Hotel and then through the woods back down to the river and along to White Lodge, crossing the A6 again.
Up a beautiful Deep Dale in the evening sun and over to Monyash. Over the fields to One Ash Grange and then down into Cales Dale, Lathkill Dale and home.
A great day out which included a few paths that were new to me. I also travelled along paths which are parts of local fell races namely, Bakewell Pudding, Pilsley, Great Longstone, Litton Christmas Cracker, Cressbrook Crawl, Sheldon and Leg It Round Lathkil. It was fun reliving past glories, agonies and battles whilst anticipating those which are hopefully not too far away.
A total of 27 miles, 3'452 feet in 7hrs 57min excluding three 15 min stops. The only snag was that as I am not able to use a rucsac due to my shoulder I was limited to what I could carry in my largest bumbag resulting in me being starving on reaching home!
Surprisingly very few people about on such a lovely day apart from the Monsal Trail and Monsal Head which were heaving with folk.
Nice on Llani.Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
Feel a bit embarrassed with my 5.5 miles, 1:45, 800ft, but my mitigation is that on my right foot my middle toe nail cut in to the toe next to it, so I cut it short, but it would only have been around 8 anyway :D
A 2-hour walk with some new diversions on Beacon Hill. Going up the North face of the hill, there is a gate onto the open heathland, close to the 210m contour. Today I found the gate locked, with a notice saying that to protect ground-nesting birds, this area of heathland would be out of bounds until further notice (this has never happened in the past). I took the recommended diversion, along some rather boring paths via the main car park, so on the way down I decided to recce a better route. I found a small, steep trod which comes out on the track which passes the aforementioned gate.
So, instead of the 120 metres of unbroken ascent from the Woodbrook valley to the summit, I will now have about 80 metres of ascent, then along the track with about 10 metres of descent, then the final 50 metres of ascent at quite a challenging gradient via the trod; although the first challenge will be finding the start of the trod. I have noted that it's by the first beech tree on the right after the double bend in the track.
That is the sort of detail I like - on Hart Crag for example, if it is under snow and the clag is down - "turn half right at the second cairn once it flattens out ..." can be so helpful, as long as I remember it of course. But if I have gone wrong in a big way in the past I find I do remember.Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonykay
10.06 miles, 3,325 feet, 2 hours 50 minutes: Loughrigg trails. A very strong very cold wind; mainly blue sky, the odd cloud - the sunshine made sure that most of the sprinkling of graupel that fell overnight did not last long. Terrain soft and dry. Quite a few about, all rugged up; I did not get down to my vest today.
Fairly long walk, though not as epic as Llani's recent effort; about 17 miles, and I had a rucksack with food in it! But it felt quite hard, coming at the end of a fairly active long weekend.
Up Beacon Hill by the most direct route; ahead of me, two women ran every step of the way up the steepest part of the path. It's been a year or two since I could do this, and even though they weren't going much faster than I was walking it, there was a certain feeling of "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" (or at least the dying of the leg muscles).
Down to the Ulverscroft valley, where Ulverscroft Priory still has scaffolding all over it. I know that Henry VIII's damage was quite severe, but they haven't even patched up the walls, let along put a new roof on it, and the scaffolding has been there for years! :p
Out on some paths that I had never used before, towards Markfield and then Copt Oak. Passed a herd of roe deer grazing in a field, but it looked like they were farmed rather than wild.
On to more familiar paths, up Timberwood Hill by the usual steep way (thanks again to Leics & Rutland Wildlife Trust for the permissive paths on this hill), then back home via the path over Lubcloud and the tedious walk down Nanpantan Road.
Very clear views from the hill tops: northward to The Roaches and Axe Edge as well as much of the White Peak, southward to Edge Hill and the north Cotswolds -- oh, and Birmingham; Cannock Chase to the west, the Belvoir escarpment and Lincoln Edge to the east.
8.89 miles, 4,076 feet, 2 hours 59 minutes: Wansfell Pike, including twice up and three times down the race route to the kissing gate - 77 minutes. Sunshine/clouds/light graupel showers/very cold wind. Terrain dry and soft - the occasional patch of ice on puddles/streams. I had my windproof on most of the time. About 20 on the fell.
Crikey Mike, you're an absolute legend! I want to know what your secret is as to how come you stay so fit, healthy and injury free. Have you done a deal with the devil or is it just down to great genes ? My pet theory is you've discovered a secret, magical, life-enhancing spring, hidden somewhere on the slopes of Red Screes! Whatever, you're an inspiration. :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike T
Thanks Mossdog! Take note I am not fast. Being injury free is of course crucial - I have been doing at least 3 strength and conditioning sessions a week - or their equivalent - for several years now, run by locals such as Adam Smith, Adam Thwaites, and Paul Tierney. And being retired I have the time to run when I like.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mossdog
Yesterday I went for a walk with a young lad from the village who is a third of my age. He is a keen runner who runs mainly on the road and has a parkrun PB of 17.12 so I hoped that I would be able to keep up with him.
We dropped down into Lathkill Dale and up to Moor Lane. Down the steps into Cales Dale and left up towards Arbor Low before turning right across fields to Monyash. Up Horse Lane and over to Magpie Mine before more fields to home.
A total of 11 miles and 1'500 feet in a very steady 3hrs 37 min. This young whippersnapper was not a quick walking whippersnapper and asked me to slow down on the few short uphill's which I refuse to call steep! It surprised me how little stamina he had. Will he still take 2-3 minutes out of me on a 5K run though?
A cold but glorious day and surprisingly only 15-20 people seen.
Today an evening walk with the dogs over the Leg It Round Lathkill route. Got caught in a couple of wintry showers. No one seen. 8 miles and 900 feet in 2hrs 35 min.
A total of 76 miles walking in the last week and the legs feel light and strong which should bode well for my plan to start again running in May. No weight put on either. The shoulder is improving and back to the hospital to see the physio tomorrow and also the nurse to take my stitches out.
Onwards and Upwards
13.58 miles, 4,148 feet, 3 hours 48 minutes: Swinescar Pike - via Clappersgate/Todd Crag/Ivy Crag/Loughrigg top/Elterwater on the way out, and Lang How/Silver How/Loughrigg top/Miller Bridge on the return. Sunshine and clouds, wind not as strong nor as cold as yesterday, no precipitation. Terrain dry/soft. Quite a few on Loughrigg, not many at all elsewhere.
8.18 miles, 486 feet, 1 hour 22 minutes: Along the Under Loughrigg road to Rydal, then along the main road to White Moss and back to town. Overcast, cloud base at about 1,600 feet, constant drizzle, no significant wind at this level, not cold. A few large groups about - they naturally tend to spread themselves across the available space, so I did a couple of U turns to avoid them.
It's amazing isn't it. Stamina definitely develops after speed. Having said that, I'm still waiting for mine to develop... Maybe I need both age and training.Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
And yes, he'll definitely still beat you (and me) at parkrun.
8.59 miles, 3,286 feet, 2 hours 46 minutes: Wansfell Pike from 3 sides. Sunshine, a few clouds, cold wind, no precipitation. Terrain a bit damp in places, but not that slippery. Got down to my vest for the last couple of miles. Quite a few about on the fell, and the 2 P+D car parks I ran past were about half full.
My watch says my VO2 Max is up to 44.
Mike i thought i saw your name on some results for your club's uphill time-trial on Loughrigg (well it was a Mr Mike.T anyway!)
Yes, just under 30 minutes, and soundly thrashed by some others in my age group - one did 26 minutes or so. A chap with a joint replacement who now only walks beat me. I find I cannot really push myself unless others are around me - I just don't like suffering.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
that Beth (who used to work in the Apple Pie Bakery) is a good runner. Good climber. She took at least a couple of minutes out of me at the Snowdon Uphill a couple of years back.
Think I saw her in the starting lineup for the Clough Head race in May, so perhaps I'll get revenge!
13.85 miles, 4,603 feet, 4 hours 8 minutes: Low Sweden Bridge - Low Pike - High Pike - High Bakestones - Scandale - Red Screes - Roundhill Farm - Wansfell Pike. Sunshine and clouds, a cold breeze on the tops, with the occasional very light sprinkling of graupel, despite which I got down to my vest for Wansfell. Terrain mainly dry, but very hard higher up, with ice on puddles and streams. Quite a few on the fells. The P+D car park at Waterhead was almost full.
I heard a rumour of one or two other forumites also heading for that region of the Lakes today too!
Walk with Mrs WP through Tockholes with the intention of rounding Cartridge Hill.
Advised Mrs WP to take a hooded waterproof, but she just takes her quilted jacket, no hat, no hood :rolleyes:
Heavy hail just after The Royal so with Mrs WP in mind re-routed to miss the summit of Cartridge and headed for Roddlesworth. Hail lasted about 20 minutes, turned to light snow and then fizzled out.
Stopped next to the top reservoir for our butty and brew, then carried on back home.
Nice walk.
12.28 mile, 1514ft, 3:58
Another longer walk today. Shoulder improving and I was able to carry a small backpack so plenty of rations on board.
From home, over the frosty fields to Magpie Mine and Sheldon. In and out of Deep Dale and over to Taddington and up to the TP at Sough Top. On to Pillwell Lane and then the Pennine Bridleway to Dowlow. On to the TP at High Wheeldon and then across OA land with lovely views over the Dove and Manifold Valleys and across to the Staffordshire Moorlands.
Across farmland from Pilsbury Lodge, with plenty of gambolling lambs, to Parsley Hay where the Blueberry Kiosk was open for a welcome Latte. Along the High Peak Trail and a left onto Green Lane which I have only cycled on before. When I got to the dip that is usually full of water and where I dismount and carry my bike around it, not being brave enough trying to ride through, I was surprised to find it dry. I stood in the bottom of the rut and the sides were between my waist and shoulders! If I'd tried to ride it I could have lost my bike!
Over the Friden Road to Kenslow Knoll which I have not visited before. It is relatively unknown and comprises of a circular stand of trees planted in 2000 with three large mill stones in the centre displaying a Millennium Plaque. The path to it is a dead end and at least a mile from any available car parking. A little gem worth a visit.
From there along Long Dale and then Gratton Dale before dropping down to Gratton, Middleton and down Bradford Dale before up over the hill to Meadow Place Farm and home.
Much of the walk was either on trails that I usually run or cycle on and it was most enjoyable to be going much slower and seeing things that I have missed previously.
A total of 27 and a half miles and only 2,960 feet in 8hrs 8 min, excluding three 15 min stops.
A cold day with a few snow flurries and a lot less people about than I was expecting.
11.06 miles, 3,144 feet, 3 hours 8 minutes: Loughrigg trails. Sunshine/clouds/cold breeze/no preciptation. I got down to my vest for the last half an hour or so. Terrain dry, and soft at this level. A sprinkling of snow visible on Ill Bell. Lots of people about.
I entered the Loughrigg Fell Race, kindly hosted by your club, 5th May.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike T