Todays permitted exercise!

[Travs]

14 miles, 3,918 feet, 4 hours 20 minutes: Ambleside to Sour Howes/Sallows and back, going out via Skelghyll Lane, and coming back over Wansfell Pike. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 2,500 feet. A strong cold wind from the north east. Intermittent inconsequential drizzle. Terrain wet/saturated/slippery. Lots of walkers about; no runners seen.

Last time i was over that way, i descended direct from Sour Howes to Dubbs Road, which was a bit rough and tussocky, and ended with an awkward climb over a wall/fence, as i couldn't find a stile anywhere.

On looking at the updated Wainwright guide, there is apparently a clear path down that flank to the Dubbs Road, but i'd clearly missed it and was a bit too far to the south.

My navigational woes continued as i took a wrong turn in the middle of Windermere (aiming for Bowness) and added on an extra mile of road.

[Mike T]

Last time i was over that way, i descended direct from Sour Howes to Dubbs Road, which was a bit rough and tussocky, and ended with an awkward climb over a wall/fence, as i couldn't find a stile anywhere.

On looking at the updated Wainwright guide, there is apparently a clear path down that flank to the Dubbs Road, but i'd clearly missed it and was a bit too far to the south.

My navigational woes continued as i took a wrong turn in the middle of Windermere (aiming for Bowness) and added on an extra mile of road.

I went up the Garburn Pass a short way, crossed over Dubbs Rd, then approached Sour Howes on an obvious path from the south west - I came back the same way. Between Sour Howes and the Garburn Pass using this path involves 4 stiles and, at times, quite steep grass. I have tried the sector between south east and south west of Sour Howes but I found it a boggy unpleasant pathless mess.

[Travs]

Yes,the first part of that run started in Staveley and ascended Sour Howes from the south-east side.... it wasn't particularly pleasant, and although i found some sheep trods, it was generally completely untrodden and rough.

Then after Sour Howes, took some country lanes to Orrest Head for my first visit there, before my detour through Windermere... the main winding path up Orrest Head from the main road would make a decent hill rep, assuming you could find a time when it was quiet.

[Mike T]

11.56 miles, 3,069 feet, 3 hours 38 minutes: Loughrigg trails, including Fishgarths Wood, Todd Crag, Lily Tarn, down the race route to the road at High Close, and back up the steps overlooking Grasmere. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 2,500 feet, and misty below that. Some drizzle; a moderate breeze from the east. Terrain saturated and very slippery. Lots of walkers about; 5 runners seen.

One of the runners and I started up a short incline together - 0.25 miles/300 feet - I was initially well ahead of them, but as soon as it levelled out they left me for dead.

[Mike T]

10.27 miles, 3,622 feet, 3 hours 35 minutes: Wansfell Pike from 2 sides, including the Roman Ruins, Borrans Park, Stagshaw Gardens, the Champion Tree Trail, Blue Hill Woods/Lane, along the ridge to the true top, and up/down the race route from/to the kissing gate. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 2,500 feet; intermittent sunshine, intermittent light to moderate rain. A strong wind from the south. Terrain saturated/streaming and very slippery. Quite a few walkers on the fell, some with young children; 3 runners seen in the valley.

I wore a new pair of X-Talon Ultra 260 V2s today and their grip was excellent. For once my old pair did not split - the studs had become very worn and I had had a few minor slips.

[Mike T]

10.38 miles, 3,250 feet, 3 hours 22 minutes: Loughrigg trails, including up the steps overlooking Loughrigg Tarn, down the race route to the road at High Close, and back up to the top via the steps overlooking Grasmere. Overcast, with the cloud base at about 2,000 feet. Intermittent drizzle. A moderately strong wind from the east. Terrain wet/saturated and slippery. Quite a few walkers on the fell. 3 runners seen, 2 in the valley and 1 on the fell.

Given the forecast the wind was quite tame, and it was not at all cold - despite the drizzle I did not use my waterproof top.

Really pleased with the grip provided by my new shoes.

[Mike T]

12.06 miles, 3,561 feet, 4 hours 2 minutes: Ambleside - Rydal Park - Low Sweden Bridge - around the rock step - Low/High Pikes - Hodgson Relay route south west of Dove Crag - back over Dove Crag - Scandale - Red Screes - south ridge - Golden Rule - Ambleside. Sunshine and high clouds, the cloud base was just below 3,000 feet. No rain. A moderate breeze from the north west. Terrain wet/saturated/slippery. Not many walkers on the fells, though town is quite busy. No runners seen.

[Mike T]

11.08 miles, 3,254 feet, 3 hours 50 minutes: Rothay Bridge - Silver How and back, going to the top of Loughrigg both ways, going down the race route to the road at High Close on the way out, and ascending the steps overlooking Grasmere on the way back. Overcast, with thin very high clouds, and fluffy clouds below that just catching some of the highest tops. No rain. A moderate breeze from the east. Terrain damp/wet/saturated/slippery. Lots of walkers on Loughrigg, some in large groups; 3 runners seen in the valley.

[Mike T]

11.81 miles, 3,190 feet, 4 hours 25 minutes: Elterwater Common to High Raise and back, taking in Swinescar Pike, Blea Rigg and Sergeant Man both ways, and Lang How and Silver How on the way back. Sunny, with a variety of high clouds - some wispy, some disc shaped, some fluffy. No rain. A cold breeze from the north. Terrain dry/damp/wet and slippery in places. I set off early and saw very few walkers on the fells; I did see about a dozen runners in 2 groups, no doubt from AAC on one of their Sunday runs.

[Mike T]

10.54 miles, 3,544 feet, 3 hours 39 minutes: Wansfell Pike from 2 sides, including up/down the race route from/to the kissing gate, along the ridge to the true top, and down to the northern end of Hundreds Road and back up to the Pike. Overcast, with clouds at multiple levels. A few minutes of sunshine/rainbows. A moderate breeze from the south. Terrain saturated/streaming/slippery.Virtually continuous drizzle/light rain. Given the conditions I was surprised how many walkers were about. No runners see.