thanks a lot for all the replies there: going to have to read them at my leisure rather than with the boss floating around ....
Its your choice ZHR really whatever you prefer you need to recce it every which way and see what is fastest, easiest and safest for you.
I recced Doddick, Halls and the Gully but decided on my attempt to use Halls as it was pretty dry and still plenty of light. In the dark Doddick may have been preferable and if I was running a bit behind schedule that gully is very fast.
You have to decide yourself though
Don't know about the gully, but Doddick is definitely quicker than Hall's Fell, especially if it's dark & the rock is damp. When I did my round we were at the top of Blencathra with Yiannis, Steve & the Bowland crowd. We came down Doddick, they came down Hall's Fell and I was at Threlkeld about 10 minutes before them.
Going up, I would probably choose Hall's Fell, though.
The direct descend, which I have now perfected, is quick. It is all runnable, steep in parts and about 1km shorter than the Doddick fell descent. I do it much quicker than Hall's Fell (and I am not bad on rocks).
What date in March Chaz?
Yiannis
i think early on a major factor is saving your legs. So the route which is easiest for you is often best, that may not always be quickest. You make time later. Later on if you're behind time or close then a few gambles on the quicker steeper lines can pay off.
Quick descents are the one thing that destroy your legs.