Fell Running Lake District
Getting conditioned back to the Cumbrian weather and mountain environment is vital for us after our winter away. Almost every day I've ventured into the mountains for some form of activity, be it climbing, scrambling, walking, cycling, or running.
So a couple of these trips have been running. One more of a run/scramble, which if I'm honest is my favourite sort of run.
Setting out from the New Dungeon Ghyll in Langdale I followed the valley path linking with the Old Dungeon Ghyll before ascending up to Raven crag. Sometimes from here I'll scramble up Middlefell Buttress, but as I was in slightly floppier fell shoes and it was so cold, decided this wasn't a good idea today.
So instead I took the grade 2 scramble up the right hand side of the crag. This has a few tricky steps but nothing difficult. Above is lots of easy and fun scrambling to reach the Gimmer path, some of this can be done at jogging pace.
I then followed the Thorn crag scramble, this is a grade one rock spur and from the top of here a short run over to just below the summit of Loft crag allows the final and most interesting rocks to be followed up onto the summit.
My plan from here was to run over to Pike O' Stickle and check out another scramble on there. However, the wind was blowing quite strong making it feel very cold, so I decided to cut it short and head over to the top of the Dungeon Ghyll and run down this path to regain the valley, stopping for one more scramble on Pike Howe along the way.
A short but top quality route with a wide variety of terrain.
For runners who are used to mountain terrain and can handle some exposure this route makes a great training ground for Sky-running events.
And my most recent run was much more of a run. Setting out from the village of Torver, near Coniston. I followed a web of excellent paths in search of Beacon Tarn. This is a remote and idyllic place with a Highland feel to it. Well I say remote, even on a weekday in early March there were a fair few walkers out enjoying the landscape.
I spotted a Buzzard nearby - it had clearly noted my presence too - and watched as it came in to land atop a rocky outcrop. I fully expected it to fly away again as the path I was on took me a little closer, but no, it stayed, just watching. I stopped running, choosing to walk and be as quiet as possible so as not to startle. It is rare to come so close to a bird of prey and for all parties to feel okay with it, but I had the distinct feeling the Buzzard was indeed okay with me being there, albeit for a fleeting moment. I was maybe 25m away and just kept on my trajectory so as to cause her/him no bother.
Soon I was by Beacon Tarn, it shimmered in the afternoon sunlight, hinting of being warmer than it actually was. The setting is rugged and it makes for extremely good running along the undulating shoreline. I then turned away from the waters edge to ascend rough slopes to connect with the return route back to Torver. I didn't see another person until I was back on tarmac, bliss.
This was about a 12km run through fairly remote terrain that is tricky to navigate even though it never goes high. For Trail runners looking to make the transition to Fell running this would make a great start.
For more information about the Fell running we offer please check out this link
Thanks for reading
Mark
