LITMIR.BIZ

      Saving the strain

      There are some steep sections on this route. When fell running uphill, consciously shorten your stride and aim to use the whole foot in contact with the ground, rather than running on tiptoes, to reduce the strain on your calf muscles. There are two other techniques to try: you can look for stones to support your heel to reduce the angle the foot is hyper-extended by on a steep incline, or on smoother surfaces you can turn your feet slightly outwards across the fall line of the slope.

      1 Turn R out of the pub and run down Church Street to the bottom where the road splits, then run R along the edge of the Crazy Golf course and go SA at the corner into the Churchyard. Exit this in the far R corner, and turn sharp L past the primary school and into Rothay Park. Run straight down the track across the middle of the park, and over Miller Bridge on the far side. Turn R on the road over a cattle grid, then almost immediately L over another grid, to ascend a steep road. Pass the buildings of Loughrigg Brow, and as you pass through the farmyard of Brow Head Farm the road turns sharply L, then R.

      2 At this corner you’ll see some stone steps over a wall; take them to reach a footpath that heads off L through the trees. After 100m you’ll reach a narrow footbridge to gain access to the open fell. Run up the stepped track SA, and then turn R at the path junction. You’ll climb quickly, and you’ll soon see a gate through the wall ahead. Beyond this, cross a boggy section before arriving at Lily Tarn, with a silver birch tree growing on the island in the middle. Take the track to the R of the tarn, and follow it SA until you reach a wall. Follow this around to the R. Pass through another gate through a wire fence and keep running with the wall on your L until it turns away sharply as you reach a small stream. Cross this and reach the main bridleway track which crosses from Ambleside to Skelwith Bridge.

      3 Cross the bridleway and veer slightly R over the marshy ground next to the stream for 200m until you reach a large footpath. Turn L up this path, which climbs directly away from the stream. Follow this obvious trail as it ascends the hillside, gaining 50m of height before the gradient eases and you pass a small valley with three tarns in a row. Just beyond, a wall is visible to your L as you head in a NW direction into a broad, gently rising valley. At its end the path veers slightly L; run up some stone steps to reach the summit of Loughrigg Fell (335m). Take in the panoramic views of the Helvellyn range to the N and the Coniston Fells to the W.