Lake District and Lancashire

Friday – Elterwater and Little Langdale

The first day of my long weekend in the Lake District overlapped with the end of Dad’s visit. We drove to Elterwater and parked in the car park there, where there is a view of the bridge, before we set off for our walk.

Heading along the old road into Little Langdale

Approaching Slater’s Bridge with the mine wastes merging into the landscape as the years go by.

The chaotic, messy but delightful Slater’s Bridge

From Slater’s Bridge we walked through Stang End and High Park and then through the woods

Dad at Colwith Force – well worth a short diversion.

Saturday – Morecambe Prom parkrun

The next morning I made an early departure to head for Morecambe Prom parkrun, one I hadn’t visited before; Dad said goodbye and would be gone by the time I returned later. My legs felt good and on the completely flat course I put in a good performance and ran the fastest I’d done for 10 months.

Saturday – Whitbarrow and Lord’s Seat

I returned from Morecambe and stopped off at Mill Side just off the A590 for a walk which wouldn’t be too demanding but should still be a great outing.

Walking through Low Fell End, with the southern end of Whitbarrow Scar towering above

Emerging onto the open tops, with views over the River Kent

Limestone pavement and a wonderfully sculpted tree

Having descended towards Witherslack Hall, there is a pleasant woodland walk back to Beck Head.

Sunday – Lancaster Canal run

Continuing to work towards the Boston Marathon on 19 April, Sundays are long run days. While I would have liked to have taken advantage of the good weather to go for a fell walk, if I’m committing to the marathon then that has to be my focus. In my plan, I’m deliberately aiming to make the long Sunday runs as varied as possible in terms of location, not running the same route twice. With a flat marathon in Boston, my Sunday runs are also generally flat. Where can you do a long flat run in Cumbria? Possibly somewhere on the coastal plain, but I’d decided on the Lancaster Canal. I drove to Carnforth and from there got the train to Lancaster, with a run back.

After a little section across Lancaster from the railway station, the next stage of the run is along the River Lune

Approaching the Lune Aqueduct which carries the Lancaster Canal above the Lune

There were a few other runners, and quite a few walkers on this lovely Sunday afternoon.

From the canal towpath, looking along a street to the sea with the Lake District beyond

The famous Brief Encounters clock at Carnforth railway station

I didn’t find the run easy – possibly partly because of the very brisk parkrun yesterday, together with the walk up Whitbarrow, and the walk with Dad on Friday, but it was certainly a lot more scenic than the runs I’d had during the week around the car parks of the NEC.

Sunday – Mearness Point

On my way back from the Lancaster Canal run, I stopped for an exploration on the far side of the River Leven at Greenodd. I can dimly recall the derelict railway bridge across the river here, long ago removed, and for many, many years I’ve driven past the slim footbridge here and fancied crossing it, but never quite got around to it.