#CountryKids A trail run to Easedale Tarn

As part of Great Landscapes Week The Friends of the Lake District have been laying on all sorts of free activities from basket weaving and bushcraft to yoga and trail running. When I saw that there was a taster trail run to Easedale Tarn that my son was allowed to take part in I quickly signed up! We met up in the centre of the village and met up with the trail leader, Wayne from Jogging Pals, to get a briefing and do a warm up. Then we headed out through the village and the grounds of Allan Bank:

There was very much an emphasis on the social aspect of the run as that is the main part of the ethos of Jogging Pals. The two 10 year olds led the way like a pair of mountain goats whilst the rest of us came along more steadily as we were chatting as we went. Every so often we would pause so that everyone had a chance to recover and regroup:

The boys were a lot more sure footed and fitter than the rest of us as we tackled the increasingly steep and rocky trail up the mountain side:

The original route was only supposed to be 5 km in total but as we all felt raring to go and hadn't quite got to the Tarn we all wanted to carry on. It was only one more steep path to get to the Tarn itself and it was worth it (and so much better than in the rain in January with Wonderful Wild Women):

I was definitely in my happy place:

Meanwhile my son had gone off exploring as the lure of an interesting rock further round the tarn was far too much! I think he would have been happy spending more time up there:

However we had to head back down the way we had come... Turns out that varifocal glasses are not too brilliant and judging footing when trying to run down paths like this:

It was much quicker going down than up and we were soon back at Allan Bank and my son still had enough energy to climb up the erratic at the bottom of the hill:

We really did earn our cup of tea/coffee and cake back at the Friends Hub as you can see by the elevation of the route:

A run that ticked all sorts of boxes:

• a good workout
• great views
• lovely company for both of us
• yummy cakes at the end!

I will have to watch out for more of their events!