LAKE DISTRICT TRAIL RUNNING | NAPES NEEDLE | KIRK FELL | PILLAR | SHAMROCK TRAVERSE

I Head back to Wasdale to run Pillar via The Shamrock Traverse. I first head to Sty Head and traverse the south face of Great Gable to Napes Needle. From there I head to Kirk Fell and Black Sail Pass before starting up the east ridge of Pillar to start the high level path to Robinson's Cairn. From Robinson's Cairn I make my way up Pillar Cove and start the Shamrock Traverse to the summit of Pillar.
I finish off the run by heading to Red Pike and finally Yewbarrow.
RUNNING GEAR
La Sportiva Mutant
Running pack - Salomon ADV SKIN 12
RUNNING PACK CONTENTS
Survival bag
Head torch x 2 - Petzl Swift
Waterproof jacket - rab.equipment/...
Spare mid layer top
Spare socks
Spare gloves
Buff x 2
Buffalo mitts - Buffalosystems
INOV8 mitts
Sandwiches
Jelly babies
Whistle
Compass
Map
Waterproof map case - Ortlieb
FILM GEAR
DJI Action 2
DJI Action 2 extra power module
iPhone 12 mini
Ulanzi vlogging tripod
DJI Wireless mic

[@Thebluedocful]

Me again 🤦‍♂️ love your videos mate so I watch them over again for a good feeling and inspiration. One thing I love is that I’m always seeing trekkers bang on about how a scramble or route is soooo dangerous and bugging themselves up a bit, but you just crack on, barely bat an eyelid, and say yeah it’s a bit gnarly haha. Love it. There’s a great feeling to all your videos - marriage of the visual footage with the audio and your personality. Works perfectly 👌🏻

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Thanks Simon I appreciate that. Been a bit sparse with uploads recently… bit of injury.. bit of work.. looking to get some regular uploads heading into Spring 🤘🏻

[@reluctantfellrunner]

Spectacular on the tops.

[@markg99]

I like those tips on how to find the paths on the gnarly bits when you're scrumbling 😄👍🏻

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Haha.. the new verb of scrumbling will be used forthwith in all videos!

[@burrianaUK]

Nice circuit that John, although I might hike that one! Thanks for filming 👍🏼🙂

[@Gooner-1971]

That’s what you call a sc-RUN-ble 😅👍

[@Sam-x1f7w]

Beautiful views, I’ve never been to that part of the Lake District, the scenery looks breathtakingly beautiful

[@Stanlee202]

I always think of Kristina Madsens description of Yewbarrow on her BG video on YT whenever I hear someone mention it. ( That B*st*rd mountain). Great Vids John, lovin your work.

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

It’s true mate. Yewbarrow is a mountain with a kick to it, it’s a cheeky Bugger! Glad you’re liking the vids 🤘🏻

[@RichardB-xp5yd]

Another great video John, highlight of my week when you post a new one :)

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Cheers mate I really appreciate that. Glad you’re liking them.. more to come! 🤘🏻

[@djrensk]

Hi John, another great video. Please keep doing what you're doing. As someone who adores The Lakes and the fells, but who just can't visit as often as I'd like, your videos keep me sane until my next trip up North. I've loads of inspiration for my next Lakes adventure. Thanks.

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Hey man that’s great to hear glad you’re liking them. There’s more to come :)

[@JohnnyParsonsladfromtad]

Another outstanding video. Cracking route! What a brilliant day out. I imagine you passed close by Joss Naylor's farm at the end too! (If you really want to trash your knees, the BGR route off Yewbarrow is almost as painful going down as it is coming up!) Awesome, awesome, awesome 😄👍

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Yewbarrow is a cheeky fell for sure! 😂

[@clairel2430]

shamrock is really quiet, I went up this summer on a saturday and saw 1 person on the actual traverse and only a couple going up black sail pass, crazy for the lakes 🎉🎉

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Yeah sometimes you get lucky and don’t see anyone all day! ☺️

[@skiboard2007]

Napes Needle.... Another great video John. I watch your adventures instead of doing them myself anymore. Surgery and health issues put it sudden stop to it all for me. But at least I can pretend I'm in your shoes Enjoying that lakes fresh air and admiring those fantastic views.🏃‍♂️

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Glad you’re enjoying them mate 🤘🏻🙂

[@Thebluedocful]

New favourite video? Absolutely loved this John. My joint favourite area alongside the Scafells. You should do a ‘gnarly’ counter! Love that you’re as much as part of the mountain appreciation society as much as a long distance runner 👌🏻

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Cheers mate I appreciate that. Starting to get the hang of this video making malarkey! ☺️

[@jackwilson9429]

Great video as always fella keep it up 👍🏻

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Cheers mate 👌🏻

[@OlgasBritishFells]

Hi John, I've been to many places in that are but I've still never got to Napes Needle. It was introduced to watch, I like it that you show everything on the OS map too. (P.S. by the way it's funny how you now pronounce Wasdale with "o". I remember someone was correcting you in comments and you took it on board. I still can't stop saying it with "a".

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Thanks Olga :) yeah it’s a great traverse you should deffo go check it out. Haha yup I got schooled on that pronunciation! Glad you’re liking the vids.. you’ve a nice channel too! 🤘🏻

[@DavidWALES-vk9yt]

Hi John, I have been following you on KZbin for some time and like your videos. One that I would like to see, if you ever make one,is about how to prepare and plan for your runs. One for the future, maybe??

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Hi Dave thanks for your interest mate glad you’re liking the vids. Yes that’s not a bad idea.. to be honest I don’t do a great deal of planning I generally have all my gear good to go. I re-service it as soon as I’m back home and it’s good to go soon after. As for planning which routes to do that’s generally done the night before. However, I have been thinking of doing a few vids for people who want to get into trail/fell running and are looking for information on how best to start and how to go about it. I know there’s content covering this sort of thing already on KZbin but I thought I’d do it anyway.. stay tuned! 🤘🏻

[@tomgreen5925]

Really enjoyed the longer format. Nice route with some interesting terrain & as always, some stunning views 👌🏼 Thanks John, great work, proper pro editing too👍🏼👏🏼

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Cheers Tom I appreciate that. Starting to get the hang of this video making shenanigans. Always looking to improve tho! 😉

[@EHughes0658]

Another great video John, cheers. That traverse around Gable is wonderful, especially when it becomes more runnable towards the end. Your vids are keeping me sane right now mate since my calf injury...but getting back to those higher fells slowly but surely, hopefully tomorrow :)

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Thanks man glad you like the vids. I know your frustration. I had an achillies injury which plagued me for over 2 years. Totally gone now to the point I don’t notice it anymore. Stay strong you’ll get there mate 💪🏻

[@EHughes0658]

Cheers John...I'm being more sensible this time with easing back in carefully; I'll be back doing those big days again soon :) Hope your knee is okay mate ;) @@lakelandtrailrunner

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

@@EHughes0658 🤞🏻 your calf recovers well soon. My knee is okay mate just a few rest days and I should be good 🤘🏻

[@nicmarlow6388]

love watching your vids, such joy and entertainment you bring! :) Interested to hear if you do tend to eat anything substantial when you're out and about? You were out for a long time today over gnarly terrain so fuelling on jelly babies alone I think i'd have been ravenous if I were you! 😂

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Thanks Nic I appreciate that, glad you like the vids :) tbh I always carry sandwiches, thick cut ham and cheese usually but I didn’t actually stop to eat then on that run. It was a little to chilly and I was in the zone so to speak ☺️

[@nicmarlow6388]

@@lakelandtrailrunner ohh ham and cheese sarnie, great shout! looking forward to seeing your next adventure! 😊

[@patcarroll280]

Another top effort bud 👍

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Cheers mate. The Shamrock traverse is an awesome route isn’t it?

[@patcarroll280]

@@lakelandtrailrunner Sure is. I take it you missed the plaque on Robinson's cairn giving the date history ect 🙂 but very pleased you enjoyed the day. It does afford some stunning views.

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

@@patcarroll280 I did mate! It was only when I got home and did another Google I realised there was a one. Doh! 🙄

[@patcarroll280]

@@lakelandtrailrunner good excuse to do it again lol 👍

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

@@patcarroll280 oh I’ll definitely be doing it again mate, I really enjoyed that route :)

[@wrens5825]

Excellent video - we really enjoyed it great views thank you John

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Nice to hear thanks :) starting to get the hang of this video making malarkey ☺️

[@alanrobinson2229]

Great watch,before I head out for my parkrun,which pales into insignificance now. You have good endurance to complete that without eating properly.

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Thanks Alan glad you liked it. Yeah I need to be more disciplined with eating properly on the move but I keep forgetting 😂

[@colinboxall2692]

Jon can you did it again and show the path off Kirkfell 😂. Every time I have considered the route off Kirkfell, I have bottled it. Similarly, that route off Pillar over to Red Pike. Typically given bad weather it looks worse than it is ! Love pillar but I always stay up top and not down to Robinson cairn that’s for sheep. 😂. Love the vlogs. Did you go over Wrynose to Wasdale? I was up in the Lakes three weeks ago and when speaking to a few the Lakeland run came up ~ pointed them to your channel and the route recce’s. Sound is so much better. Top job. The route off Yewbarrow and views are up there with the best in the Lakes.

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Yup that descent off Kirkfell is a cheeky one especially if you follow the fence line down the crag. Drove back home over Wrynose.. always a precarious choice of road! 😂

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Happy you’re enjoying the Vlogs. Next one might be another couple of weeks as I’ve injured myself.. shouldn’t be too long though! 🤘🏻

[@colinboxall2692]

@@lakelandtrailrunner not the knee again 😵‍💫?

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

@@colinboxall2692 haha no mate something else this time. There’s always something! 😩

[@alcurtis93]

With that knee niggle of yours have you thought about trying some vivobarefoot trail shoes? Will need some time to adjust but read a lot of reports of them reducing injury etc. Maybe something you've already tried/ considered but thought I'd throw it out there

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

I’m currently wearing a pair! 😂 however, I’ve found for mountain running they’re not for me. I wear barefoot shoes daily and I work in them but I’ve found for running fells they’re not fit for purpose. My feet fatigue too quickly. That’s my personal preference, I know people run mountains in barefoot sandals so it’s whatever works for you. My knee niggle is from an acute incident bombing down a very steep fell side last year. I appreciate you throwing the suggestion out there tho mate :) I am an advocate of everything barefoot and you’re right poor shoe choice is often the source of niggles/injuries 🤘🏻

[@evanmclean4893]

Great vid! Camera quality looks amazing what do you use?!

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Hi Even glad you’re liking the vid mate :) I’m using a DJI Action 2. Editing with Davinci Resolve 18 🤘🏻

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Soz Evan spelt your name wrong on that 😬

[@evanmclean4893]

@@lakelandtrailrunner haha no worries! I often get “Heaven” 😂 cheers for the response! 👍

[@benpyoung]

Hey John, great video - just wondered what camera you’re using now? Footage looks awesome

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

Cheers mate.. I’m using a DJI Action 2 and editing with Davinci Resolve 18

[@Laughinggravy857]

How’s the knee ?

[@lakelandtrailrunner]

The niggle/strain persists.. I just have to be disciplined and not keep pushing my luck with it and give it time to improve. So I’m reducing its workload for a while :)