CONISTON, LAKE DISTRICT

SUNDAY, 31ST JULY 2011

Coach Leader Peter Denton

Coach Leaves at 5.30 pm

Please read these coach notes carefully - they will help you to decide which walk will be the most suitable for you. If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to ask the leader for advice. For the safety and enjoyment of yourself and others, please try not to join a walk which is beyond your capabilities.
Please respect the wishes of the walks leader and remain with the walk until the end. If you are struggling - inform the walk leader so that he/she can make a decision to shorten the walk, have more rest, etc.

TODAY'S WALKS

Strenuous Leader: Jimmy Need Distance:

This walk is a circuit of fells. What this walk lacks in miles, it makes us for in strenuous - the Old Man has still got a good kick. Make sure you bring plenty of water with you if weather is hot.
We make our way out of the village past the Sun Hotel - could this be a good omen for us? Church Beck is our next port of call followed by grassy and heather slopes which bring us up to Low Water and the old copper mines. From here we have a rather pleasant walk up to meet the old man and hopefully get some stunning all round views. After lunch, a nice ridge to Swirl How awaits us, followed by a descent to the gap between Swirl How and Wetherlam. We then make our way up to the summit of Wetherlam then have a ridge walk descending back to Coniston.

Moderate Leader: Peter Denton: Distance: About 7 miles

From Coniston we have a steady climb along the road to Heathwaite where we take a path bringing us to New Intake and Little Arrow Intake to reach waterfalls at Torver Beck. Mostly climbing up to this point where we will find a nice spot for lunch. We then follow Torver Beck into Little Arrow where we cross the main road and through Heathwaite Farm and down to the shores of Coniston Water. The final two miles or so are a pleasant walk along the lake back into town. Note that the walk is mostly uphill during the morning, followed by an afternoon of downhill and level walking.

Leisurely Leader: Norma Carmichael Distance: Approx 6.8 miles

The walk will start shortly after the toilet break and will walk up towards Shepherds Bridge. This leads on to the Cumbria Way towards an old building. There is a slight incline as we go towards Tarn Cottages. The walk is on grassy paths and tracks, and part road. There are a few stiles. Highest point 270 metres, and there are excellent views on Tarn Hows, weather permitting.

Easy Leader: Hazel Anderton & Ruth Melling Distance: 5 miles

The walk takes us round the top of the lake and through part of Grizedale Forest. We gradually climb up into the forest with one or two short steeper bits, but nothing too strenuous, where we have some lovely views across the lake. We walk along forest tracks, then down footpaths through the trees until we meet the lane leading to Brantwood and the ferry back to Coniston. The fare is just over Â£3. There is only one stile, and it is generally good underfoot.
There will not be time for a coffee break before the walk today, sorry! It is more important to get to Brantwood and the ferry to make sure that we get back to Coniston in plenty of time.

NOTES ON THE AREA

Dominated by the Coniston Fells, which rise to the summit of the Old Man of Coniston (2643 ft) the village of Coniston is one of the most popular places in the Lake District. It's name derives from the Anglo-Saxon for the 'king's village'. The fells that surround it have the characteristic ruggedness of Borrowdale Volcanics, yet the village is built on slates and shales.

In spite of the development nearby of slate quarries and copper mines which, in the 19th century brought the village much of its prosperity, the character of the village, which gathers round its fine church of St Andrew, remains largely unaffected. A number of terraced cottages date from the mid-18th century. At that time Coniston and the whole of the area of Furness formed part of the county of Lancashire, which lost its portion of Lakeland to Cumbria in the local government reorganisation of 1974. St Andrew's is a Georgian church in the middle of Coniston village. The churchyard contains the grave of the noted Victorian intellectual John Ruskin, and inside the church is a memorial display featuring the engine of a crashed World War II bomber with information on the rescue attempt and crew.

Brantwood, the home of John Ruskin from 1872 until his death in 1900, has been described as the most beautifully situated house in the Lake District. It enjoys some of the finest lake and mountain views in England and has diverse cultural associations.

The copper mines, for which the area is renowned, probably date from Norman times, but were primarily worked from the 16th century when German miners were used. The main valley rising along Church Beck into the fells is still known as Coppermines Valley, and was the scene of considerable mining activity until the end of the First World War. The ore was taken out of Coniston on a railway opened in 1859, which linked with the Furness Railway near Broughton in Furness, now only the trackbed remains.

The nearby Coniston Water is one of the longest straight stretches of placid water in the Lake District, 5 miles long, and was used during Donald Campbell's ill-fated attempt at the world water speed record in 1967. His jet-powered boat, Bluebird, went out of control as he attempted to become the first man to break 300 mph on water, and Campbell was killed. His body has never been found, until very recently, when remains believed to be those of Campbell have been recovered from the lake, following the discovery and raising of Bluebird itself.

A short distance to the north of Coniston is Tarn Hows, a popular beauty spot. The tarn is strictly an artificial pond created by damming a stream and a few pools of marshland. The area around Tarn Hows is now in the care of the National Trust, and was once owned by Beatrix Potter, the author and illustrator of books for children, including Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck and others. She sold half of the Tarn Hows area to the National Trust at cost, and bequeathed the other half.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

NEXT RAMBLE;

Sunday, 21st August 2011. Clapham, Yorkshire Dales

Leaders: Strenuous, (vacant), Moderate: Jackie Gudgeon, Leisurely: Philomena Walker, Easy: Norma Carmichael.

Bookings: Derek Lee. Coach pick-up times: Ormskirk bus station 8.40 am, War Memorial, Skelmersdale 8.50 am, Skelmersdale Baths car park 9.00 am.

Will walk leaders please let Jackie have details of their walks as far before the walk as possible. At least a week please. Thanks. e-mail: - please use the address on the Contacts page.

SKELMERSDALE CHURCHES RAMBLING CLUB

Saturday, 13th August 2011. Tideswell, Peak District.

Coach leaves Ormskirk Bus Station 8.30 am, War Memorial 8.40 am, Skelmersdale Baths Car Park 8.50 am, Upholland Labour Club 9.00 am. Bookings: Jackie Gudgeon. Coach Fare £9 (non-members £10).

RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION WEST LANCS GROUP

Saturday, 6th August 2011. 10.30 am. Hornby and the River Lune from the car park by river in Hornby village. 9 miles.

Wednesday, 10th August 2011. 1.30 pm. Clieves Hills from St Anne's Church, Prescot Road, Ormskirk. 5 miles.

Sunday, 21st August 2011. 11.00 am. Anglezarke and Rivington Reservoirs from Great House Barn. Meet by cafe. 8 miles.

Monday, 29th August 2011. 9.40 am. 9.45 am train from Appley Bridge Station for rail ramble to Marple. 9 miles.

SEFTON FOOTPATH GROUP

All walks are on Sundays, approx 5-6 miles and start at 1.30 pm. Contacts Carol, Clare.

Next Ramble: Sunday, 14th August 2011. Maghull. The Alt Public House/Lidl.

CLUB NOTES

NEW BUS STOP

For those who may not have been on recent coaches, please note the new pick-up at War Memorial 8.50 am instead of Railway Road.

MEMBERSHIP

Please note that membership renewal became due at the recent AGM. If you have not already done so, please pay your subscriptions for the coming year (£10) to Joan McGlinchey (Membership Secretary) as soon as possible.

LOST PROPERTY

Walking Pole, Vango, gold coloured, anti shock. Picked up in Ormskirk bus station - presumed left by someone disembarking at Ormskirk, from the Baslow coach.

COACH BOOKING

Please ensure that, before boarding your coach on the return journey, you complete your booking for the next ramble. It would be helpful if you could tell the coach booking officer if you do not intend to book for the next coach.

PLEASE TRY TO BE BACK FROM YOUR CUP OF TEA OR PINT IN PLENTY OF TIME TO BOOK THE NEXT RAMBLE BEFORE BOARDING THE COACH. YOU WILL APPRECIATE THAT IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE OTHER PASSENGERS OR TO THE COACH DRIVER IF THE COACH IS LATE IN LEAVING.

Please make every effort to ensure that, when you leave the bus, you take all your possessions with you. Please check the luggage rack, under the seat, etc, not to mention the boot. Please try not to take anyone else's stuff. Thanks.

If anything is left behind on the bus when we get to Ormskirk, I usually take it home with me (being last to get off) so please ring me as soon as you notice if you are missing anything - Jackie.

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SKELMERSDALE RAMBLING CLUB