Strenuous Leader: Paul Distance: 8 miles
Although the mileage is not great, this is a Wainwright and involves some effort, which in turn, will justly be rewarded with some quite stunning and wonderful vistas. From the village we head N through Far End to Yew Pike. Continuing N we skirt High and Low Wytham up to Yewdale Pikes and Coniston Moor where we head NW to Penny Rigg and the western edge of Tilbertwaite Gill where we head S then NW on to Wetherlam itself from where we head S through Keld Gill Head, Swirl Hawse, Levers Water, Kennel Crag and back onto Coniston Fells and down into town.
Moderate Leader: Laura Distance: 7.5 miles
Total ascent 1032 feet. Please note that everyday trainers and leisure foot wear are not suitable for this walk.
We head out of town along the road to the Youth hostel to pick up a trail through woodland to Yewdale, then onto Tarn Hows Wood. We then commence a steady incline towards Tarn Hows. (Possibly lunch and refreshments sold here). We join the paths around the water’s edge until we reach Rose Castle.
We have steady incline that takes us to the higher paths then we pick up tracks through woodland downhill, via a walled garden to Monks Coniston (WC). We start our return Coniston along lakeside paths to Coniston Boat Centre (WC).
Terrain – bridleways and good paths, mostly sheltered in woodland. Expect some tree roots and just one decrepit gate, no stiles. Livestock – expect to walk through docile cattle with calves at foot and a bull. Expect sheep and plenty of dog walkers with their dogs on leads. Walking poles and insect repellent would be useful, if you have them.
Easy Leader: David Distance: 5 miles
Nice gentle 5 mile walk around Coniston. This walk is on the flat.
NOTES ON THE AREA
Dominated by the Coniston Fells, which rise to the summit of the Old Man of Coniston (2643 ft) the pretty village of Coniston is one of the most popular places in the Lake District and much quieter than Keswick or Ambleside. Its name derives from the Anglo-Saxon for the ‘king’s village’. The fells that surround it have the characteristic ruggedness of Borrowdale Volcanic rocks, yet the village itself is built on slates and shales. Despite 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. Some terraced cottages date from the mid-18th century. At that time Coniston and the whole of the Furness area formed part of Lancashire but became part of Cumbria in the local government reorganization 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. Also, 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 that opened in 1859, which linked with the Furness Railway near Broughton in Furness. Now, only the track bed remains and is used as a public footpath in places.
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.
The nearby Coniston Water is one of the longest straight stretches of placid water in the Lake District, five miles long, and was used for 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. Basically, when the boat reached a certain speed it took off as if it was an aeroplane. His body was recovered from the lake in 2001, following the discovery and raising of Bluebird itself, he is buried in Coniston Cemetery. The boat has undergone extensive restoration and forms part of a collection located within the Ruskin Museum.