MY WALKING WORLD
   
09/04/05 Circuit of Coniston  
This walk was detailed in the March Issue of Trail Magazine and rather appealed to me as it was mainly a low level walk and as I am not used to carrying large weights on my back I thought it would be good practice for the summer when I hope to visit the Alps again. Two twelve mile days with a campsite just outside Coniston seemed ideal.

I left Macclesfield around 0700hrs on the Saturday morning and arrived at Spark Bridge at the Southern end of the Lake just before 0930hrs, after parking my car and setting off up the wrong lane I eventually got my bearings and got back on the right track, good start I thought,  within 15 minutes the rain came down and it continued for most of the next 24 hrs. Visibility was OK and I climbed slowly through the fields and fells towards Beacon Tarn on the western side of the lake, the rain did not let up though although not heavy it was persistent
First sight of Beacon Tarn after several hours walk through the rain
The path goes round the western shore of Beacon Tarn, a beautiful place and somewhere I am sure I must visit again on a summers day with the sun shining, although you obviously climb uphill the gradients are easy. A good place to start young walkers on a lifetime of fellwalking

Looking across Beacon Tarn with Beacon Fell in the background
Beacon Fell is 836ft high and from the summit on a clear day you can see the entire length of Coniston Water. To the west you can see Morcambe Bay and the Crake and Duddon Estuaries

 
Looking down on Lake Coniston from Beacon Fell through the rain
At this stage I was still looking for somewhere to stop and have my dinner but I did not fancy sitting down in the rain so I carried on down into Torver where I found a lovely dry and recently built bus shelter at the side of the main road
My trusty little Vango tent tucked close to wall on Coniston hall Camp site
Coniston Hall Camp site is quite large but because of all the rain that we had during the day I had to search to find a spot where the ground was not saturated
Looking back up the camp site as I prepared to leave next morning
The fee for a backpacker was £4.00 per night, toilets were clean and the showers were 50p
The view from the campsite towards Coniston
Coniston was about 15 minutes walk away but remember to take a torch with you for when you walk back in the evening. There is a good selection of places to eat and  the garage which is also a Spar shop do sandwiches which is useful for the next days walk

The notice at the bottom of the bridleway before you climb up through Grizedale Forest
The first time I had seen one of these signs advising wheeled traffic on the Bridleways of there rights and also their responsibilities - I respect the right of wheeled traffic to be able to use these ancient bridleways but I object to the two wheeled brigade hurtling towards me with absolutely no intention of slowing down.   The four wheeled drive folk are more respectful and obviously get great pleasure from slowly crawling along surmounting boulders and deep ruts using there skill to get their vehicles up and down seemingly impossible tracks
Carron Crag in the distance from Grizedale Forest
Careful navigation was needed in the forest as there are many tracks in various directions, it was only when I emerged from the forest and spotted Carron Crag that I was sure exactly where I was
The wood chopper
Just one of the many strange sculptures in the forest made entirely from wood except for the axe blade
 Top O' Selside
The view from the " Top O' Selside" with the Coniston Old Man in the background, the weather was improving all the time and I stopped on this summit for my dinner
Looking back towards Grizedale Forest nearing the end of the walk.
Once down in the village of Spark Bridge  I had time to sit and think about the journey - 2 days walking -24 miles - the weather extremely varied, a night in my tent and a few pints in the Black Bull Coniston - A great weekend - Now where can I go next ?
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