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Spring walk 2024 Coniston,
6/6/2024 - 10/6/2024
Thursday 6th June.
Travel day. The aim was to meet at The Watermill in Ings for lunch and a warm up walk. (they brewed their own beer so a taste test was required. It passed.) Most had uneventful journeys apart from John S who had lots of traffic and hold ups on M5 and Andy whose car went into limp mode near Rugby services and had to call the AA out. After they got to him he was able to continue but unable to meet the others at Ings, instead driving straight to the bunk house next to the New Dungeon Ghyll where we were all staying that night.
After refreshments had been taken we started our walk up the road opposite the pub towards High Fairbank then taking a path across to Whasdike where we split into 2 groups. Gp 1 (Dick, Ian, Pat, Steve, John S, Pete) turned right going down the lane past Blackmoss, crossing the main road up to Heaning Farm, Broadgate Farm, Grassgarth and then back down the lane to Ings. Gp 2(Ralph, Paul, Dave and Graham) turned left at Whasdike towards Schoolknott plantation, School Knott, Hag End, Outrun Nook, Crag House, Borwick Fold, Yews and back to Ings. Once we were back together we continued on to the bunk house where we met Andy, John W and Mick. Phil had travelled up by Train and Bus but got dropped off at the wrong stop, just as the heavens opened, so got soaked walking the last bit to the bunk house. Those walking had kept dry as it only started to rain once they arrived at the bunk house. It had been arranged to eat at the New Dungeon Ghyll as the bunk house had no food all got wet walking across to it though as it was not far but the rain was very heavy. The food was good but expensive (Lamb Shank). Some got an early start as Dick had forgotten to turn his alarm off on his phone and could not find it.
Friday 7th June.
Breakfast was taken at New Dungeon Ghyll again good but expensive. Then we split into groups. Gp 1 Paul, Graham and Ralph went in Ralph's car to the Old Dungeon Gill to walk up Stool End Farm, Red Tarn, Pike of Blisco then down towards Blea Tarn and the car. They called in at Old Dungeon Ghyll for soup and before joining up with the others at the Britannia Inn in Elterwater. Gp 2 (Andy, John and Mick) started from the bunk house up Stickle Ghyll to Stickle Tarn with great views of Pavey Ark and Harrison Stickle then on towards Tarn Crag but the weather started to close in so they changed plans to go to Blea Rigg and the ridge down into Chapel Stile for lunch at Wainwrights Inn before getting a bus back to the New Dungeon Ghyll to pick their car up and meet the others at Coniston Hostel. Gp 3 (Dick, Pete, Phil, Steve, Pat, Dave and Ian) drove to Elterwater to do a circular walk around Elterwater Lake via Cumbria Way, Skelwith Bridge, Park Farm, High Park, Stang End, Green Bank, Wilson Place, Howe Banks, Elterwater Hall into Elterwater and the Britannia Inn for a late lunch. When we got back to the cars Pat had a parking ticket, he had bought a ticket but it mysteriously disappeared from inside the dashboard. Pat and Steve assumed it blew away at some point. Managed to resolve it later, by sending emails and pictures of ticket.
Once washed and changed, dinner at Black Bull Hotel. Good food and ale selection. Then a nightcap at The Crown. Before retiring to the hostel.
The weather had started fine for all but closed in as the morning passed turning to rain and windy, especially up high, as the day progressed.
Saturday 8th June.
We woke up to a damp start with some rain which stopped by the end of breakfast but stayed very windy and colder as the day progressed. After breakfast we again split into groups. Gp 1 (Dick, Phil, Ian, Steve, Pat, John S and Pete) walked to Torver and back. The route was into Coniston down Lake Road onto the Cumbrian Way alongside Coniston Water to Hoathwaite Landing passing Hoathwaite farm to disused railway. Then along the railway to Torver and The Wilsons for lunch. A good pub with a Deli food shop attached which had a good selection of pies, cakes and buns. We even managed to sit outside where the sun came out for a while. After lunch we started back along the same route but Steve, Pat, Phil and John S stayed on the disused railway into Coniston where we met up at the Sun Hotel. Gp 2 (Paul, Andy, Ralph, Graham, Dave, Mick and John W) walked from the hostel via Miners Bridge, Crowberry Haws, Low Water, The Old Man of Coniston, Brim Fell, down to Goats Hawse. Here Paul and Graham went up Dow Crag then down to the Walna Scar Road to Coniston, while the others dropped down via Goats Water to the Walna Scar Road and the Sun Hotel where they waited for the arrival of Paul and Graham and Gp 1. Some went for Fish and Chips on the way back others went to shower and change before eating again at the Black Bull Hotel. Then some went on to the Crown and others the Yewdale, where Dick was mistaken for Jeremy Clarkson by a lady!! (She should have gone to specsavers).
Sunday 9th June.
We woke up to another rainy day which cleared as we ate breakfast though there continued to be showers during the day. Again we split into groups. Gp 1 Dick, Pat, Steve and John S walked to Hawkshead via Shepherd Bridge, Water Head, High Water Head, Boon Crag Farm, Fell End, Burnt Intake, High Cross, Tenter Hill, Hawkshead Hill, Keen Ground, and Walker Ground coming into Hawkshead by the church. Stopping at The Queens Head and Red Lion. Our route was part of a Marathon race route and as we came up to a feeding station Steve pretended to sample the wares running past with his hand out. No reaction from the marshals just dour looks. Phil and Pete went to the museum in Coniston before getting a bus to Hawkshead to meet Dick and rest of Gp1 but they managed to get their timing wrong for a bit though getting there in the end. Phil decided to walk back the rest got the bus eventually as they missed the one they were aiming for due to it breaking down somewhere and had to wait another hour.
Ian did the same walk as the day before as there was some confusion on that morning as to what was occurring.
Paul and Graham walked from the hostel via coppermines to Wetherlam and back via Scarth Gap to the Hardwick Cafe in Coniston. The others drove to Tarn Hows car park. They then walked up the west side of the tarn to Black Crag returning back to the car park via the east side of the tarn for a tea and pasty stop before walking on to Yewtree Farm, Holme Fell (where they met a young mum and 5 week old baby, on its 5th Wainwright.) then returned to their car and the hostel.
Some ate at the Black Bull and some went for an Indian both of which were very good.
Monday 10th June.
Typical for a home day, best morning so far. After breakfast all walked down to the pier on Coniston for a stretch and let food settle before going home. It had been another great weekend with the guys walking and catching up. There had been several running races going on but we managed to keep out of their way. Looking forward to the next one.
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