A circuit from Coniston taking in Grizedale Forest Park , Hawkshead village & Tarn Hows 14miles 1900ft

After parking in Coniston village my route took passed the Coppermines agency to the lakeside....

The landing stage for the lake steamers 

Looking back to the village with Coniston Old Man in thick cloud as I climbed the path on the east side of the lake leading me into.....

......Grizedale forest....

.....and up to the trig point on Carron Crag

Looking north east from the summit to Wansfell pike catching a little sunshine

Still a lot of mist in the valleys looking north

Grizedale forest has an extensive sculpture trail on both sides of the Grizedale valley, this one is called 'The Home of the Rose' 

I passed through the visitor centre with its adventure playground and other attractions

Another of the sculptures this is known as

 'Red Sandstone Fox'

After climbing over Hawkshead Moor there were  views to Esthwaite water.... 

.....and Ambleside

....before descending from High Barns.....

.....into Hawkshead village

St Michael & All Angels church looks down on the village.  By chance I arrived in the village just as the Coniston bus came (the next one was in two hours) which  would take me up Hawkshead hill leaving me only a mile or so away from Tarn Hows. Having taken advantage of  this.....

 

I arrived at Tarn Hows in nice time for lunch with a view! 

Tarn Hows has very good path which forms a beautiful circuit of the lake. However, having aleady walked 11miles and with at least a further three to go, I was content to take in the views from my lunch spot  

The Langdale pikes were looking particulary attractive in the sunshine

A last look back as I set off for Coniston

A final photo looking into the sun as I walked round the top of the lake into the village.

A different sort of walk today but one that made a very nice change from serious fell walking when many of summits were frequently covered in cloud.

A circuit from Little Langdale including Lingmoor fell, Side pike including 'the squeeze' Blea tarn  & Cathedral cavern. 9Miles, 2300ft.

Looking down on Dale Head farm Little Langdale where I left the car to start the climb up Lingmoor fell

There was an interesting view of the sun appearing as a complete circle

Wetherlam on the other side of the valley

Windermere and Elterwater to the south

Wet Side Edge leading up to the Coniston fells with a touch of snow lingering on the 'Old Man'

Looking back along the summit ridge of Lingmoor fell

Crinkle Crags from the summit

The sun kept breaking through the cloud from time to time

The Band leading up to Bow fell

Pike 'o' Stickle and Loft Crag

Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark of last week's walk now completely free of snow

Zooming in on the village of Chapel Stile

Blea tarn with the Coniston fells behind

Looking north up the Mickleden valley 

After descending most of the way from Lingmoor fell I continued by climbing Side Pike. This rock feature is on the ascent and must be passed through to reach the summit. It's been named 'The Squeeze' or less politely 'The Fat Man's Agony' . The only way is to remove your rucksack and side step through the gap holding it by your side! 

It's a spectacular view as you approach it and pass through

Looking down on Blea tarn from the summit

Having passed through 'the squeeze' again on the descent it was time to have lunch by the tarn!

Whilst heading back to Little Langdale I diverted for a brief visit to Cathedral Cavern

Leaving the old quarry tunnel complex I had a final break.....

.....enjoying a rest by the attractive Slater Bridge.

Another magnificent day's walking in Lakeland. How fortunate we are to have this beautiful scenery on our door step

Walking in a Winter (Arctic) Wonderland 

Dungeon Ghyll to Grasmere via the Langdale Pikes, Blea Rigg & Easedale

9miles 2700ft

It was a bitter cold morning as I left the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel to climb Stickle Ghyll to the Langdale pikes. Fortunately I had my crampon/microspikes at the ready for the icy paths

Looking back down the ghyll as the sun came up...

....and ahead to the profile of Harrison Stickle 2415ft

Zooming in on Harrison Stickle in full winter conditions

Arriving at Stickle tarn with Pavey Ark as backdrop...

...zooming in it with Jack's Rake bottom right to top left and the very difficult 'Easy Gully' rising steeply right to the north ridge

Zooming in on 'Easy Gully' 

Looking down into Langdale and ....

.....to Stickle tarn as I gained height

Arriving at the summit of Pavey Ark 2297ft

The view down the climb from Langdale

Stickle tarn below the summit

The view east across the summit to the Helvellyn and Fairfield ranges....

....and west along the ridge to Harrison Stickle

After crossing Blea Rigg I began the descent to Easedale tarn and Grasmere

Easedale tarn with Tarn Crag behind.....

.....continuing down Sour Milk Gill

Passing the impressive falls....

....and looking back to them

The final approach to Grasmere.

This was a tough but exhilarating day on the fells in full winter conditions. The fell top assessors later reported that the wind chill today had been -18c and it certainly felt like!!