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.