Coniston to Tilberthwaite

      via Boulder valley, Swirl How  

and Wet Side Edge 10miles 3300ft  

Setting off from the centre of Coniston village....

....then climbing alongside the beck in Coppermines valley

Leaving the valley I followed the path into Boulder valley....

....Boulder valley is named because of the massive boulders found along its length

Some are at least the size of two double decker buses

Emerging from the valley with a view to Coniston village and lake....

....and passing the workings of the disused copper mines....

which are above Levers water. Leaving Levers water I climbed to the Coniston fells ridge and headed north through the clouds to....

.....Swirl How summit, today's highest point at 2631ft 

Further north along the ridge is Great Carrs fell summit with the remains of an American bomber plane which crashed 22nd October 1944 with the loss of all 8 crew

As I left the summit the sun was just beginning to appear through the clouds and stayed for the rest of the day.... 

....including while I sat here for lunch in lovely warm sunshine admiring the view down Wet Side edge into Greenburn....

....and down to Little Langdale tarn....

....and back to the ridge I'd crossed earlier

Continuing down the ridge I could see the summit of Wrynose pass....

.....and down towards Little Langdale...

.... there was also a good view of the Langdale pikes

from L to R 

Pike 'o' Stickle, Loft Crag, Harrison Stickle & 

Pavey Ark

The remainder of the walk was a delightful stroll through Little Langdale....

....passing Little Langdale tarn....

....and finishing here in Tilberthwaite

A great day's walking with interest, and variety of scenery & weather!!

 Day 3 Carnforth to Carlisle

Bowston to Windermere via Potter Tarn, Staveley, Reston Scar, & the Dales Way 15m 2400ft

Parking up near the Handsome brewery by the river Kent in Bowston village

Crossing the river before climbing to Potter fell....

....with a view over the misty Kent valley to Scout & Cunswick scars of 'Day 2'....

....a relatively short climb leads up to Potter Tarn....

....then descends back to the river Kent in Staveley

A second climb followed immediately after Staveley to Reston Scar, a very familiar sight to motorists driving towards Windermere on the A591. It affords a great view back  down to Staveley....

.....with a train in Staveley station on the Kendal to Windermere line

Looking north from the summit to the service area at Ings village

A colourful descent brought me to Ings village....

....and the Watermill Inn and today's second brewery just off the main road in the village

My route then joined the Dales Way path which goes 80 miles from Ilkely in Yorkshire to Windermere 

Part of the Dales Way....

....and again....

....it then descends into Bowness

Leaving the Dales Way I then followed the lakeside....

....until the final climb up Queen Adelaide's hill Windermere to await my lift back to Bowston

A shame about the weather but nevertheless still a lovely walk and at least there was no rain 

Day 2 Carnforth to Carlisle

Having a call to make in Carnforth later in the day I decided to do a linear walk from Levens Hall to Bowston near Kendal. This would take in Sizergh Castle and Scout & Cunswick Scars 13m 1700ft

Parking here at Levens Bridge I set off through the deer park following the river Leven....

....and again

I just managed a quick shot of these, which I think are red deer, as they heard me coming

Passing under the A590 Kendal to Barrow road

Plenty of water in the river after all the rain

Leaving the river my route climbed through the grounds of Sizergh Castle.....

....part of the castle gardens....

....I was too early for the cafe and visitor centre

Further gentle climbing brought me to St John the Evangelist church Helsington....

....from which a conveniently placed seat afforded views into the Winster valley....

The river Winster had burst it's banks a couple of days before. Whitbarrow Scar is the ridge behind

Another climb and I was on top of Scout Scar....

.....which has quite a dramatic edge into the valley....

.....and again

At the highest point on the scar is this view point from which there are often superb views north to the Lakeland fells and south to Morecambe bay. 

However the low cloud and little rain prevented worthwhile photos today.

On the inside perimeter of the shelter is the relief outline of all that can be seen through 360 degrees

Continuing north along the ridge I crossed onto Cunswick Scar with a hazy view down to Kendal....

....and was amazed to see this elderly couple taking photos having driven over the almost pathless tops the highest point!!!!

Lunchtime approaching I descended to Burneside and sat outside St Oswalds church for my lunch

The church was also used by the local community and had a food bank including refridgerated foods. It was also today open as a partime post office! 

Leaving Burneside by the river Kent....

....I followed a short stretch of the 'Dales Way' long distance path before finishing....

....in the hamlet of Bowston near the railway line to Windermere.

From time to time I may return to this area and start my own long distance walk  called 'C' to 'C' ie Carnforth to Carlisle! Today's walk would then fit in as 'Day 2'