click for details of Stage 1 - Ulverston to Coniston click for details of Stage 3 - Langdale to Keswick click for details of Stage 4 - Keswick to Caldbeck click for details of Stage 5 - Caldbeck to Carlisle

Coniston - Synonomous with Coniston Old Man, this slate village is located in the most wonderful of settings and grew from, not only agriculture, but also the mineral wealth of copper which was mined hereabouts especially during the 18th & 19th centuries. Nowadays Coniston is mainly an outdoors place catering for outdoors people with many fine walks and climbs locally.

Coniston is of course famous for being the venue of Donald Campbells ill fated water speed record attempt in 1967 as well as for a lot of Arthur Ransomes locations in Swallows and Amazons. The poet, artist and social reformer John Ruskin also made his home on the eastern shores of Coniston and is buried here. Coniston has repeatedly been highly placed in the Village of the Year award and was the first winner of it in 1997.


Do you have a recomendation of accommodation, cafe, inn etc from along the route of the Cumbria Way?

Why not let me know and I will add it to these pages for others to learn from? E-mail me with your recommendations - dik@thecumbriaway.info



Brantwood
The poet and social revolutionary John Ruskin also popularised the village, buying the mansion Brantwood on the eastern shores of Coniston Water in 1871. Before his death, he rejected the chance to be buried in Westminster Abbey, instead opting for the churchyard of St Andrews, Coniston.

Coppermines Valley
Well worth a half days time exploring the many remnants of the old mining trade but keep away from open levels - after all you still have a walk to finish!

Tarn Howes
Surrounded on three sides by thick woodland and with glorious views of the Langdale Pike, this must be one of the most visited and photographed places in the whole of the Lake District. This is, however, a man-made beauty spot, created by a local land owner when he dammed a stream and thus joined together 3 tarns into one.

Skelwith Force
A few minutes walk from Skelwith Bridge is this 15-foot high waterfall, Skelwith Force which is seen at its best after heavy rain!

Elterwater
 Very pretty village with a history of once being the provider of most of Britains gunpowder! Good place to stop for refreshments at either the pub or shop on the corner and then rest a while under the sycamore tree on the green.

Chapel Stile
Only a couple of miles up from Elterwater this village also has a shop and pub to keep you refreshed which means that if Elterwater is too busy this is the perfect place to head to!





 

 



The Cumbria Way bids farewell to Coniston via a footbridge over Yewdale Beck opposite the primary school on the outskirts of the village, passing a 'castle' like building. The route now climbs through sketchy woodland and fields before dropping down towards Yewdale. From Yewdale you begin the climb up to Tarn Howes via Tarn Howes Wood and a short section of road which can get quite busy with cars so take care.

Tarn Howes nestles in a hollow just down from the car park (and occasional Ice Cream van in Summer) and for a man made tarn it is remarkably stunning. Follow the path on the western side of the tarn eventually joining up with a track which leads to the main Coniston/Skelwith Bridge road. Cross over here and follow a path paralell to the main road before a left turn down a narrow road to High Park. From here a right turn takes you through a gate and although the official Cumbria Way route heads straight it is always recommended to take the short detour to Colwith Falls (best after heavy rain but hopefully not with you walking in it!) before re-joining the route proper a little further on.

Follow the route into Skelwith Bridge, passing through fields, over stiles, through gates and wooded areas before crossing over the River Brathay. The path leaves Skelwith Bridge, heads past Skelwith Force and onto Elterwater, probably the least visited lakes. The obvious path now leads unerringly to the village of Elterwater and one of the pretiest villages in the lakes with an excellent inn or handy corner shop to cater for all of your refreshment needs.

Cross the bridge, turn right and head uphill overlooking the timeshare estate below you on the right. A path through the debris from the quarries leads down to the riverbank and a short stroll to the bridge which takes you into Chapel Stile close to The Wainwrights Inn. Follow the road for a couple of hundred yards before taking a walled track which eventually brings you to a bridge over the Great Langdale Beck and there then follows a flat walk alongside the heavily reinforced riverbank on a farmtrack leading to Oak Howe.

Immaediately after Oak Howe a sharp right turn takes you on a path which climbs gently, along the flanks of Lingmoor Fell with magnificent views of the Langdale Pikes laid out in front of you - stunning! After a mile the path starts to descend to Side House and a short walk to Dungeon Ghyll sees the end of day two of your Cumbria Way walk.