Walking Forum

Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Lake District => Topic started by: henryb on 20:16:18, 17/09/17

Title: Monk Coniston to Skelwith Bridge
Post by: henryb on 20:16:18, 17/09/17

With weather forecasters predicting heavy rain last Sunday in the Lakes I opted for a low level valley walk through the southern fells. After getting the 505 service from Ambleside to Monk Coniston, I followed the CW to Tarn Hows. A brief pause in the rain meant the camera came out. It was my third visit to Tarn Hows. Following Tom Gill waterfalls, Yew Tree tarn became my next objective. After coming to the tarn I made a partial ascent of Holme Fell before heavy rain brought visibility to zero. I returned to the tarn before continuing onto High Oxen fell. Picking up the CW again, Colwith Force became my next objective. I could hear it before I saw it. It was the highlight of the walk. I continued onto Skelwith Bridge. Total distance was approximately 14km. If you're like me and driven by the weather, this walk could be recommended for a rainy day as the rivers and waterfalls look more impressive. Apologies for the lack of photos but the camera wasn't out much of the rucksack!


Tarn Hows:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21462993_1789118424450582_2067634127393361228_n.jpg?oh=dda953c9995b3d0337ce765a24769be5&oe=5A1459A5)


Tarn Hows:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21558683_1789118811117210_1858628380138955999_n.jpg?oh=10b3ebed05e377e3b1600b3eac769fc1&oe=5A567B3A)


Tom Gill waterfalls:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21751648_1789118987783859_7521776648657743052_n.jpg?oh=fc395aff2a1eadb48283dc4cd32b576a&oe=5A4D7109)


Tom Gill waterfalls:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21557623_1789119201117171_7463063719366528417_n.jpg?oh=711be68d18c6d911ad5e44f3ac4b521a&oe=5A5DB04D)


Tom Gill waterfalls:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21740489_1789119374450487_7238052095900565341_n.jpg?oh=73493679e1fdcb9a606e2d169b963111&oe=5A4DF86E)


Yew tree tarn:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21743212_1789119594450465_4059463024879396393_n.jpg?oh=2d422a256e6134d4bb7d2f9aed00a964&oe=5A5358BD)


Retrospective view of Yew tree tarn:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21740611_1789120167783741_8496246179497715961_n.jpg?oh=c1b4192401a8de7f4fa4a4a0c412574e&oe=5A46D5DB)


Yew tree tarn:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21557743_1789120681117023_7807074795808908876_n.jpg?oh=388017e043ae225d478a735071d04ddc&oe=5A5669EC)


View towards Black fell:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21557951_1789120921116999_8813871870432219822_n.jpg?oh=b1db1b37fbe8e6af67f51762cc2c19d4&oe=5A15454E)


Waterfalls near Colwith Force:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21557776_1789121104450314_7827947960696896250_n.jpg?oh=af03089ed17ae6e8857951e7fb0b2f47&oe=5A15566F)


Waterfalls near Colwith Force:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21751394_1789121321116959_8460611934808265717_n.jpg?oh=eb9a7dbf9aa124febcce26610194db94&oe=5A4ACD2B)


Colwith Force:
(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21740412_1789121457783612_4249655648594323687_n.jpg?oh=5118c16b9311e0731216d4c2d9c4f3f7&oe=5A14FCAE)

Title: Re: Monk Coniston to Skelwith Bridge
Post by: Penygadair on 11:44:32, 19/09/17

A good choice for the weather conditions Henry.  Loved the waterfall pics.  O0

Title: Re: Monk Coniston to Skelwith Bridge
Post by: April on 12:14:20, 19/09/17

It is a lovely area down there, we walked from Monk Coniston to Holme Fell last year I think it was. Tom Gill is one of my favourite waterfalls in the Lakes, nice shots Henry  O0

Title: Re: Monk Coniston to Skelwith Bridge
Post by: henryb on 19:03:26, 19/09/17

Thanks Penygadair and April :)  I had walked from Coniston to Ambleside on previous trip and ventured over Black fell. I'm always looking for variations and decided to walk to veer more towards Holme fell this time. I intend to climb the fell on a clearer day at a later date. :)  When I think of all the lower level walks I've done, Buttermere lake shore and Grange to Honister are the only other walks which rival this one in terms of scenery :)

Title: Re: Monk Coniston to Skelwith Bridge
Post by: adalard on 09:47:11, 20/09/17

It looks very picturesque, Henry - those waterfalls are wonderful.  O0


Handy to know about these low level walks as I have to confess to being something of a "fair weather" walker myself, and wouldn't venture onto higher ground if I knew the conditions were going to be poor. Not very dedicated of me, I know...  :-[ ;D

Title: Re: Monk Coniston to Skelwith Bridge
Post by: henryb on 20:21:15, 20/09/17

Thanks adalard :)  I always hit the valley floor when the fells are clagged in. I climbed Ben Nevis, COniston Old Man, Scafell Pike in 2012 and saw nothing; it was really cloudy. When walking the valleys I thought I'd rather be looking at rivers and waterfalls instead of cloud. :)

Title: Re: Monk Coniston to Skelwith Bridge
Post by: Ridge on 20:25:39, 20/09/17

Great pics Henry, though shame that the weather wasn't better.
I've only been to Yew Tree Tarn in the clag.