Route A circuit of Coniston Water
Date 1st february 2012
Distance 17.5 miles approx
Total ascent Minimal (less than 500ft)
Time 5 hours and 30 mins.
Conditions Bright, wintery sunshine - but cold! Underfoot - mainly hard surface - tarmac and lakeshore paths.
Start/Finish My home at Lowick Bridge.
It's been a fair time since my last major walk in the lakes - The Wythop & Lorton Fells on the 23/11/11 to be exact - and since that time it is fair to say that I've put on a few pounds over Christmas and needed to get started in 2012! I have plans to not only finish the Wainwrights this year (only 43 to go) but also do the final 12 routes in Stuart Marshall's book - Walking the Wainwrights. However, I needed a challenge and some mileage in the legs so decided to do a walk literally on my doorstep and do a circuit of Coniston Water.
I've walked around a few of the lakes in the past - mainly Derwentwater (many times, at approx 8.5 miles), Crummock Water, Grasmere & Rydal Water and Buttermere - normally when conditions up top were grim or I had non walkers with me, but a circuit of Coniston was a bigger challenge.
The first thing to say about the route is that most of it is on tarmac. For those of you who don't know the area the eastern shoreline is "hugged" by a small road which for a large part runs alongside the waters edge, unlike the road on the western side which runs through Torver and leaves the lake completely for several miles. This meant walking the eastern side - up to the Waterhead Hotel - on the road and then picking up the lakeshore footpath right down to Sunny Bank farm before joining the main road (A5084) down to Water Yeat at the southern end of the water. The easiest and most enjoyable part of the circuit was the lakeshore path from the Waterhead Hotel down to Sunny Bank but don't be put off by the road on the eastern side - it is pretty (with great views of the Coniston Fells) and fairly quiet (only saw 6 cars or so over 8.5 miles of walking!)
There are 2 opportunities for rest stops - the tearoom/restaurant at Brantwood (about 6.5 miles distance) and the Bluebird cafe at Coniston (about half distance) are both excellent - but yours truly decided on a picnic at the nothern end of the lake with a few ducks for company!
Route description
From Lowick bridge walk down the road signed "east of lake". Go through Nibthwaite and reach the southern end of Coniston Water, continue past Brantwood to the nothern end of the lake at the Waterhead Hotel. Pick up a footpath leading to Coniston boating centre and the Bluebird Cafe. From here pick up the lakeshore path to Torver and walk as far as you can on this path eventually joining the road at Sunny Bank farm. Continue south along this road (be careful of traffic!) and reach Water Yeat village before turning left and crossing the newly re-opened Bouthrey bridge back to Nibthwaite. Retrace your steps back to Lowick bridge and the start/finish point.
Below are some photos of a lovely winters day around and about Coniston.
View of the Coniston Fells - from the end of my road.
Southern end of Coniston Water.
Closer view of the Coniston Fells from the east of lake road.
View across to Coniston village from Brantwood.
Another view across to the snow capped fells!
A look down the length of Coniston Water from the northern end.
Coniston Hall with it's distinctive chimneys.
View across the water to Brantwood.
View north from Torver jetty - Fairfield and neighbours in the distance.
View south from Torver jetty.
The newly re-opened Bouthrey bridge.