On Saturday we went to Coniston, we were on a 3 dayer and had booked the train home from Ravenglass on Monday. The forecast was for strong wind for Saturday so Walna Scar Quarry was the place to pitch. It was cloudy with a few sunny spells but the wind was a nuisance even at low level most of the way along the Coniston shore.
Coniston Old Man
Yachts on Coniston
We stopped for some food and a brew just past Hoathwaite Campsite but the wind was swirling about and we didn't stop for long. Once at Torver we walked along the lane off the main road but we knew we had to join it again on our way to Old Rake and access to Green Rigg Bank so we could get to Walna Scar Quarry. We chose this route instead of walking up the Walna Scar Road as we have done that more than a few times. We spotted a track that took us up toward Banks but we didn't go up onto the summit, we veered off left toward Low Pike Haw. We had originally planned to go over Walna Scar summit but the wind put us off and we were going to go around White Pike to get to the quarry instead.
Walna Scar, Buck Pike, Brown Pike and Coniston Old Man seen on the way
Broughton Moor Quarry and a interesting ravine
Interesting rock scenery
We hadn't been this way before and although rough underfoot it had lots of interest on the way
Close up of a mine adit
Where did you get that hat?
We crossed the wall in an opening where it had collapsed and headed around White Pike
Caw from the slopes of White Pike
Rock tors on White Pike
This was a wow moment when Harter Fell, The Scafells, Esk Pike and Bowfell appeared
We picked up some water to filter from a beck close to the quarry buildings. We got to the disused quarry buildings and found a pitch sheltering from the wind at the same wall we used last time
The welcoming committee
The MSR at Walna Scar Quarries
The rather nice view
The wind was strong away from the shelter of the wall but we managed to sit outside enjoying the sunshine using it as shelter too. Neither of us had felt that good during the day, we both had sore throats and Beefy started to feel a bit queasy.
Some lenticular cloud appeared
We had our tea, opened some wine and waited for the sunset
The sunset begins
The sunset was amazing
It had been cloudier earlier on and we weren't expecting it to be so good
The sun goes down behind Whin Rigg
The last bit of the sun disappears
The colours in the sky were fabulous
It was a fab sunset and the colours lasted a long time until almost 10pm
Beefy didn't want the last half glass of his wine and I was happy to finish it for him. He must have been feeling poorly not wanting all his wine. We had still enjoyed the sunset and hoped we were going to be ok for the next 2 days.
Day 1 was Coniston - Coniston Hall - Hoathwaite Farm - Torver - Old Rake - Low Pike Haw - Caw Moss - Walna Scar Quarries 12.9km with 570m ascent
