3.5.2006 The Old Man of Coniston

On my first days in Lakeland, Roger and Ann Hiley suggested to do a walk on "The Old Man of Coniston". This mountain is situated in the southwestern fells, so we had to drive to the starting point from Loweswater, taking first an eastern route and a western one at the way back, Roger called this "Helmut´s World Tour of the Lakes", because thus I saw a great part of Lakeland in just one day.

After having arrived the night before and being used to continental time, I got up at six a.m. and of course immediately had to look around and see. The famous Kirkstile Inn and Lamplugh and Blake Fell in the background.

A few spots of sun on Low Fell

Rapidly growing clouds behind Burnbank Fell, Rose Cottage in the foreground.

View along the Buttermere valley: Rannerdale knotts to th e left, Mellbreak to the far right. In the foreground is Oak cottage, where I stayed.

Mellbreak, as seen from the garden of Oak cottage

A red squirrel in the garden

Daffodills in the garden

Low Fell, now in the sunshine

Another daffodill

Mellbreak, now in the sun.

A telefone box, just standing inmidst the green.

Loweswater church and Blake Fell

Once more the daffodills, now looking further to the Buttermere valley

We now start our "world tour, first with a short detour through all of the Buttermere valley: Crummock water with beautiful gorse at its shore

Panorama of Crummock Water with Red Pike and Mellbreak behind. Click into the picture for a larger version

The stone wall along the road, gorse and Rannerdale Knotts

At the head of Buttermere, with the famous pines and Hay Stacks in the background

The road through the narrow Gatesgarth dale up to Honister Pass

A well at the Honister slate mine, situated on top of the pass.

Having driven down through the lovely narrow Borrowdale, the valley now widens to give room for Derwent Water. Behind is Skiddaw (931 m)

Zooming in to Skiddaw

The lovely shore of Derwent Water with some old sycamore trees

Young leaves on the sycamore

Once more Skiddaw behind Derwent Water

We now drive further via Keswick and the Thirlmere Reservoir to Grasmere Lake and further via Red Bank wood and High Close into Great Langdale. In the distance the Langdale Pikes.

Zooming iin on the Langdale Pikes

Daffodills near the road

We now have a short stop at the Britannia Inn at the little village of Elterwater.

Ann and Roger Hiley

Ann and Roger Hiley

Multicoloured daffodills behind the Britannia Inn

Now we drive into Little Langdale to reach Wrynose Pass, the starting point of our walk.

The lambs are just a few weeks old.

A glimpse of the Langdale Pikes  from the road to Wrynose Pass, at Castle Howe ...

From Wrynose Pass, a view in eastern direction to the Kentmere fells

The three shires stone, an old boundary stone.

Roger and Ann on the ascent to my first Wainwright, Grey Friar

The dogs enjoy the many tarns and puddles

View down to Little Langdale with the homonymous tarn

A small tarn, and Lingmoor Fell in the midel of the background

On the ridge now, we have a great view to the Scafells, with Scafell Pike (978 m) being England´s highest mountain

Roger and Ann on top of Grey Friar

Once more the Scafells

Looking south to the Duddon Estuary

The two Hiley´s dogs Bethan and Harry, looking very interested when we have our lunch.

We now walk further in southern direction, meeting the ridge once more on halöf way to The Old Man. View to southwest to Seathwaite Tarn and Black Combe (background, left)

Levers Water Reservoir, with Coniston Water in the distance.

Brim Fell Summit Cairn, with a good view to Coniston old Man, which is now quite close.

Roger Hiley on the summit of "The Old Man of Coniston", with the Scafells in the background

Once more the Scafells

Summit Panorama from Coniston Old Man. Click into the picture for a larger version.

One of the small puddles on the ridge, on our way back.

Levers Water and Coniston Water

Panorama with Levers Water, Brim Fell and Coniston Old Man, as well as Seathwaite Tarn. Click into the picture for a larger version.

Our way back now leads over another Wainwright summit, Swirl How.

Zooming in on Bow Fell, from Swirl How

The dogs join us for a short second lunch rest.

We now take a last summit, great carrs, and descend to Wrynose pass. I was fascinated by the beautiful evening colour on that little tarn, ...

... not considering that the dogs would follow me ...

a fact that did not really prepare them for the sitting room´s carpet at home.

View down Wrynose Pass to the west; in the background is Hardknott Pass, where we proceeded our "World tour"

Cockley Beck bridge. The left road goes down the duddon valley, whereas the way over the bridge leads to Hardknott Pass.

View down the Duddon Valley from near the top of Hardknott Pass ...

 ... and the view to Wrynose Pass from the same viewpoint.

The old Roman fort near Hardknott Pass

Beautiful evening colours viewing up the upper eskdale, with the Scafells in the background.

At dawn, after a fine meal in a good pub in Eskdale, we make a ahort detour to Wastwater to have a short stop for the classical Wasdale View: Great Gable is the pyramid in the background.

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