Last day of a stormy few days in the Lake District, as the wind was 50 - 60mph and the cloud was down on the higher peaks and ridges, we opted for a circular walk on some of the smaller peaks, under the cloud level. We set off from Tilberthwaite, an old mining area, and went up an old mine track next to the deep ravine of Yewdale beck. There were plenty of old mines and quarries to examine en-route. We reached a flat area amongst the peaks, which is mis-named dry stone bottom, where because of heavy rains the river was in flood and the land was waterlogged. We had to make a large detour upstream to find a safe crossing place. From here we went up to the col between Blake Rigg and Haystacks, visiting both summits, then dropped down to another col, before a short steep ascent to Hawk Rigg. We then dropped back to the original path, and walked NW, up past some abandoned mine workings to the twin summit of Birk Fell Man.

Last day of a stormy few days in the Lake District, as the wind was 50 - 60mph and the cloud was down on the higher peaks and ridges, we opted for a circular walk on some of the smaller peaks, under the cloud level. We set off from Tilberthwaite, an old mining area, and went up an old mine track next to the deep ravine of Yewdale beck. There were plenty of old mines and quarries to examine en-route. We reached a flat area amongst the peaks, which is mis-named dry cove bottom, where because of heavy rains the river was in flood and the land was waterlogged. We had to make a large detour upstream to find a safe crossing place. From here we went up to the col between Blake Rigg and Haystacks, visiting both summits, then dropped down to another col, before a short steep ascent to Hawk Rigg. We then dropped back to the original path, and walked NW, up past some abandoned mine workings to the twin summit of Birk Fell Man.

Last day of a stormy few days in the Lake District, as the wind was 50 - 60mph and the cloud was down on the higher peaks and ridges, we opted for a circular walk on some of the smaller peaks, under the cloud level. We set off from Tilberthwaite, an old mining area, and went up an old mine track next to the deep ravine of Yewdale beck. There were plenty of old mines and quarries to examine en-route. We reached a flat area amongst the peaks, which is mis-named dry cove bottom, where because of heavy rains the river was in flood and the land was waterlogged. We had to make a large detour upstream to find a safe crossing place. From here we went up to the col between Blake Rigg and Haystacks, visiting both summits, then dropped down to another col, before a short steep ascent to the slightly hidden summit of Hawk Rigg. We then dropped back to the original path, and walked NW, up past some abandoned mine workings to the twin summit of Birk Fell Man.

Last day of a stormy few days in the Lake District, as the wind was 50 - 60mph and the cloud was down on the higher peaks and ridges, we opted for a circular walk on some of the smaller peaks, under the cloud level. We set off from Tilberthwaite, an old mining area, and went up an old mine track next to the deep ravine of Yewdale beck. There were plenty of old mines and quarries to examine en-route. We reached a flat area amongst the peaks, which is mis-named dry cove bottom, where because of heavy rains the river was in flood and the land was waterlogged. We had to make a large detour upstream to find a safe crossing place. From here we went up to the col between Blake Rigg and Haystacks, visiting both summits, then dropped down to another col, before a short steep ascent to the hidden summit of Hawk Rigg. We then dropped back to the original path, and walked NW, up past some abandoned mine workings to the twin summit of Birk Fell Man.

After 2 days of storms, it was good to get out on the hills again. We started from Coniston village and walked up the path to the coppermines valley. By the first set of old cottages, we cut up NE on an old miners track to the long steady ridge, that took us over Red Gill head to the summit of Wetherlam. After the 2 days of heavy rain, the ground in places was waterlogged and all streams were torrents. After a stop in the summit, where the views of the higher Lake District peaks to the N were good, we set off W over the lower summit of Black Sails then Swirl Hause, a pass, and up the steep scramble of Preston Band, to the summit of Swirl How, the highest peak of the day. Here we noticed that bad weather was brewing on surrounding peaks, with rainbows forming between heavy showers. We then made a detour from the route to go out onto 2 subsidiary summits, Great Carrs and Little Carrs. In the col by Great Carrs is the wreckage of a plane that crashed on the peak in bad weather in 1944, we stopped to read the memorial to the airmen. Then the weather took a dramatic turn for the worse, so we hurried on to our final peak for the day, Great How. From here we dropped down very steeply to Levers water, taking great care as the heavy rain had made the rocks very slippy. We walked around the lake and had to wade the outflow, which was swollen with the recent heavy rains, then walk for over an hour back down to the village, drying our wet gear in the evening sun and breeze.

After 2 days of storms, it was good to get out on the hills again. We started from Coniston village and walked up the path to the coppermines valley. By the first set of old cottages, we cut up NE on an old miners track to the long steady ridge, that took us over Red Gill head to the summit of Wetherlam. After the 2 days of heavy rain, the ground in places was waterlogged and all streams were torrents. After a stop in the summit, where the views of the higher Lake District peaks to the N were good, we set off W over the lower summit of Black Sails and up the steep scramble of Preston Band, to the summit of Swirl How, the highest peak of the day. Here we noticed that bad weather was brewing on surrounding peaks, with rainbows forming between heavy showers. We then made a detour from the route to go out onto 2 subsidiary summits, Great Carrs and Little Carrs. In the col by Great Carrs is the wreckage of a plane that crashed on the peak in bad weather in 1944, we stopped to read the memorial to the airmen. Then the weather took a dramatic turn for the worse, so we hurried on to our final peak for the day, Great How. From here we dropped down very steeply to Levers water, taking great care as the heavy rain had made the rocks very slippy. We walked around the lake and had to wade the outflow, which was swollen with the recent heavy rains, then walk for over an hour back down to the village, drying our wet gear in the evening sun and breeze.

After 2 days of storms, it was good to get out on the hills again. We started from Coniston village and walked up the path to the coppermines valley. By the first set of old cottages, we cut up NE on an old miners track to the long steady ridge, that took us over Red Gill head to the summit of Wetherlam. After the 2 days of heavy rain, the ground in places was waterlogged and all streams were torrents. After a stop in the summit, where the views of the higher Lake District peaks to the N were good, we set off W over the lower summit of Black Sails and up the steep scramble of Preston Band, to the summit of Swirl How, the highest peak of the day. Here we noticed that bad weather was brewing on surrounding peaks, with rainbows forming between heavy showers. We then made a detour from the route to go out onto 2 subsidiary summits, Great Carrs and Little Carrs. In the col by Great Carrs is the wreckage of a plane that crashed on the peak in bad weather in 1944, we stopped to read the memorial to the airmen. Then the weather took a dramatic turn for the worse, so we hurried on to our final peak for the day, Great How. From here we dropped down very steeply to Levers water, taking great care as the heavy rain had made the rocks very slippy. We walked around the lake and had to wade the outflow, which was swollen with the recent heavy rains, then walk for over an hour back down to the village, drying our wet gear in the evening sun and breeze.

After 2 days of storms, it was good to get out on the hills again. We started from Coniston village and walked up the path to the coppermines valley. By the first set of old cottages, we cut up NE on an old miners track to the long steady ridge, that took us over Red Gill head to the summit of Wetherlam. After the 2 days of heavy rain, the ground in places was waterlogged and all streams were torrents. After a stop in the summit, where the views of the higher Lake District peaks to the N were good, we set off W over the lower summit of Black Sails and up the steep scramble of Preston Band, to the summit of Swirl How, the highest peak of the day. Here we noticed that bad weather was brewing on surrounding peaks, with rainbows forming between heavy showers. We then made a detour from the route to go out onto 2 subsidiary summits, Great Carrs and Little Carrs. In the col by Great Carrs is the wreckage of a plane that crashed on the peak in bad weather in 1944, we stopped to read the memorial to the airmen. Then the weather took a dramatic turn for the worse, so we hurried on to our final peak for the day, Great How. From here we dropped down very steeply to Levers water, taking great care as the heavy rain had made the rocks very slippy. We walked around the lake and had to wade the outflow, which was swollen with the recent heavy rains, then walk for over an hour back down to the village, drying our wet gear in the evening sun and breeze.

1st day of a walking break in the Lake District, set off from the Walna Scar path, nr Coniston, walked up past the old coppermine workings and slate quarries to Low Water, about 1000ft below the summit, then up steeply on the well trodden route to the summit. Good views all around the Lake District peaks and out to sea. From here we went along the ridge and onto Brim Fell in the strenghthening wind. Here we dropped down SW to Goats Hause, a pass above Goats Water and then up a rocky route onto Dow Crag, where we scrambled onto the summit ledges and found shelter from the wind for a short break. We then headed down the S ridge, peering down into Great Gulley and Easy Gulley, before going onto Buck Pike and Brown Pike. Here we dropped down to the top of the Walna Scar pass and headed down for 2 miles back to our start point, but unfortunately the weather turned to rain 30 minutes before the end.

After 2 days of storms, it was good to get out on the hills again. We started from Coniston village and walked up the path to the coppermines valley. By the first set of old cottages, we cut up NE on an old miners track to the long steady ridge, that took us over Red Gill head to the summit of Wetherlam. After the 2 days of heavy rain, the ground in places was waterlogged and all streams were torrents. After a stop in the summit, where the views of the higher Lake District peaks to the N were good, we set off W over the lower summit of Black Sails and up the steep scramble of Preston Band, to the summit of Swirl How, the highest peak of the day. Here we noticed that bad weather was brewing on surrounding peaks, with rainbows forming between heavy showers. We then made a detour from the route to go out onto 2 subsidiary summits, Great Carrs and Little Carrs. In the col by Great Carrs is the wreckage of a plane that crashed on the peak in bad weather in 1944, we stopped to read the memorial to the airmen. Then the weather took a dramatic turn for the worse, so we hurried on to our final peak for the day, Great How. From here we dropped down very steeply to Levers water, taking great care as the heavy rain had made the rocks very slippy. We walked around the lake and had to wade the outflow, which was swollen with the recent heavy rains, then walk for over an hour back down to the village, drying our wet gear in the evening sun and breeze.