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About Coniston Water | About The Cumbria Way | Parking Location | OS Map | Current Weather
Having already walked all the Coniston fells, and with the weather against us, we headed down to Coniston to take on a section of the Cumbria way.
Starting in Coniston, we headed down towards the marina then off into the main field to the right. This part is straightforward to follow. Further along the field, we saw some paths heading to Hagg wood, it’s a small outcrop of woodland with a couple of paths running through it. We headed through here, as more of a diversion really, before taking a very thin grassy track back to the main path.
The next section was a bit busier. We headed through the Coniston Hall Campsite. There were a lot of people staying here with tents pitched so it was slightly odd walking through the middle of the site, but after not too long we were out the other side and out towards Coniston Water. We passed through a reasonably large herd of cows in the next field and then on into the main stretch of woodland.
It was still busy as we walked the woodland trail, but as soon as we got past the Pier (where people were getting off and heading towards the village), it got much quieter. The path now becomes much narrower and we were more likely to come across rocks and roots along the no-longer-flat path. The views out over the water are very pleasant and there are plenty of spots to stop and walk down to the shoreline. We avoided this for the most part as the rain was still coming down and the shelter of the trees was appreciated. The woodland is quite dense, and there are some nice sections where you can easily get the pace up while still enjoying the views.
When we reached about halfway along Coniston water, we decided to turn back. At around 10km it was a nice easy walk during a rainy day. Obviously, the walk was flat aside from a couple of times where the path rose a bit more above the lake than expected. For the most part the views are very similar until you get back to the open expanse of the fields and camp sites, where The Old Man of Coniston comes into view.
It’s quite a popular route, being part of the Cumbria way ( and it’s for good reason as there are some very tranquil parts to the walk!) It’s a great one to do on a day where the weather isn’t so great, or even an evening stroll away from the main peaks.
