This is a high level linear walk on the east side of Coniston water. Much of the route is open fell walking following a magnetic bearing so remember to take a compass. The X12 bus service provides a convenient way to get to the start from Coniston but note that this service does not run on Sundays. A highlight of the walk is exactly what it’s called - High Light Haw - offering splendid surprise views of the south end of Coniston water and fells to the west and of Morecambe Bay to the south. It’s a good place to stop for a lunch break. Arthur Ransome fanatics can delight in spotting locations that inspired the writing of his Swallows and Amazons books. The walk later enters the fringes of Grizedale Forest and descends to emerge at Lawson Park. Views of the lake from below Crag Head in the early evening sunlight provides a spectacular place for a later stop with the option of making a short excursion to the top of Crag Head.

Park in Coniston. Start Lowick Bridge.

Information

Distance: 10.5 or 11 miles, could be shortened by starting at Water Yeat instead of Lowick Bridge but the 11 mile route is more appropriate for experienced walkers.

Time: 5 hours

Terrain: Footpaths, open moorland, roads

Map: OS Explorer OL7

Route

1 Catch the X12 bus from Coniston (near the car park opposite the Crown Hotel). The bus leaving at 9.30am (Monday-Saturday) is best. Get off at at Lowick Bridge (near the Red Lion Inn). Walk down the lane to the bridge where turn immediately left and after a quarter of a mile turn right up Bessy Bank Lane. The steeply climbing lane provides a relatively easy way of gaining height quickly.

2 Turn left onto the bridleway that leads to Hill Park Farm. Keep left after passing the farm (it’s easy to be misled by the track to the right), then follow the gradually ascending path northwards.

3 Pass Stock Farm and turn right on Bletherbarrow Lane. After the gate at the end of the wood follow the track that bears left by the side of a wall. Keep left after the stone buildings at Low Bethacar as the path ascends to above High Bethacar. The path drops down to and passes to the right of High Bethacar across a small stream.

4 Keep right and go through a gate in the wall. Ignore the footpath descending to the left and head up the right side of the valley for 300 yards then veer left (north) to the summit of High Light Haw. As you reach the summit splendid views over the south end of Coniston suddenly appear (weather permitting of course). This area and Blawith Fells across the lake may have been Ransome’s inspiration for Swallowdale or High Greenland. You can easily identify Peel Island (Wild Cat Island) and Coniston Old Man (Kanchenjunga) further north.

5 From here to the Top o’ Selside is basically a matter of picking the best passage on a 10 degrees compass bearing across a mile of undulating fell. Head for the western side of the long ridge. Top o’ Selside appears to have two tops but our target is the westerly one with a cairn.

6 Descend on a compass bearing of 350 degrees. The buildings of Low Parkamoor will suddenly appear below you. It’s fun to make the steep descent directly ahead but if you prefer a gentler route go to the right towards the ruins of High Parkamoor and follow the track down to your left. Cross the beck to join the well surfaced bridleway to Low Parkamoor.

7 Low Parkamoor is available for hire as a remote retreat: a one-mile uphill walk from the nearest road, no mains services, a composting toilet (a ‘loo with a view’), no bathroom, water straight from the well, with cooking and hot water from a wood-burning range: quite a contrast to modern hotels!

8 Follow the bridleway northwards to the forest. Shortly before the forest at Park Crags there’s another fine view of the lake. Go through the gateway into the forest, keep left on meeting another track and after another third of a mile turn left onto a path (it’s actually a bridleway but you’d have to be daft to ride a horse along it) descending through dark woodland to emerge at The Park where views of the northern end of Coniston appear. Lawson Park is headquarters of Grizedale Arts and a self-catering getaway for families that is the height of luxury compared to Low Parkamoor. Follow the track down to the right. If you want even better views you could walk an extra half mile to go up and down the path to Crag Head on your right. The track descends to the road round the back of Brantwood.

9 Turn right onto the road and follow it back to Coniston round the top of the lake at Waterhead, where the evening light can offer stunning pictures.

NB: Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.