The aim of this pleasing and dramatic walk is to climb, easily, The Bell, a small, shapely fell, (1,099-feet) from where there are fine views. To reach this little peak, start from the car park on the site of the old Coniston railway station, grid ref 299969. At Park Head a track leads up onto the slopes and eventually arrives at the parking area on Walna Scar Road. From here a quarrymen’s track leads you towards the Coniston Fells, including The Bell. More tracks take you back to the start.

1 Turn right out of the car park and walk the track, once the old railway line from Coniston to Broughton. It takes you past small workshops and then cottages, with a huge crag to the right. Beyond the bridge the way becomes hedged and moves out into pastures with views of Coniston Water away to the left. Continue until you reach Park Gate, where the main track winds left to the road. This walk bears right here and ascends a rough hedged track, climbing quite steeply. Go through a makeshift gate and bear half left with the track. Pause often to enjoy the views as you go. On reaching a flat, grassy swathe, go through the gap in the wall and wind sharp right to continue on a short walled way. Follow it as it curves left and becomes a water-worn path, which goes on ascending through a narrow strip of lovely woodland.

2 On reaching a shallow beck, cross at an easy place and go on up over several water-worn gullies. Head up the open fell, aiming for the tall ladderstile and gate in the top left corner, with the beck to your left. Go through the gate, or over the stile, and turn right onto a wide track, continuing beside the long fell wall to the gated parking area at the foot of the Walna Scar track.

3 Cross and go on in the same general direction, enjoying the dramatic view ahead and the grassy walled sheep pastures down to your right. Climb steadily, ignoring any turns to the left, and then the way levels to pass between Stubthwaite Crag to the left and The Bell to the right. To ascend the latter you may wish to climb the step-like bare patches up the grassy slope. The easier way is to leave the main track at the foot of the ‘steps’ on a narrow path winding left round the foot of the little hill. Curve round right climbing gently to the top from where you have a spectacular view. As you look ahead into the valley notice just below you the path you take to descend towards Coniston.

4 Return to the main track by the little path and continue on (right) for a short way. Just before you reach the junction of tracks at Crowberry Hawes, look, right for two easily-missed rock steps onto the track seen from the top of The Bell. Follow the track to reach a gate in the wall ahead. Carry on down to pass through a junction of several walls and descend the slopes to the next gate. Beyond to your left is Coniston’s small hydro-electric scheme, seen at its best from the opposite bank.

5 Descend the slope, with the deep tree-clad gorge to your left. Pause to enjoy the many small cascades. Do not cross Miners Bridge, instead walk on down past more magnificent falls on the turbulent beck, to your left. Where the path splits, keep to the signed track beside the steep ravine. Soon the track moves on through a gate and beside splendid deciduous woodland, now hidden from view beside you. Once through the gate the track becomes splendidly walled, descending a steep slope. At its foot look back, acute right, to see a fine ‘stranded’ railway bridge. Head on the signposted way through Dixon Ground farm to join the road. Cross and walk right, uphill, remaining on the pavement as it winds around left. This returns you to the car park.

Information

Distance: 4 miles

Time: 2-3 hours

Terrain: Mainly tracks all the way

Map: OS Explorer 6

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.