Standing on Top of the World

After my two adventurous interludes, the rest of the day settled down into the pleasant pattern I would expect from a day's hillwalking. We challenged our bodies (but not too much) with some good climbs, we marvelled at the stupendous views, enjoyed good conversation and soaked up the sun.


We were enjoying ourselves so much that it was almost too soon when we arrived at the Old Man summit. As you can see from the blue skies in our photo, the weather was simply perfect and we could see for simply miles, not just Lake Coniston but right across Morecombe Bay.

This was Patrick's first Lakeland fell and he declared it as fine as anything in Ireland which pleased me no end, as I really wanted him to fall in love with the land of my birth.


As we sat on the summit we really enjoyed watching people struggling up the last steep stretch of the tourist route. I never use this route as it's steep, eroded and uninteresting. I much prefer the ascent we took via Levers Water, the Prison Band and Swirl How especially as it gives a fine ridge walk.

Talking of fine ridge walks, we all thought it too soon to head down, so continued on our way to the Walna Scar Road via Dow Crags, Buck Pike and Brown Pike. We hardly saw anyone on this leg of the walk and enjoyed a wonderful sense of freedom and well-being. That's the effect walking has on you.

Once back in Coniston we ended our day out in one of the finest ways possible: with a pint of Bluebird in the Coniston Black Bull. The other chaps said I had really earned mine and I couldn't help but agree.

Lots of love Woolly, Patrick, George & Yorkie xxx