GLW2012 : A Torver Round

Monday 27th September 2020

We have nephew Ian to thank.  Had it not been for him seeking (successfully) to become a Coniston Iron Man last Monday we wouldn't have been manning a check point.  Had we not been manning a check point, it is unlikely that we would have gone to Coniston Water that day.  Had we not gone to Coniston Water that day, then we probably wouldn't have thought about going there today, not to do an Iron Man & Wife but simply a Great Little Walk.

We thought about visiting Beacon Tarn but unless you are prepared to walk on horrid, busy roads or to return the way you came, one car trips are difficult.  Indeed when we last visited the tarn when doing the Cumbria Way (2008), it was with Emma and Scott so two cars enabled a linear walk.  So an alternative walk was plotted, substituting the Plain Riggs reservoir for Beacon Tarn and kicking off from Torver.

It was a beautiful day, if a bit chilly when caught in the wind,.  There were strange markings in the sky as if man had learned how to fly and was leaving a trail behind.  We thought parking could be tricky.  That wasn't the case.  We were able to leave the car in an honesty car park (Oh yes we did!) and set off for the reservoir.  To our right, Dow Crag and The Old Man dominated the skyline magnificently with Wetherlam as back-up.

Ahead of us was a bridle path which led us down an ancient trail.....

..... to the river.....

..... before climbing up to the open fell.

The reservoir, long disused, provided the opportunity to stop for lunch.  It is not the prettiest of tarns but it was pleasant with the Coniston Fells peeping over the skyline.

We met up with the Cumbria Way and followed it alongside a stream.....

..... down to Coniston Water.  

Here, on the Iron Man trail, we had a good view across and down the lake but not of the Lakeland Fells.  We also had a good view of the steam Gondola and a Swallows and Amazons looking yacht.

The path alongside the lake is pleasant (when not doing an Iron Man) and we started to get glimpses of bigger hills but this part of the lake is not pointing in the optimum direction.  It didn't matter, it was still very enjoyable.  

After about a mile and a half,  it was time to head back to the car.  The path took us up through the Torver Common Woods and out on to the old railway track which led us back to the village and the car.

Thank you Ian for the inspiration.  It was another Great Little Walk.

Don, Monday 27th September 2020

Two Days Later- the distant Coniston Fells as seen from Arnside Knott.

Great
Little
Walks