5 Lovely, Low-Level Family Walks for winter in and around Coniston
Winter can be an amazing time to get out and about within the glorious Lake District National Park. The crowds have diminished and the insects vanished, the air is crisp and cool and the opportunities for exploring this beautiful part of the world are endless.
We’ve put together some of our favourite, lower-level walks for winter in and around Coniston, perfect for those staying in the village. All these walks are doable in a morning or afternoon, so you can have plenty of time to enjoy your walk before heading back to your cottage to warm up next to your log fire – or even your private hot tub.
So, grab your boots and coat, pack a flask of hot tea and get out there!
Tilberthwaite to Little Langdale Circular via Slater’s Bridge 4 miles
This lower level walk has everything, ancient forest, an excellent pub at the half way point and staggering views. You can even stop off to explore the spectacular Cathedral Cave if you wanted to (and why wouldn’t you?!) This walk also takes in Slater’s Bridge, an iconic Lake District location which you will probably recognise from the many photographers taken here. So camera phones at the ready for this very Insta-friendly photo opportunity – definely one you won’t to miss!
Starting at Tilberthwaite Car Park, just 2.6 miles from Coniston village. From the parking area head up the lane towards High Tilberthwaite. At the farm, take the track through the gate on the left to head up hill. Continue on the track as it crosses open fellside. Ahead of you, the Langdale Pikes will eventually come into view. Once the track has descended into Little Langdale a 3-way Public Footpath at a path junction points to the A5931 to the sharp right. Turn right and continue on past 2 clusters of cottages. Slater’s Bridge comes into the view crossing the river on your left.
Cross the bridge and continue ahead along the footpath. The footpath reaches a farm and turns into a lane. Head up the lane until you reach the road. Turn right to head into Little Langdale Village. If you fancy stopping off at the Three Shires, continue ahead. If not then take the lane on your right heading back to the River Brathay. Cross the river. If you want to check out Cathedral Cave, turn right immediately after the bridge. If not, continue ahead. At a fork in the track in a wooded area, take the path on the right to continue back to Tilberthwaite. You’ll eventually emerge back at the farm at High Tilberthwaite where you can retrace your steps to the parking area.
Tom Gill to Tarn Hows 3.4 miles
This walk starts at the Glen Mary Bridge Car Park, near Beatrix Potter’s Yew Tree Farm. From the car park head over the wooden bridge and through the gate into the woods. Follow the footpath as it makes its way uphill roughly following the gill. There are some steep and rocky sections but the views of the stunning waterfalls make it all worthwhile. Keep the river to your right as you head uphill before emerging at Tarn Hows.
Turn left to walk the full loop of the tarn. As you near the end of the loop pass through the gate and head uphill towards the road. The footpath follows alongside the road a little way above you. Opposite the car park stay on the road as it heads downhill towards Coniston, passing a cattle grid. Follow the road for about a quarter of a mile as it makes its way down, opening out to breath-taking views of Yewdale.
At the junction, take the track on the right through the gate marked Tarn Hows Cottage. With the wall on your left and views on your right, follow the track towards the cottage. Keep following the track as it swings down to the right. Go through the gate and carry straight on past the the cottage and out through another gate into the open fields. Turn immediately left and follow the wall downhill. At the end of the wall, go through the gate. Continue down the slope, keeping the hedge and fence to your right. Go through another small gate in the hedge then turn left to continue downhill. At the bottom of the hill head right along the edge of the field, with Yew Tree Farm on the opposite side of the road. Head out of the field, through the gate and over the wooden bridge and back into the car park.
Coppermines Valley Circular 3.6 miles
Starting in Coniston village. Take the road in-between the Black Bull and the Co-op. Head up the road and continue as it becomes an unmade track. As you approach the head of Coppermines Valley the gradient levels off. You will see Miner’s Row cottages (including Slater Bob’s) on the fellside to your right.
The Coppermines Mountain Cottages and waterwheel are straight ahead. Continue on the track as it curves left past the Youth Hostel. After the Levers Beck Waterfalls stay on the track as it curves right and continues uphill. Where the track curves sharply to the right take the footpath on the left heading towards a wooden footbridge across Levers Water Beck. After the bridge turn left to follow the footpath which curves its way along the lower slopes of Brim Fell. After another wooden footbridge lies The Pudding Stone, a huge boulder fallen from Brim Fell millennia ago. Continuing on past the Pudding Stone, the path eventually joins up with one of the main routes up to the summit of Coniston Old Man. At this point turn left to take the obvious footpath heading downhill back down to Coppermines Valley. The path crosses the open fellside and Coppermines Conservation Area. Continue on past Miner’s Bridge and you will eventually emerge at Dixon Ground. From here turn left at The Sun Inn to take the lane back to the centre of Coniston village.
Coniston to Torver via lake Shore 5.3miles
Starting in Coniston village head down Lake Road towards the lake. Just before Lake Road Business Estate a gate on your right leads to a footpath signposted Torver via lake shore. Lead the road and follow the footpath across the open fields. You’ll shortly arrive at Coniston Hall campsite. Go through the campsite and take the path forking on the left to the lake shore itself. The path then follows the lake shore with the lake on your left. Continue on past a small jetty and into a wooded section. Shortly after a second small jetty and immediatyly before a clearing, a path on the right leaves the lake to head towards Torver through the woods. Follow this path until you emerge in open countryside. A farm comes into view ahead. Turn right to take the track running in front of the farm. Follow this track until your reach the National Trust campsite. A faint path leads across the field at the campsite. Follow the path then go across a second field and you’ll arrive at the corner of the field with the A593 now visible on your left. A track runs parallel to the road before joining it on the other side of the woods. There’s a short section of road walking before a pavement is reached. Walk along the pavement on the straight stretch of road with the row of houses on your right. Just before the bend, cross the road at Beckside Cottage and head up the lane heading towards The Presbytery. Go under the bridge and turn right to join the footpath which follows the old railway line back into the village.
Grizedale Forest
Perfect for those unpredictable winter days, Grizedale offers sheltered walks on gravel tracks through miles of forest. Hidden sculptures to discover along the way creates added interest to an already lovely walk. There are various routes to choose from depending on your ability and the time you have available. Got a full day to fill? At 10 miles long The Silurian Way is the ultimate Grizedale Walk, taking in lots of original artworks plus stunning views along the way. Looking to fill a couples of hours in the afternoon? Try the 3 mile Bogle Crag Route which takes in forest, ancient woodland and a section of open fellside with glorious open views.
The Bogle Crag starts at the Bogle Crag car park approximately 1km south of Grizedale Forest Visitor’s Centre. The route is waymarked with lilac colour way-posts. From the car park take the forest road heading east uphill. After the track curves to the right a way-post leads to a narrower footpath. Follow the footpath as it heads south. For the shorter route turn left at the fork otherwise conitune south. At a cottage the path turns east to head uphill through the woodland. Conitunue uphill following the lilac posts. You will emerge on open fellside. Cross a wide mountain track to continue heading north-east. You will briefly join another wide mountain track. Turn left onto the road which you shortly leave on another signpsted footpath now heading west. Cross the mountain road and pick up the footpath through the forest. You re-join another mountain road. Turn right followed by a sharp left to follow the road all the way back to the car park.
You can find all the main Grizedale Forest walking routes map here.
