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Lake District Walking Weekend - Coniston

Head out for an invigorating weekend of guided group walking around the tranquil and dramatic scenery of the Lake District’s Southern Fells.

Experience Type: Multi-Day Experience
Duration: 2 nights
Accommodation: Hostel
Group Size: Maximum 25
Level: Active Plus
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs

In a Nutshell:

  • Head out on two guided walks into the hills around Coniston, with the aim being to enjoy the scenery and explore the local area.

  • Relax in our cosy hostel and enjoy freshly prepared food.

  • Discover what makes the Lake District so special, from the solitude of the hills to the clarity of the night sky.

  • Make some great new friends and share a drink together as you re-live the day’s adventures.

 
 

Explore the tranquil scenery of Coniston and the Southern Fells

The Southern Fells of the Lake District are centered around the Old Man of Coniston and its surrounding peaks, a landscape full of wonder and the perfect place for a weekend away with a friendly bunch of fellow wanderers.

There are high mountain lakes, streams crashing through the woodland, and of course the great Coniston Water itself, a ribbon lake stretching away from the town and surrounded by miles of walking trails.

Join Large Outdoors for a sociable guided walking weekend to discover this special part of the Lake District. We’ll be based in a hostel near the village of Coniston and close to a whole range of walking trails, perfect for getting into the outdoors and experiencing the landscapes that make the Lake District a world-famous walking destination.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

You’re welcome to arrive at the hostel at any time after 5pm, where your Large Outdoors host will be preparing dinner. Grab a hot drink and meet your fellow walking companions, and you’ll soon settle into the relaxing atmosphere of the Lake District.

You host will prepare dinner, which will be served around 8pm and allow you more time to get to know the other participants. After dinner your host will chat through the plans for the next couple of days.

Day 2

This morning it’s time to head out on our guided day walks, after breakfast and making up our packed lunches. Today we will aim to offer two walks, one as a summit bagger and the other a lower level walk (subject to participant numbers).

Possible route options we could walk:

The Old Man of Coniston - Heading up into the high hills around Coniston, we’ll walk up the Old Man Of Coniston, past the copper mines and the high lake of Low Water. After admiring the views over Morecambe Bay in the south, we’ll head north along a high wide ridge to Swirl How and then follow it round to Wetherlam before descending back down to Coniston. This is an excellent day for those of you who want a real adventure in the hills.

Little Arrow Moor and Coniston Water - Our Leisurely Plus adventure will see us walk up onto the moors that surround the great peak of the Old Man of Coniston and admire this stunning mountain before following tracks down to the tranquil lakeside of Coniston Water itself. Here we can enjoy the last few miles through beech woodlands as the path takes us back to town.

Other options - There are several options for other walks that don’t require any driving. We could venture up to one of the mountain lakes, such as Goat’s Water or Levers Water, and continue from there to a nearby peak, potentially Dow Crag or Swirl How. There are also a nice set of low rolling fells we could wander over just to the north of Coniston, where we’d be almost guaranteed solitude!

The walk will aim to get back to the hostel allowing you time to freshen up and enjoy the evening, with a glass of wine or a cup of tea and the great feeling in your legs from a full day out! Dinner will once again be prepared by your Large Outdoors host.

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Day 3

After breakfast it’s time to pack up and leave the hostel. Today we'll be heading out for the morning, taking time to see more of the area, with a different theme to the previous day.

Today’s walk could be one of the following:

Tarn Hows - Heading out from Coniston, we’ll follow the Cumbria Way to the beautiful lake of Tarn Hows, a National Trust property nestled in the trees to the north of the town. We’ll walk a circuit of the lake before heading back to Coniston for lunch. This will probably be the shorter walk, finishing for 12-1pm.

Pike of Blisco - Standing over the southern edge of Langdale, we’ll walk up the Pike of Blisco from Blea Tarn, admiring the views over Bow Fell and Oxendale before traversing to a second summit, Cold Fell. From here we descend to Oxendale before wandering along the valley and heading back up to Blea Tarn.

Whatever walks we end up on, we hope you’ll head home with a new-found love for the southern fells of the Lake District, different in character from the other landscapes of the Lakes and rife with opportunities for further adventures.

Perhaps you might like to get lunch or a final cuppa with your fellow participants before the weekend comes to an end?

Please note: on some days there could be a short drive required - where activities don’t start from the door of the accommodation. We don't include transport and participants normally car share.

Good to Know

  • Meeting Time: from 5pm
    You can arrive any time from 5pm - the Large Outdoors host will be at the accommodation to welcome you. Dinner will be served around 8pm so if you intend to arrive later than this, please ensure you have something to eat on the way.

    Meeting Location:
    YHA Coniston Coppermines
    Coniston
    Cumbria
    LA21 8HP

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    Access: This hostel is located on a gravel track. After turning off between the Co-op and the Black Bull Inn, the main tarmac road runs out and the remaining route is along a narrow gravel track. After a long straight section there is a left turn and the hostel is on the right.

    Parking: Free parking is available at the accommodation.

    Public Transport: YHA Coniston Coppermines is located 12.8 miles from Windermere Train Station, with services to/from Oxenholme Lake District and Manchester Airport.

    Finish Time: We aim to finish on the final day between 1pm and 3pm - the exact finish time may depend on the planned/chosen activity, group dynamic, weather conditions, whether the group chooses to grab a coffee or lunch together during/after, etc. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility.

  • Without doubt one of our favourite hostels, we'll be staying in the remote and beautiful YHA Coniston Coppermines, a hostel right up in the hills where you can get a true taste of the wilder side of the Lake District.

    Bedding is provided - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.

    Accommodation Address:
    YHA Coniston Coppermines
    Coniston
    Cumbria
    LA21 8HP

    Room Types:
    You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
    Bed in a Shared Female Room
    Bed in a Shared Male Room

    All rooms at this hostel are Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a dorm room - with bunk beds - with other participants (room sizes vary and bathrooms are shared).

  • Included:

    • 2 nights’ accommodation at YHA’s Coniston Coppermines hostel.

    • A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you, deal with meal preparation and the logistics for your experience.

    • Guided walks on two days (Day 2 and Day 3).

    • Home-cooked set 2-course dinners at the accommodation on both evenings.

    • A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).

    • A DIY packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Day 2’s walk. Please ensure you bring a lunch box or dry bag - to reduce waste, we do not supply cling film or sandwich bags.

    • Tea (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and squash at the accommodation.

    • Bedding - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.

    • The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.

    • Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.

    Not Included:

    • Travel to and from the meeting location.

    • Travel from the accommodation to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the door. On some days there could be a short drive required - we don't include transport and participants normally car share.

    • Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.

    • Alcoholic drinks - please feel free to bring something with you to enjoy at the accommodation.

    • Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.

    • Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.

  • Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.

    The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should have the items listed.

  • • What level of fitness is needed?
    This trip is graded as Leisurely Plus and Active Plus (subject to participant numbers). We will definitely offer Leisurely Plus walks and, subject to participant numbers, will also offer an Active Plus route option. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.

    • Can I attend on my own?
    Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.

    • I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
    Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide dairy* free meals - these options can be selected when booking. *Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.

    • What transport is provided during this experience?
    We do not provide any transport for this experience. On some days there could be a short drive required to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the accommodation - participants normally car share.

    • Can I bring my dog?
    Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.

  • The mountains and lakes that collectively make up the Lake District National Park are a walkers’ paradise. Home to England’s highest peak (Scafell Pike) and her deepest lake, there are hundreds of other hills (or ‘fells’) that would take a lifetime to fully discover.

    The valleys, woodlands and lake shores each have their own histories and walks, and altogether it’s easy to see why this is seen as Britain’s outdoor capital. Alongside the mountains, the history of sheep farming, literature and conservation make the Lake District a place central to our understanding and appreciation of the countryside.