Three days into my holiday and the high pressure continues to sweep the country making October feel much more like Spring. Today I am returning to the Coniston Fells on what should have been a much shorter walk than it turned out, I put this down to the gorgeous blue skies and the crisp air despite my legs having not fully recovered from Mondays walk there was no way I was going to cut this walk short because of my aching bones.

Another reason for returning back to the Coniston Fells is because over the summer when normally I would be scrambling up Dow Crag's South Rake or descending the Old Man at dusk something of which I didn't get to do because of my two thousand footer project, I guess what I'm trying to say is, I've simply missed these fells and today, I'm here to change all that.

This is A Coniston Round.

There was no doubt about it, this morning despite the clear skies and a strong sun the temperature had noticeably dropped to just 2°C which was a stark contrast to the 24°C that I had been traveling in my car, with this extra layers are added as I billow warm air into cupped fist soon after leaving the car. To my left Church Beck fills my ears as my eyes are blessed with sunlight as it passes through a canopy of trees that line the old mining road, to my right the fields and pastures of Coniston have a coating of light frost which already is starting to burn away. Ahead workmen are renovating a property and by the looks of it, it's brew time.

The old mining path rises steeply flanked by B&B's and the type of properties that can only be described as lottery wins, once passed these I pass over a cattle grid which once had a sign attached to noting that "Any dogs caught worrying sheep will be shot" that was a few years ago and the sign has long gone, funny how you remember things especially the ones designed to shock.

The path rises steadily now flanked by vertical crags to my right and an almost vertical drop all the way down to Church Beck to my left which now can only be heard and not seen due to a thick canopy of trees where every now and again, waterfalls capture the eyes attention. Miners Bridge is soon reached as I question why is that I'm totally crap at taking pictures of bridges! The sound of diesel engines are heard as four Utilities Landrovers pass by leaving a dust cloud behind them, the dust settles as I make my way towards Miners Row, a distinctive row of cottages that were once home to men who mined Coppermines Valley which have now been converted to B&B Cottages.

Having passed Miners Row I continued along the mine track passing Coniston Youth Hostel where, through a net curtain it appeared I was being spied upon, that was until I spotted the offender who quickly twitched the nets back into place, they were probably thinking why was I wearing a Jacket when the sun is beaming down like an oven, because I was thinking the same.

Still on the same miners road which has now started to climb steadily towards Simons Nick, ahead I arrive at a fork in the road, heading left here will take you towards one of the remaining working quarries which today, has a plant machinery working to and forth, the latter being that when ever the driver put his vehicle into reverse a loud beep would sound which after a while kind of got a little repetitive, soon thought, I would be out of ear shot of the quarry.

Having been here previously I knew what to expect, ahead awaits a steep climb flanked by Church Beck/Levers Water Beck and to accompany me, its many waterfalls. First though I really need to de-shoulder and take the jacket off, Spring has passed and it's now starting to feel like mid Summer.

The name Simons Nick derives from an old folklore legend when Simon, a poor miner extracted vast amounts of Copper Ore from the seam above Levers Water Beck, when asked (under the influence of alcohol) about how he knew there would be so much Copper he told the authorities that the Fairies had told him were to dig, his good fortune was instantly ceased.

I took in hand the spate of the waterfalls and with this made the decision to cross Levers Water Beck here rather than at the outflow close to Levers Water itself, the reason for this was the last time I was here I had to travel a considerable distance downstream in order to find a safe crossing. Crossing the falls was much easier than it looks as I have left out a narrow part of the river bed where I could cross with ease. However, on reaching Levers Water a short time later I found that the outflow was completely dry which prompted me to think I needn't have made my earlier detour after all.

After crossing the top of Red Dell Moss all that was needed to reach Wetherlam summit was a short climb, it was here I could again feel windchill biting at my arms so the first thing I did was roll my sleeves down which is just temporary, soon I'm going to have to add my jacket again.

Feeling notably colder I spend as much time as I can scouring the Horizon through the slightest of hazes, beyond the southern fells I can see the whole Helvellyn range from Clough Head all the way to Nab Scar completing the Fairfield Horseshoe, sadly however my camera despite my efforts cannot distort through the haze, but still, a fantastic setting where you can name a whole region of fells stood miles away.

The windchill is nipping and I must keep moving as I retrace my footsteps before heading back over Red Dell Moss.

On October 22nd 1944 eight airmen were killed when their Halifax Bomber crashed into the side of the fell, what was left of the wreckage was pushed over the Top of Broad Slack & still remains there to this day.

More school children arrive looking exhausted, at the summit a group of school girls are directed by their tutor towards Dow Crag and the South Rake, by the sounds of the conversation they made a night ascent on it which is more than what I got to do on any of my school trips.

A group of school boys settle close by who are lead by a guide, he talks about how well they have done as they sit on the grass, one boy sits alone not really joining in perhaps 'the quiet one' the leader sees this and starts to ask the young chap about his brothers and sisters and even if they had a dog, I thought to myself that this was good leadership.

With my back to the cairn I finish off lunch, it's lovely and warm and I am transfixed by my view over the Duddon Estuary and Morecambe Bay.

Two walkers had stopped for lunch as Low Water was reached we smile and say hello before I descend to the old workings through the disused quarries, the path is steep and dusty yet this was once the miners workplace and had to be trodden perhaps hundreds of times per week. Soon I will catch up on two gents, they are brothers and of experience and their acsents tell me they're from the Lancaster area, they form quite a funny duo as we stop and chat about the weather and how 'a young lad like me' should make the best of the day and repeat my walk one laughed "what do you make of them sticks they ask" well I only wish I had used them from the start of my walking career as every now and again my right hip goes to sleep, we're in our sixties they reply 'never used em' but I think it might be time now.

Where's parked they ask? I'm just outside Coniston, one of the brothers produces a folded map with someone's telephone number written in red biro across the top, aye ah see, you head down there and we head right back to Walna Scar, correct I reply.

Anyway, how much for the sticks, I tell them and they laugh, blimey, I'd want em to carry me round for that price! We part laughing.

Soon after I pass a young couple who are sat taking a rest just off the path, how long to top mate? do you want me to lie I laugh looking at the girl who appears to be tired, you've quite a bit to go yet I reply, they appear to drinking some sort of energy drink from a red can but I can't see which because they are cleverly hiding the brand, until I spot the Budweiser sign, they are both light hearted but my attitude changes, I can forgive the jeans and trainers and the strapless top but drinking and walking do not mix, and is solely the reason they're feeling tired no doubt, but I do not let it show. They went on to tell me they were from Dalton in Furness and had got here by bus, first time here the young chap says, I can't believe I live on the edge of all this. I make up my excuses and leave but before I do I offer them a piece of advice, look mate, it's going to start getting dark in a little over three hours, make sure you leave enough time to get down before it does, what time do you reckon the girl asked? I'd set my watch for four if I were you guys, with that I leave.

Soon after the two gents make their pass on the couple, and by the sounds of things, there words are a lot unfriendlier than mine were.

I pass the junction in the path for Coppermines and Walna Scar, the two brothers are still talking to the young couple as I look back up 'wouldn't want to be in their shoes I laugh'

I pass through a wooden gate taking a mental note of my last half hour of fell time, the sun is bright and although it's only mid afternoon it's starting to feel later, almost like the fells are preparing for dusk to arrive where quietude will once again be set upon. Miners Bridge is reached as cars travelling from the holiday cottages create dust clouds along the old mine track, I start my descent back into Coniston passing over the Cattle Grid where half a dozen sheep, seemly have dozed off and let me pass without so much of a blink.