It's been a busy month work wise and I'll be the first to admit the Lakeland fells have been far from my mind due to my heavy work load. Feeling the strain of an evening I'd usually spend a few hours planning for the weekend but my head, which was still in work mode, wouldn't allow. As the weekend neared my thoughts reverted to a handful of walks I never tire of, walks where a tired mind can take in the scenery while at the same time the stress of a working week disappears without even noticing, those fells today came in the form of the Coniston Round.

With Rod returning from a week in Lakeland I left it until the last minute to ask David would he mind joining me on my mini Coniston Round and David snapped at the chance having last walked these fells back in January 2018 where we had to fight through thigh high snow, although our efforts were rewarded that day with a fine cloud inversion.

We arranged to meet outside Coniston just up the road from the Ruskin Museum alongside Church Beck and we were treated to sunshine straight from the off. You can do all sorts of things to relieve stress but my cure doesn't come over the counter, nor from a bottle, it comes from those fells that lay dormant until required.

David and I had arranged to meet at 08:30am and by coincidence we meet just outside the village and arrived together both commenting at what a wonderful morning it was and what a great day we had in store. Snow had fell in Lakeland all week most of which has already thawed and what hasn't is confined to the highest summits in and around the Scafell, Bowfell and Helvellyn groups, should the higher temperatures continue by next weekend what is left of the snow could be all but gone with the exception of a few pockets here and there. Despite the obvious sunshine the morning air had a slight nip to it so for now we add Soft Shell jackets, they don't stay on long. With the cars locked we head out towards Miners Bridge and the Coppermines Valley, the track underfoot climbs steadily then levels as Church Beck flows through a steep ravine over to our left. Miners Bridge is soon reached where we are overtaken by two ladies who had kitted up further down the road from us and 'mornings' are exchanged.

A few cars come and go leaving dust plumes in their wake and we notice group of cars which had parked opposite the large spoil heap seen in the centre of the photo and comment on "how we had never seen these parking spaces before" and if the cars should be parked there at all. We continue towards YHA Coppermines which is seen as the white building up ahead. It's turning into an absolutely gorgeous day and soon any extra layers that were added back at the cars were removed.

Levers Water Beck breaks away widely to our left as we climb through the very industrious Coppermines mine which has been mined for the last 400 years. It's hard to imagine that we are probably walking over thousands of feet of sunken veins below our feet. Today, even though the mine still extracts copper on a less grander scale this area is still eye wateringly beautiful.

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 where to dig, his good fortune was instantly ceased.

Having left the summit and were fortunate enough to witness a hand glider take off who descended rapidly over Walna Scar Road landing in the fields opposite the lines of cars parked at Fell Gate whose windows glimmered in the afternoon sunshine. It was a warm descent choosing an 'off-piste' route in order to avoid the masses some of whom were ill-equipped and struggled with the young ones. The surface of Low Water appeared as stark emerald green and we stopped to take in the view muttering "I could go for a swim right about now" happen' we laughed, the water would feel sub zero due to recent melt water. We passed through the mine workings below still not quite believing the amount of walkers and tourists still on their way up, we hoped the ones in trainers were only going as far as Low Water.

We arrived at the Crowberry Haws crossing and found it just as busy at the Old Man summit, we shuffled our way through and continued along the path in glorious sunshine while our view is occupied by the Miners Cottages straight ahead and the Black Sails ridge over to our left. Miners Bridge is crossed where we saw a group of Gill Scramblers taking on the rapids of Church Beck below. With the sunlight streaking through a canopy of budding leaves above our heads walking poles are collapsed and waist clips are unfastened bringing todays walk to an end as we kit down to the sound of Church Beck on t'other side of a stone wall.