This is one of a series of walks based on the
X12 bus route. For other leaflets in this
series, at www.golakes.co.uk/travel/on-foot
select Walks from the X12 bus and specify
Borderless and Two-sided printing before
you print them. For the bus timetable go to
http://www.cumbria.gov.uk
Bus Walks
Let the bus take the strain!
Coniston - Ulverston area
The bus will stop anywhere provided it is
safe to do so.
This walk can be followed using the
Ordnance Survey Landranger 96 (Barrow-inFurness & South Lakeland) map at 1:50,000
scale. At 1:25,000 scale, you will need the
Ordnance Survey Explorer OL6 (The English
Lakes South-western Area).
While the content of this walking guide is
believed to be accurate, no responsibility is
accepted for any errors or omissions. We’d
be grateful if you could send any corrections
or suggestions to:
[email protected]
Produced by volunteers from Coniston in
support of our much appreciated bus
service. Supported by Coniston 14 Road
Race www.coniston14.com
Illustrations by Fiona Reeves
[email protected]
The country between Coniston and
Ulverston provides some fine varied walks.
They are ideal if you want a not-toochallenging walk, with great views, outside
the high fells. Using the bus allows you to
enjoy linear (A to B) walks. There are
currently 8 leaflets describing walks of
around 6 km (4 miles).
Walk 1
Torver – Lakeshore – Coniston
(6 km / 4 miles)
This peaceful walk does have some rough
sections but most walkers can complete it in
under 2 hours. It is easy to follow as it heads
northwards close to the lake on paths. It is
6km (4 miles) long with just 80m of ascent.
Walking boots recommended.
Walk 1
Torver – Lakeshore –
Coniston
Four huge round chimneys identify
Ask the bus driver to stop half-way
About 45 minutes from the start you
down the hill between Torver Hadwins Land
Rover Garage and Sunny Bank at the small
lay-by on the north side of the Torver –
Ulverston road, where the Cumbria Way
crosses it (SD 287927).
reach a gate in a wire fence and 5 minutes
later a gate in a dry stone wall. This leads to
a plantation where felling has taken place.
Consequently the path may be obscured by
brash. Keep close to the shore. As you reach
an open area you can see past the head of
the lake to the whale-back shape of Red
Screes and, to its left, the Fairfield
horseshoe. Soon you reach Torver Jetty.
(From here, you may take a ferry to Ruskin's
house, Brantwood, on the east of the lake,
and thence to Coniston Boating Centre close
to the village.)
At the sign marked 'Coniston via Lake
Shore,' take the farm track to a gate, where
Coniston Water comes into view. The track,
now grassy, keeps close to a dry stone wall
on your left for a short while. The track
veers away from the wall and descends to
another dry stone wall, which encloses a
larch wood. With this wall on your right,
continue downwards to Sunny Bank jetty at
the lakeshore.
Follow the lakeshore northwards on
the well-defined (though often rough) path,
which is usually about 10 metres from the
lake. Along the way your surroundings
change from bracken to gorse to woodland
that has been coppiced in the past.
Old Hall Campsite. The track soon
becomes metalled, and winds through the
campsite to the Old Hall (about 1½ hrs
from the start).
At the Priestley Outdoor Centre (1¼ hrs
from the start) pass through two gates. Keep
to the right and walk next to the fenced
woodland between you and the lake. Pass
through another gate, bear right and follow
the path along the lake shore to a bridge and
double gate. Continue through an open field
right by the lake shore, with views of the
Coniston Fells to your left and Brantwood to
your right. This leads to a gate into Coniston
the Old Hall, which has a small shop open
in summer. Pass through the usually open
gate between the dog shed and cattle
yard. Leave the metalled track at its bend
by forking right on the gravel track
(parallel to lakeshore) to a bridge and
gate. The track veers leftwards away from
lake and then near the beech copse it
turns right. In 100m go through a gate,
turn left and follow the path past John
Ruskin School’s playing fields. A double
gate leads to a road (fudge shop in the
nearby buildings). Turn left to go up the
road and at the junction turn right. Turn
right again after the bridge to reach the
bus stop, beyond St. Andrew’s Church and
near the Tourist Information Centre
(about 1¾ hrs from start).
Coniston Hall