I'm heading off on my first back-packing trip of 2011 and breaking with tradition. For my last trip in 2010 I used public transport but it took such a long time to get to the start of the walk and back I've decided to use my car for this trip. My starting point is Coniston in Cumbria and with today being Sunday there is no Ulverston Coniston bus. Normally I would get the train to Ulverston. The morning drive was easy and very quiet. My planned walking route was to start in Coniston and walk along the west shore of Coniston Water to reach Torver. As my drive took me through Torver I stopped briefly to leave my rucksack in the porch of St Luke's and pick it up on my way through.

Coniston Hall

I then drove to Coniston and Collingwood Close where I left my car as far out of the way as possible. It was so easy and pleasant walking with no pack. It was 08:30am when I started walking and if I'd tried to get here by public transport I'd probably not even have got to the railway station by then. Through the village there were few people about and even less traffic. I soon left the A593 road and followed the path through the fields to Coniston Hall and its distinctive Chimney Stacks. The hall was built by Squire William Fleming in the 16th century. It also brought back pleasant memories of Scout Group and family camping holidays back in the 1960s. The field where we camped is now used for grazing.
The public footpath passes Park Coppice and then heads for the lake shore. An empty jetty and sign board indicates the summer pick up point for the ferry. The path then headed through the trees but I soon had to leave the shore and turn right across a small area of open ground and along a rough farm track. It took me to Brackenbarrow Farm and continued unsurfaced to a minor road on the outskirts of Torver. I crossed over then back in to the field along another path down to the line of the old Coniston railway which is marked with a shallow cutting at this point. Up the other side I crossed the field and rejoined the main road. To the left was the Old School Room next to St Luke's where I'd left my rucksack. Earlier the main Church door was locked. This meant I wouldn't be able to leave a donation so I put some money in the voluntary box which is for the adjacent car park.

Safety at Broughton Moor Quarry

My pack was as I'd left it. Now I was walking with a full load and certainly noticed the difference. I followed the old road for a while then back to the main road before turning up a steep narrow lane branching off to the right. The road was very steeply up so I took my time. It was overcast and fairly cold at just above freezing. A few icy patches remained at the road side but didn't cause me any problems. After the steepest part of the climb I came to the entrance to Broughton Moor Quarry of Burlington Slate Ltd.

A short way up their access road was a locked gate which I climbed over. I followed the road upwards until I entered the main quarry area and buildings. It is still a working quarry but there were only a few vehicles about and being Sunday no workers. At the top of the quarry I could see the fells of White Pike and White Maiden ahead, though not the summits.

Quarry buildings.

Estuary view.

Yewry Sike Quarry

I had to cross a wire fence to get access to the open fell then headed up past a shallow tarn and a higher small quarry called Yewry Sike Quarry before climbing steeply up by the wall and parallel stream. The stream was to be my water supply so I had to keep a close eye on it so I didn't pass its source. When I judged it had just about gone I left my pack and descended with my water bag to fill it before returning.

I continued up following the wall which then turned right and ran straight up to the summit cairn of White Maiden at just over 600m. This was my camp for the night. The pitch was grassy and flat but I had a job getting the pegs in due to the ground still being frozen.

Camp on White Maiden