Coniston Fells Wildcamping (again) – Part 1 – Up Sam Bottom

Posted by @ 8:51 pm on Thursday 16th July, 2009.

After the previous effort to walk these fells (see here and here), I was determined to get the job done this time. The weather forecast was a poignant reminder of the conditions during the last outing, but I've walked through much worse.

The weather was fine and hot, with just a few clouds here and there to frame the view. The drive up the road from Coniston to the old quarry car-park had to be interrupted to take in this fine sight of some of the target fells:

 

Coniston Fells Panorama

 

Beside the Walna Scar Road

 

I parked up in exactly the same space as before in the car-park near Timley Knott on the Walna Scar Road and, after getting kitted-up, started off along the winding quarry-road towards Boulder Valley and Levers Water:

 

The quarry-road

 

After a while I passed through the gap between The Bell and Stubthwaite Crag and onto the section where the path passes along a ledge beneath Crowberry Haws. From there, the views across the Coppermines Valley were impressive:

 

Looking towards Wetherlam

 

The Coppermines Valley and YHA

 

There was also a fine selection of flora and fauna next to the path:

 

Purple #1

 

Purple #2

 

The next stop was in Boulder Valley, to have a look at the famous "Pudding Stone" (the one on the left). OK, so it's a big boulder, but I wouldn't say it was anything special:

 

The Pudding Stone

 

Next it was up to the gap between Brim Fell End and Simon's Nick for the first sight of Levers Water:

 

Levers Water, with Swirl Hawse on the skyline

 

and a glimpse down into the darkness of the Nick:

 

The Nick

 

After the short stroll around to the weir to cross the outflow, it was time to take on some water and to grab a few more pics:

 

Levers Water again

 

Swirl How beyond Levers Water

 

From there it was a quick walk to the top end of the Water, where, after a brief look back towards Raven Tor...

 

Raven Tor above Levers Water

 

I took the path that leads up towards the col of Swirl Hawse. The grimness of the shaded scene above was amply compensated by the views of ground already traversed:

 

Another look back

 

After some heavy breathing, a stiff pull and a sweaty half-hour I was in position to pitch my erection in Sam Bottom, where I stayed until sunrise:

😯 😯 😯

 

The tarn with no name

 

A smaller tarn nearby

 

Pitched by the tarn

 

Another view of the pitch

 

And another

 

A final look back towards Coniston

 

Blue evening sky above Swirl Hawse

 

To be continued.

3 Responses to “Coniston Fells Wildcamping (again) – Part 1 – Up Sam Bottom”

  1. Martin Rye says:

    Very nice. The purple 2 shot is very good.

  2. Scott says:

    That looks awfy nice. I need to get back out somewhere myself. The motivation's just disappeared over the last month or so, for some reason.

    I shall use your braw photies as an incentive.

    Next weekend, though. 😉

  3. Colonel Blimp says:

    Wow BG, it looks fantastic! I'm truly envious!

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