Coniston, Yewdale, Hodge Close, Cathedral Cave, Three Shires Inn, High Tilberthwaite
Area: The Southern Fells
Posted By: admin
Low Level Walk – Coniston, Yewdale, Hodge Close, Cathedral Cave, Three Shires Inn, High Tilberthwaite (10miles -400ft of climbing) Very Suitable for Wet Days ! (It is possible to extend this walk onto the high Coniston fells to include Greenburn, Wetside Edge, Great Carrs & Swirl Howe when Little Langdale is reached instead of walking directly to Coniston 12miles -3000ft of climbing)Brief directions:
Leave Coniston by the lane between Black Bull and Co-op store. Walk until the tarmac disappears and a gravel road is reached. Turn right uphill through the gate onto the footpath to Yewdale.
Observing the White Lady waterfall on your left follow the footpath until the lane to High Tilberthwaite is reached on your left. Cross over this lane following the footpath beside the main road until the lane to Hodge Close is reached.
Turn left, follow this lane for about a mile to Hodge Close quarries. Observe the very deep water filled quarry on your right taking the greatest of care. Follow the tarmac lane pass the quarries through a group of houses until it becomes an unmade road beside a large slate built detached house on your left. Follow the unmade road to a five barred wooden gate, turn left following the road beside a wall through two five barred gates to Stang End. Turn left observing the old spinning gallery on your left and follow the tarmac lane over a cattle grid until you reach the bridge and ford at Little Langdale beck.
Turn left along the unmade road for about 100yds until stone steps are reached sticking out of the wall on your left. Climb these onto the old slate quarry tip and when it levels out walk straight ahead bearing left slightly to find the entrance to Cathedral cave marked National trust.
Explore Cathedral cave by walking along the slightly wet tunnel into the cave where a shaft of light descends from the roof. Observe in the large pond the gold fish (koi carp?) Retrace your steps to the tunnel entrance, turn left and walk down the quarry track to a five barred gate. Go through and follow the lane ahead for 300yds until a gap in the wall on your right. Turn right following the footpath to Slaters Bridge. Cross over and follow the footpath through the right onto the tarmac lane to a T junction. Turn right and the Three Shires Inn for lunch is 300yds on your left.
After lunch retrace your steps turning right then left at the T junction down to the Little Langdale beck at the bridge and ford. Follow the unmade lane straight ahead through Moss Rigg wood to High Tilberthwaite. Then follow the tarmac lane back to Yewdale and the footpath back to Coniston.
Phillip Johnston
