Lakes District: Grizedale to Coniston

Day 17
Distance- 18km (710)
Weather- rain, rain, rain
Highlights- Coniston Youth hostel, best placed we have stayed so far
Lowlights- the persistant rain, climb to youth hostel
Accommodation- Coniston Copper Mines Youth Hostel

Very, very wet night. Rain, more rain and more rain. After a quick breakfast we hit the road, down to the visitor’s centre where we knew they had an outdoor shelter. We played cards most of the morning with nice hot coffee. Then the rain eased, enough to consider a walk in the hills to explore the sculpture park.

Off up in to the hills, with number 54 being the sort after destination (Andy Goldsworthy). The forest was quite amazing especially at lower levels where it had not been logged or not for a long time. As we emerged on to the crest of the hills we entered plantation. Goldsworthy's sculpture was subtle, and could be mistaken for a dry stone wall, because it essentially was a dry stone wall. But on closer inspection, it wound its way through the trees, was much neater and newer.

Sarah went off to explore another part of the park while Bridgette and Pete went off to mountain bike. Unfortunately the distance back was underestimated leaving little time to cycle so we read till Sarah returned. Then off up the hill destination Coniston, Coppermines youth Hostel. We decidded to taker a short cut through the forestry commission area with a mud map mmmmm. Took a few wrong turns and thankfully found a forestry guy with a flat who set us back on route. Then down the other side into Coniston, a little village on the edge of a lake.

We found the directions to the youth hostel and started up the hill, which got steeper, rougher as we climbed. Eventually we were reduce to a push and hoped this was going to be worth it. But as we round a corner the valley opened up, surrounded by mountains with a fast running stream down the centre and a single white house a the end, nice. A slight argument proceed about who was going back for diner and it ended in Sarah posing the question ' I wonder if they do pizza delivery up here?' The owner, Jonathon, was lovely sold us a few things for dinner and pointed us to the free food shelf. These were stacked high with tins of honey peanuts and corn? Also lots of crisps. Nobody went hungry. The hostel was lovely with lots of information on the walls, friendly people and very very warm inside. This place was going to be hard to leave in the morning.