A Busy Old Man

After quite a long day yesterday we both fancied something slightly shorter. With the weather fantastic as it was it was really just a choice between the less busy hill from out tick list: Helvellyn or The Old Man of Coniston.  We chose the latter one as it was easier to make it a shorter walk.
Left the hostel at 9am and easily found a spot in a car park in Coniston half an hour later. But while we were sipping coffees we could see cars pulling in every couple of minutes or so. Glad we arrived here when we did.

Headed uphill and by the minute it got busier. I was a bit annoyed by the crowds but didn't really fancy missing out on a fine mountain just because it was a bank holiday weekend.

Got quite a sweat on again slogging uphill past humongous piles of slate rubble with remnants of quarry buildings here and there. Quite a unique sight indeed, even if it's because man so brutally exploited the hill.

The top was busy but there was enough space for people to sit down and enjoy the views stunning as they were. Good to see Wetherlam and Swirl How. I've been on both in the most horrendous weather last year and it was good to see what they actually looked like.

Headed over to Swirl How and then back down looping back into Coniston for some well deserved roast beef at The Black Bull. Rich got enjoyed his Bluebird XB ale. One he was very keen on drinking again since you can only get it at The Black Bull.

Enjoyed some more ice cream in the waning late afternoon sun back in Grasmere and a drink on the bench outside the YHA main building. What a nice day! Helvellyn and the scramble of Swirral Edge tomorrow. Yeah!