BACK TO BIRKETT

A few years ago I began a campaign of walking/climbing all the routes described by Bill Birkett in his comprehensive guide book " The Complete Lakeland Fells" this is quite an undertaking as to do them all involves - if you follow the guide book exactly - 130 outings which will take you over the tops of in excess of the 500 + summits in Lakeland that nudge over the 1,000' contour. I see from my diary that the last one I did was way back in April 2008. I think its about time I ticked a few more off so on Monday 7th. September I set off from Keswick by bus for Coniston where my objective was "The Great Round of Coniston" 7.75 miles with 3,150' of ascent by way of the Coppermines valley road through the abandoned mine workings to the summit of the Old Man of Coniston then north along to the top of Brim Fell and Swirl How (see picture), down the Prison Band up to Black Sails and on to Wetherlam and down over Hen Crag back to the valley floor. A great lakeland walk, weather quite good but the Old Man's head was in the cloud when I reached the summit cairn. I did the route in about five and a half hours starting and finishing in Coniston village.