CONISTON. By Bus From Ambleside.

Down by the lake side a flotilla of swans gather in anticipatioon of passing tourists.

Right the weather has gone back into roulette mode so its a bit of a gamble going out but if you wait for the weather in the UK you would would never go out. So that said I decided on a trip out to Coniston in the Lake District, I hadn’t been out that way for quite a while so it would be an interesting catch up.

The journey followed my usual pattern, train to Windermere than the excellent bus service onwards. The weather was decent so road traffic would be on the heavy side, hence the train and the bus. They would be busy too but at least I wouldn’t be doing the actual driving.

There were plenty people on the trains but no problems getting up to Oxenholme to change for the branch line to Windermere, where I arrived to make an easy connection with the bus that would take me up through Ambleside for a connection out to Coniston. The traffic on this stretch was heavy, everybody loves the Lakes and it was a decent Saturday so it was a bit nose to tail with the traffic.

We made our arrival at the little bus station in Ambleside more or less on time, the heavy traffic was making things a bit disjointed as the buses eased their way in and out of the town. It wasn’t too long of a wait though before the 505 bus slid into the bus stop and we passengers boarded and we were on our way.

The 505 slides into the bus stop at Ambleside, a quick unload and boarding and it’s on it’s way back out.

The route is one that’s more like a fairground ride than a bus ride. Up down, side to side, along lanes that are big enough for the bus but not much else. The route takes you through Hawkshead, where a fell running race was in progress, a trail of matchstick figures could be seen making their way down from the heights, eyes focussed, every step measured.

We’re off. In monochrome for a change. Better hold on tight.

It takes about forty minutes or so to get to Coniston and the bus stops by the Crown Inn in the village centre.The first stop was food, a walk around the compact centre led me to the Yewdale Inn, where I enjoyed a ham roll lunch and a refreshing pint.

The Yewdale Inn, get in quick to beat the lunchtime crowds. The Lakes were busy today.

A simple lunch but just perfect on the day. Ham roll with Hakeshead Relish homemade Piccalilli. You have to treat yourself somedays.

From there I took a walk around the town and down to the lake shore. Coniston’s history is wrapped up with the copper mining industry, the town’s now closed rail link was built to service the mines. It’s a pity the railway didn’t survive to these modern. Tourism centred times, it would have helped to syphon off some of the road traffic through this part of the Lakes, the same goes for the former cross Cumbria railway that linked Penrith to Keswick and onto the coast at Workington.

CONISTON.CUMBRIA. ENGLAND. 04-12-25. Church Beck as it flows through the village centre.

04-12-25 CONISTON. CUMBRIA. ENGLAND. 04-12-25 The Ruskin Museum.

Down on Coniston Water the boat hire awaits for the adventurous.

It was around now that the weather decided to have a sulk, black clouds scudded across the skies like the sheep on the nearby fells so I re-jigged my plans and started back to Ambleside and down to Windermere. The traffic was still heavy, people were still travelling, enjoying the outdoors after what has felt like a long winter. After a slowish ride back down from Ambleside I made my connections at Oxenholme and Lancaster and landed back home. It was an enjoyable day out and notes have been made for future journeys.