14/05/17 - Inn Way to Lake District - Day 6 - Broughton in Furness to Coniston

Start - Broughton In Furness
End - Coniston
Distance -  13.5 Miles
Key Features - Beacon Tarn, Walna Scar Road
Geocaches - 3
Pubs - 7 (28 In Total)
Previous Legs - Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5


Whatever climbs are going to be made today, we are going to have earned it.  Broughton In Furness stands a whopping 10m above sea level.  With the exception of the grand finale at Ambleside, we also have the biggest pub day, ultimately leading to the home of Coniston Bluebird - The Bull.

Gavin's introduction to the Inn Way couldn't be easier.  Farmland - with great views of the Coniston Fells - take us to Beacon Tarn and the Blawith fells.

Old Man Ahead

Beacon Tarn

Gav - Lost in the scenery

We know we are having an easy day.  We share the route with dog walkers.

Torver - a two pub metropolis - is reached at 1:15pm.   I can show Gav what the Inn Way is all about.

Pub 22 - The Wilson Arms, Torver - Loweswater Gold

Day 6, 22 pubs and finally, I have the same pint in the two different pubs.   Shows how the independent brewery trade in the North is really flourishing - there's been so much variety.   No hardship to have a repeat of the Loweswater Gold.  It might be pint of the week.

Wilson Arms

Introducing Gavin to the potential Pint of the Week

Pub 23 - The Church House Inn, Torver, Theakston XB

Hardly worth putting our rucksacks back on.  Pub 2 is directly over the road and the pick of the two in Torver.  Multi roomed tardis pub, oozing history and with a lovely sun trap beer garden.

Theakston XB was pint of the week on last years Inn Way to the Yorkshire Dales.   I was keen to get reacquainted.  Unfortunately, it wasn't as I remembered it.

Maybe it doesn't travel.

Gav goads me with his beautiful pint from the Barngates Brewery.

Church House Inn - Fine Pub.  Disappointing Theakstons XB

The afternoon's walking is top quality.   We climb past some deserted quarries and pick up the Walna Scar Road.  There is a serious suggestion of actually climbing the Old Man.  There's no real need when the views are just as fine from where we are.

Fortified by 2 pints, Gav leads the charge onto the Old Man

Homestead Quarries

Looking over Coniston Water

An argument with the landed gentry about rights of way leads us to the next pub and the day's exertions are over.

Pub 24 - The Ship Inn, Bowmanstead, Hartleys Cambrian XB

The Ship Inn clings to the side of the hill above Coniston Water.  A choice of three real ales but one is turned around, the 2nd goes on selection and we are left with the final choice.

We take it outside and watch a man nail a massive Lib Dem sign to the fence.

Ship Inn, Bowmanstead

The landlord come out and asks us who nailed the sign to his property.

We dob in the wannbe Tim Farron.

A quick look at the lake and a short stride into what has become my favourite Lakeland village. We've been to Coniston before and it now seems like its had a bit of a facelift.   The four pubs were immaculate.  3 of them are in the 2017 CAMRA Good Pub Guide.

Coniston Water

Approaching Coniston.

Pub 25 - The Bull Inn, Coniston, Bluebird

Dream Location

All our dreams have come true.  Not only are we staying in a brewery - its the Coniston Brewery.  It might have won Champion Beer of Britain back in 1998 but we are traditionalists.

The rooms have had a major revamp since our last stop 9 years ago.   A quick drop off of our rucksacks and we are down to a pint in our stockinged feet, taking the banter from a group of Geordie walkers who learn all about the Inn Way from the "Sandie Shaws of Rambling".

No doubt some more converts.   A glorious sit in the sunshine before making ourselves presentable for the remaining three pubs in town.

Pub 26 - The Sun Inn, Coniston, Loweswater Gold

Sun Inn - Magnificent

Well, we meet the Landlord.   A cross between Jeremy Clarkson and Nigel Farage and yes, he is standing for UKIP in the elections.

He is also as drunk as a lord.  His gaff, his rules.

He keeps us mightily entertained, first by telling us how to to get Britain out of Europe.  At least three times and moving on, once we have got the answer correct.

Confidence gained, he then proceeds to show us the hoohah caused by a little joke of his about FGM on his smartphone.

Mr Alan Piper, you brightened up our visit and left us in high spirits.

The Sun Inn.   Alan went for a lie down.

Pub 27 - The Crown Inn, Coniston, Hartleys Cumbria Way

A bit of TLC has been applied

Much, much smarter than I remember it from my last visit.  Its had a make over both inside and out.

No Landlord based entertainment.

Pub 28 - The Yewdale Inn, Coniston, Barngates Tag Lag

CAMRA regional pub of the Year 2016/7.

Deservedly So

Its here that I took Gav's advice and went for a Barngates Brewery option.  A top quality pint, perfectly kept.   We'll look out for Barngates in their Ambleside location tomorrow.

A top day - walking in glorious sunshine in great locations and a very pubby day.   We celebrate the way Alan would want us to, back at the Black Bull with a final nightcap.

And we try not to worry about tomorrow's weather.

To Alan.