Situated in the low-level hills between the villages of Coniston and Hawkshead, Tarn Hows is one of the most-visited spots in the Lake District with an accessible circular walk that everyone can enjoy.

The area consists of a series of tranquil lakes surrounded by beautiful countryside and thick woodland. Encircling the tarn is a 1.5-mile wheelchair-friendly path which is perfect for people of all ages and abilities. En route, there are several viewpoints which offer mountain views towards the Helvellyn range and the Langdale Pikes.

A National Trust car park (LA21 8DP) is available at its southern shores, with 2 hours' parking costing £5 and an all-day ticket costing £7.50. As it is one of the most popular spots in the Lake District, I would again recommend heading here in the early morning or the late afternoon to beat the crowds. As the area was so beautiful, I ended up coming back here for sunset later in the week which was a fantastic experience given there were only a handful of people in the area.

PM – Coniston

After visiting Tarn Hows, I then headed onto the idyllic village of Coniston. The village's location, sandwiched between the spectacular mountainous backdrop of the Furness Fells and the shores of Coniston Water, means there is a wide variety of activities to satisfy people from all walks of life. 

The village also has a fascinating industrial past and was once home to the Coniston copper mines and Tilberthwaite slate quarries, the remains of which are still evident and accessible today. 

As the weather took a turn for the worst, I decided to go ghyll scrambling in the afternoon with Adventure 21. Ghyll scrambling is an exciting outdoor activity that involves working your way up the flow of a river, climbing around natural rock chutes, sliding into deep pools of water and jumping from waterfalls. It’s an activity that I have wanted to try for a while and one that I felt was fitting for the Lakes’ magnificent landscape.

I booked the activity with Adventure 21, a family-run outdoor pursuits and adventure company based in Coniston. Now in their 20th year of operating, the company is reviewed on Tripadvisor as the number one adventure activities company in the Lake District and offers a huge variety of outdoor activities for people of all ages as well as groups of all sizes. 

We were met on the shores of Coniston Water by chief instructor David Firth, an instructor with 37 years’ experience in the outdoor activities and leisure industry.

All equipment was provided, including wetsuits, buoyancy aids and a helmet alongside a safe and comfortable place to change and store all our belongings. After a detailed and precise brief about the activity, environment and safety measures, we got changed and began the short stroll through the village up to Church Beck.

We then spent the next hour scrambling up the gorge though some of the clearest water I have ever seen. We climbed up and through waterfalls, slid down natural chutes and jumped into plunge pools from various heights.

An experience like no other, it is an activity I would recommend everyone try, especially when both the route and difficulty can be adjusted to suit a wide variety of abilities. It is also the perfect activity to do if it is raining as you are guaranteed to get wet anyway.

Dave, our guide, was excellent, walking and talking us through every step along the way. His positive but professional personality added to the experience and made me feel comfortable throughout.  

After drying off, we made the short 100m walk over to the Bluebird Cafe for a bite to eat. The glass-fronted cafe is situated on the shores of Coniston Water and is named after the boat in which Donald Campbell embarked on his ill-fated water speed record attempt in 1967. 

As well as its picturesque location and lovely food, the cafe provides great views of the steam-powered gondolas which set sail from the jetty directly in front of the cafe. If you fancy a unique but incredible view of the Furness Fells, consider a ride on either the Coniston Launch or the National Trust’s iconic Steam Yacht Gondola, which run between April and October. 

Limited free parking is available outside Bluebird Café; if all spaces are full, there is a pay and display car park opposite which is £1.50 per hour. 

Alternative hike: The Old Man of Coniston

If ghyll scrambling sounds too challenging, then I would recommend exploring the Furness Fells by hiking up the Old Man of Coniston. 

This 802m Wainwright looms large over the village and, from the summit on a clear day, you should be able to see the Southern Lakes, Blackpool Tower, the Lancashire coast as well as the Isle of Man.

The hike is a firm favourite of mine due to the wide variety of terrain that the trail encompasses, alongside the impressive views from the summit. En route, you will pass through the ruined remains of the Coniston slate mines, including abandoned buildings, machinery and tunnels which you can explore to your heart's content.

Although the hike can be started from the village of Coniston, the easiest and most convenient starting point is the free Walna Scar Car Park, situated just above the village.

From here, the most impressive way to the summit is via Low Water which passes through the old slate mines. This path is steep in places but is well marked. One way, this hike is 3.2km, involves 570m of elevation gain and should take between 1.5-2 hours. 

Once at the summit, you have three options to return to the car park. All three routes are great options, and you will not be disappointed with whichever one you choose.