If you are looking for a beautiful walk with hardly any steep inclines in the Lake District then this may well be the hike for you. This 4 hour loop walk takes you past lakes of all shapes and sizes, over heathland, along tiny country lanes, across boulder strewn tarns, past an abandoned quarry and through ancient forests.

Starting northeast of Coniston at the National Trust car park (Grid Ref SD 326 996) the path leads you around the beautiful tarn. Littered with small, tree covered islands and surrounded by towering fells and mountains, you would be forgiven for thinking you’d just begun a hike in Canada.

After the spectacular start things don’t let up as the route leads you through the gorgeous rolling hills of the second section, past gloriously isolated farms and up to an abandoned slate quarry. The quarry, which has been closed for slate mining for years is now home to a mysteriously dark lake at its bottom, kept topped up by a cool waterfall flowing in over its steep sides.

Next you cross an almost trackless section that leads to a beautiful smaller lake, hidden from the surrounding world by rocky hills and tarns.

Note: This would be a great place for a dip if you’re brave enough!

The penultimate section of the hike feels really off-piste, as you make your way down a gully, through a gorgeous forest to another spectacular lake, which is well worth stopping at for a while to take in the views.

Finally the path takes you through a large forest, hugging a parallel trail to the Tom Gill waterfall, a long waterfall that divides the trees beautifully and offers the perfect end to a really good hike.