Who knew March could bring such good weather? Especially in the Lake District, a place far better known for rain than sunshine.

For a week of early-spring hiking, Mum, Padfoot (the dog), and I based ourselves in an Airbnb in Windermere. With boots laced and an unusually clear forecast ahead of us, we set out to make the most of it. First on the list: The Old Man of Coniston.

We started in Coniston, following the footpath alongside the Church Beck river.

This was a popular track with many of the walkers making the most of the direct ascent into the fells. But it was a beautiful way into the hills, with the views continually developing as we climbed further and further.

We also spotted a sunbathing lizard. Well, in truth, the dog found it. He was, as usual, playing with stones, as he likes to carry them and then roll them down the hill to chase them. On this occasion, when he dropped it, something moved and spooked him: the lizard. He quickly left his stone as a peace offering, and as we proceeded up the hill, he was continually flinching at sticks, worried that they too might unexpectedly move.

The path led us past the end of The Bell (no scrambling for us this time!), before continuing up through Coniston’s disused quarries before climbing up to Low Water.

After gaining nearly 500 metres of elevation on a warm, sunny morning, the lake looked far too inviting to resist… Padfoot and I were more than ready for a swim.

The water at Low Water was amazingly clear, and the swim made for a refreshing break from the ascent into the Fells.

As we pushed through the final 250 metres of elevation, patches of ice began to appear and the air turned noticeably colder – the first real signs of the wintry conditions we had expected from a hiking trip in March!

Leaving the Old Man of Coniston behind, we continued along the ridge to a few more summits: Dow Crag (750m), Buck Pike (744m), and Brown Pike (682m). From there we headed down the track along Walna Scar Road, which runs along the base of the hills and offered impressive views back up to the fells we had just spent the day exploring.

For a Tuesday in March, I was shocked by just how popular this route was. But it’s easy to see the appeal; quick access to the fells, outstanding views, and a climb that feels like a real achievement. I can only begin to imagine how busy it must get in the summer months.

Dinner felt especially well deserved and was a necessary carb-loading opportunity for our busy week ahead!

If you’re looking for a hike in the Coniston area, this is definitely not one to miss. The route totalled at 13km and 850 meters of elevation, so bring plenty of snacks and water!

Next, we headed to the Cat Bells