Countrystride #25: SMUGGLERS, BOMBS and PLAGUE DOGS: A walk on Wetherlam

…in which we climb the perennial Coniston favourite from the Tilberthwaite quarries up the breezy ridge of Steel Edge, one of Wainwright’s missing routes. As we stroll, with George Kitching, we discuss Andy Goldsworthy’s sheepfolds, the tricks of Langdale smuggler Lanty Slee, how a WWI Howitzer ended up below the Coniston waves, and an unlikely IRA terror plot to assassinate John Major using Levers Water.

• You can read George's blog at lakelandwalkingtales.co.uk

George in front of the Andy Goldsworthy sheepfold in Tilberthwaite.

In one of the grooved quarries.

The far eastern fells.

The view down Steel Edge.

Mark, Dave and George atop Wetherlam.

Wetherlam Edge.

Our walk for the day.