Here are some of the highlights of today’s Marathon Reading of Pigeon Post in the Coniston Coppermines Youth Hotel, as told by some of the participants.

Please note: to see any single full-size photograph, click on the relevant tweet to see it. To view a photos in a group, clicking goes to the original tweet, and then click again on the relevant photo to see it full-size.

About to trek up into the Coniston hills with a book, a hutch for an armadillo and a man in a squashy hat. Join us tomorrow @yhaCoppermines. #swallowsandamazonsforever

— Eileen Jones (@CumbriaPR) September 28, 2019

Tomorrow! @Sophie_Neville @SwallowsAmazons @ArthurRansome @NancyBlackettUK @RansomeNews pic.twitter.com/mL4pEuGuAY

— Douglas Harold Smith (@Historydoug) September 28, 2019

I love @the_MWIS forecast!

For “non-duffers” heading to Coniston Coppermines for Sunday’s ‘Pigeon Post’ read-a-thon expect:

“Extensive considerable buffeting on higher & lower slopes”.

PS My 1962 library copy = a history of Cumbria.@AmyJaneBeer @ifnotduffers @LakesStiles pic.twitter.com/nONMOOpBIq

— The Lost Words for Cumbria (@TLWforCumbria) September 28, 2019

We will start reading Pigeon Post in an hour from now. The scene is set at Coniston Coppermines…. pic.twitter.com/jXgHIemgzw

— Arthur Ransome (@ifnotduffers) September 29, 2019

And we're ready to welcome the armadillo… pic.twitter.com/ethPwtMhVs

— Arthur Ransome (@ifnotduffers) September 29, 2019

The morning has arrived! Coniston Old Man is shrouded in low clouds and rain threatens but the reading of the wonderful ‘Pigeon Post’ by my dear Arthur Ransome begins! Coppermines Youth Hostel, Coniston. I’m reading my chapter in the afternoon. @RansomeNews @NancyBlackettUK pic.twitter.com/sIkEXDeJtA

— Douglas Harold Smith (@Historydoug) September 29, 2019

Jess Elleray begins with chapter 1….. pic.twitter.com/Vs155zIoEe

— Arthur Ransome (@ifnotduffers) September 29, 2019

Tucked up out of the rain with a coffee at Coniston Copper mines listening to @CumbriaPR reading chapter 2 of Pigeon Post on @ifnotduffers ??? I’m on at chapter 6 ?? pic.twitter.com/HSZgINeyfO

— Jen Scotney (@jenscotney) September 29, 2019

Ambleside AC's Cath Musetti reading chapter 3 with a young audience…complete with charcoal burner's snake….#pigeonpost #readathon pic.twitter.com/FRfnWhtUUC

— Arthur Ransome (@ifnotduffers) September 29, 2019

And now here's @jenscotney reading chapter six. Huge thanks to @YHAOfficial Coppermines for their hospitality…we are warm, dry, cosy and well fed? pic.twitter.com/pRnM2VBBqq

— Arthur Ransome (@ifnotduffers) September 29, 2019

You can still pan for gold in the UK like they did in Pigeon Post. https://t.co/FwDm9U9jse.

— The Arthur Ransome Society (@ArthurSociety) September 29, 2019

Look, I’ve got a certificate!!! ? pic.twitter.com/xPrBAvheZr

— Jen Scotney (@jenscotney) September 29, 2019

Visitors are bringing more props. Looks like we have some copperveined rock and a jar of gold ingots?#PigeonPost #readathon @YHAOfficial Coppermines pic.twitter.com/r5zAYhrEqO

— Arthur Ransome (@ifnotduffers) September 29, 2019

Grog is served… pic.twitter.com/TeXmGBGqkp

— Arthur Ransome (@ifnotduffers) September 29, 2019

We have grog, candles, pemmican, an armadillo and maybe even some a nugget or two #pigeonpost @ifnotduffers @Christopher_R pic.twitter.com/2hgO3ObLIb

— Dr Amy-Jane Beer (@AmyJaneBeer) September 29, 2019

I'd love to be there! My great grandparents were great friends of Arthur Ransome, & I grew up surrounded by his books. The Bix Six is dedicated to them, & William the pug (in Coot Club too) was their dog. We had a pug called William when I was a child, named after the original ?

— Sarah ? (@raringtoread) September 29, 2019

Nearing the end of this wonderful day of storytelling, with Arthur Ransome's Pigeon Post @YHA_Lakes Coppermines. Final chapters being read by the BBC guests, @BBCEmilyUnia and from @BBC_Cumbria Caroline Robertson. The best story ever, the best ending…

— Eileen Jones (@CumbriaPR) September 29, 2019

Well @ifnotduffers @Christopher_R @CumbriaPR thanks for having us today. We had a fab time, rain and everything! pic.twitter.com/laF8qludux

— Lakes Stiles Esq. (@LakesStiles) September 29, 2019

What an honour to be involved in the mammoth read of Pigeon Post today! @YHAcoppermines @ifnotduffers @NancyBlackettUK @ArthurRansome @Sophie_Neville @RansomeNews @SwallowsAmazons @BBC_Cumbria @LakeDistrictPR pic.twitter.com/Dz24yB6T4e

— Douglas Harold Smith (@Historydoug) September 29, 2019