6th September 2014 - The Coniston Fells
Walk Details
Distance walked: 10.1 miles
Total ascent: 4139 ft
OS map used: OL6 - The English Lakes, Southwestern area
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Coniston-Miners Bridge-Hole Rake-Wetherlam-Swirl Hawse-Swirl How-Great Carrs-Grey Friar-Brim Fell-The Old Man of Coniston-Low Water-Miners Bridge-Coniston
It's less than three months since my last visit to these fells, so why back so soon? Two reasons; first I've decided to try and complete a second round of Wainwrights which meant that Wetherlam, Great Carrs and Grey Friar needed to be bagged and second, ten years ago yesterday I did my first walk in the Lakes to the summit of the Old Man of Coniston. I wanted to go back and see how different it felt to that first ascent. Obviously there was a great sense of anticipation then achievement as I reached the summit and saw the view. Also I felt a little bit out of my depth as I was still new to hill-walking and this was by far the biggest walk that I'd done. Ten years on I feel completely at home up here and starting to walk in the Lakes gave me the confidence to explore other areas.
The forecast was for a fine day once the cloud had lifted off the tops. It took a while but it did and it turned into a nice afternoon.
From the main car park in Coniston I walked through the village and up the lane past the Sun Hotel to take the track signposted for the Old Man. When I reached the Miners Bridge I crossed over and then took the path that heads up to Hole Rake and the south ridge of Wetherlam to the summit. After lunch I then made my way down to Swirl Hawse and up Prison Band to the second summit of the day, Swirl How. There was a short walk to the next Wainwright of Great Carrs and then it was on to the next one, Grey Friar. I then made my way back to the main ridge for Brim Fell and the final summit of the day, the Old Man of Consiton. To get back, I took the path down to Low Water, through the disused quarries back to Miners Bridge, from there I retraced my steps to Coniston.
Total ascent: 4139 ft
OS map used: OL6 - The English Lakes, Southwestern area
Time taken: 7.5 hrs
Route description: Coniston-Miners Bridge-Hole Rake-Wetherlam-Swirl Hawse-Swirl How-Great Carrs-Grey Friar-Brim Fell-The Old Man of Coniston-Low Water-Miners Bridge-Coniston
It's less than three months since my last visit to these fells, so why back so soon? Two reasons; first I've decided to try and complete a second round of Wainwrights which meant that Wetherlam, Great Carrs and Grey Friar needed to be bagged and second, ten years ago yesterday I did my first walk in the Lakes to the summit of the Old Man of Coniston. I wanted to go back and see how different it felt to that first ascent. Obviously there was a great sense of anticipation then achievement as I reached the summit and saw the view. Also I felt a little bit out of my depth as I was still new to hill-walking and this was by far the biggest walk that I'd done. Ten years on I feel completely at home up here and starting to walk in the Lakes gave me the confidence to explore other areas.
The forecast was for a fine day once the cloud had lifted off the tops. It took a while but it did and it turned into a nice afternoon.
From the main car park in Coniston I walked through the village and up the lane past the Sun Hotel to take the track signposted for the Old Man. When I reached the Miners Bridge I crossed over and then took the path that heads up to Hole Rake and the south ridge of Wetherlam to the summit. After lunch I then made my way down to Swirl Hawse and up Prison Band to the second summit of the day, Swirl How. There was a short walk to the next Wainwright of Great Carrs and then it was on to the next one, Grey Friar. I then made my way back to the main ridge for Brim Fell and the final summit of the day, the Old Man of Consiton. To get back, I took the path down to Low Water, through the disused quarries back to Miners Bridge, from there I retraced my steps to Coniston.
Route map
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The gateway to the fells ahead
The Coppermines Valley. The cloud is forecast to lift. Let's see if it does.
On the south ridge of Wetherlam. A burst of sunshine lights up Black Sails.
At the same time it breaks through over Brim Fell and Levers Water
The full length of Coniston Water in view before I head up into the clouds
I'm sat having my lunch on the summit of Wetherlam and the cloud suddenly lifts to show Bow Fell and Pike o'Blisco. It was a false dawn though.
Fifteen minutes later and it's the real thing
Time to take in the view. To the northwest, the Scafells, Crinkle Crags, Bow Fell and Pike o'Blisco.
Swirl How in cloud and Great Carrs
Cloud clearing the Langdale Pikes
Heading for Swirl Hawse, Prison Band and the next top of Swirl How
On the summit of Swirl How
Wetherlam
Dark clouds still over Helvellyn and Fairfield
My next summit of Great Carrs with the Scafells, Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell in the distance
Looking south to the Old Man of Consiton and Dow Crag
It's a short walk from Swirl How to the next Wainwright of Great Carrs
The Scafells, Bow Fell and Glaramara in the distance with Little Stand, Crinkle Crags and Cold Pike in the sunshine
The Greenburn valley below heads down to Little Langdale and Little Langdale Tarn
The memorial to those lost in the crash of the Halifax Bomber. A small service is held here on Remembrance Sunday.
Onwards to Grey Friar
On the summit of Grey Friar and the weather has really cheered up. The pointy top of Dow Crag with the Duddon estuary and Morecambe Bay in the distance.
Looking across the Duddon valley to the side valley of Moasdale that leads up to Great Moss and the Scafells
Harter Fell on the other side of the Duddon Valley
Helvellyn and Fairfield in the distance still under dark clouds
Even I can scale this Matterhorn
Seathwaite Tarn as I head back to the main ridge for Brim Fell
Levers Water from Levers Hawse
The handsome cairn on Brim Fell plus the Scafells and Bow Fell in the distance
Next stop, the Old Man of Coniston. My final Wainwright of the day.
Wandering over to the edge to see the zig-zag path down to Low Water. My route of descent.
It's five o'clock on the Old Man of Coniston and I have the place to myself, which is a first. I certainly didn't ten years ago.
A few photos from the summit. The Scafells and Bow Fell in the distance, Grey Friar to the left of Brim Fell and Swirl How to its right.
Wetherlam with Helvellyn and Fairfield in the distance
A good portion of Coniston Water visible
Heading down to Low Water
Black Sails and Wetherlam provide a nice backdrop for the ruined quarry buildings
Back in Coniston