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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.

Route map
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© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

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The gateway to the fells ahead
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The Coppermines Valley. The cloud is forecast to lift. Let's see if it does.
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On the south ridge of Wetherlam. A burst of sunshine lights up Black Sails.
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At the same time it breaks through over Brim Fell and Levers Water
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The full length of Coniston Water in view before I head up into the clouds
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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.
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Fifteen minutes later and it's the real thing
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Time to take in the view. To the northwest, the Scafells, Crinkle Crags, Bow Fell and Pike o'Blisco.
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Swirl How in cloud and Great Carrs
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Cloud clearing the Langdale Pikes
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Heading for Swirl Hawse, Prison Band and the next top of Swirl How
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On the summit of Swirl How
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Wetherlam
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Dark clouds still over Helvellyn and Fairfield
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My next summit of Great Carrs with the Scafells, Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell in the distance ​
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Looking south to the Old Man of Consiton and Dow Crag
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It's a short walk from Swirl How to the next Wainwright of Great Carrs
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The Scafells, Bow Fell and Glaramara in the distance with Little Stand, Crinkle Crags and Cold Pike in the sunshine
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The Greenburn valley below heads down to Little Langdale and Little Langdale Tarn
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The memorial to those lost in the crash of the Halifax Bomber. A small service is held here on Remembrance Sunday.
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Onwards to Grey Friar
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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.
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Looking across the Duddon valley to the side valley of Moasdale that leads up to Great Moss and the Scafells
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Harter Fell on the other side of the Duddon Valley
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Helvellyn and Fairfield in the distance still under dark clouds
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Even I can scale this Matterhorn
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Seathwaite Tarn as I head back to the main ridge for Brim Fell
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Levers Water from Levers Hawse
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The handsome cairn on Brim Fell plus the Scafells and Bow Fell in the distance
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Next stop, the Old Man of Coniston. My final Wainwright of the day.
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Wandering over to the edge to see the zig-zag path down to Low Water. My route of descent.
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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.
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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.
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Wetherlam with Helvellyn and Fairfield in the distance
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A good portion of Coniston Water visible
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Heading down to Low Water
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Black Sails and Wetherlam provide a nice backdrop for the ruined quarry buildings
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Back in Coniston

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© Alan Kilduff 2016-2023                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  • HOME
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  • Walking Diaries
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  • Lake District Walks
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