The Old Man of Coniston

Height803 metres | 2633 feet
Grid ReferenceSD 27237 97815
CategoryThe Southern Fells | Birkett
The Old Man of Coniston - the highest fell in the Coniston range
The Old Man of Coniston – the highest fell in the Coniston range

This slate plaque is a simple tribute to our dog Angus where his ashes are scattered. It is out of view unless you are looking for it - 100m to the south of the summit, in line with Beacon Tarn and facing south. Update 16.03.11...The plaque has now disappeared unfortunately :-( Update 9th February 2014 - Casper's ashes are also scattered here (died 15.01.14).
This slate plaque is a simple tribute to our dog Angus where his ashes are scattered. It is out of view unless you are looking for it – 100m to the south of the summit, in line with Beacon Tarn and facing south. Update 16.03.11…The plaque has now disappeared unfortunately 🙁
Update 9th February 2014 – Casper’s ashes are now scattered here (died 15.01.14). Update 11th November 2023 – Dougal’s ashes are now scattered here (died 02.05.23)The ashes of our dogs are scattered on the top. It was a fell we all climbed together many times – please spare a thought for them should you make it to the summit and if you listen carefully, you may be able to hear their barks carried on the wind…
Looking over Levers Water to Black Sails and Wetherlam to Helvellyn and Fairfield from the summit of Coniston Old Man
Looking over Levers Water to Black Sails and Wetherlam to Helvellyn and Fairfield from the summit of Coniston Old Man
Looking across Low Water, Levers Water and Wetherlam to the eastern fells from the summit of The Old Man
Looking across Low Water, Levers Water and Wetherlam to the eastern fells from the summit of The Old Man
The summit.
The summit.
Made it! Connie, aged 5, at the summit of The Old Man of Coniston.
Made it! Connie, aged 5, at the summit of The Old Man of Coniston.
Casper and Angus on the summit
Casper and Angus on the summit
Reflected Old Man above Coniston
Reflected Old Man above Coniston

Previous walks on this fell:

Date

Walk Details

  • Farewell Fletcher
    From: Walna Scar Car Park
    Walna Scar car park – Boo Tarn – Coniston Old Man – Brim Fell – Brim Fell Rake – Raven Tor – Low Water – Walna Scar car park [7.7km, 577m ascent]
  • From: Torver
    Torver – Scarr Head – Walna Scar Road – Brown Pike – Buck Pike – Dow Crag – Goat’s Hawse – Coniston Old Man – Scarr Head – Torver [12.9km, 1272m ascent]
  • From: Walna Scar road
    Walna Scar Car Park – Coniston Old Man – Brim Fell – Little How Crags – Fairfield col – Grey Friar – Great Carrs – Top of Broad Slack – Swirl How – Prison Band – Swirl Hawse – Levers Water – Boulder Valley – Walna Scar Car Park [14.4km, 876m ascent]
  • From: Walna Scar Car Park
    Walna Scar car park – Low Water – Brim Fell Rake – Brim Fell – Coniston Old Man – Bursting Stone – Walna Scar car park [7.8km, 580m ascent]
  • From: Walna Scar Car Park
    Walna Scar car park – Coniston Old Man – Goat’s Hawse – Dow Crag – Buck Pike – Brown Pike – Walna Scar car park [10.4km, 700m ascent]
  • From: Walna Scar Car Park
    Walna Scar car park – Boo Tarn – The Old Man of Coniston – Brim Fell – Brim Fell Rake – Low Water – Below Beck Fells – Walna Scar car park [7.7km, 577m ascent]
  • From: Walna Scar Car Park
    Walna Scar car park – Boo Tarn – The Old Man of Coniston – Boo Tarn – Walna Scar car park [3.8 miles, 518m ascent]
  • From: Walna Scar Car Park
    Walna Scar car park – Boo Tarn – The Old Man of Coniston – Brim Fell – Brim Fell Rake – Low Water – Below Beck Fells – Walna Scar car park [4.1 miles, 630m ascent]
  • From: Walna Scar Car Park
    Walna Scar car park – Boo Tarn – The Old Man of Coniston – Brim Fell – Brim Fell Rake – Low Water – Below Beck Fells – Walna Scar car park [4.1 miles, 630m ascent]
  • From: Walna Scar Car Park
    Walna Scar car park – Boo Tarn – The Old Man of Coniston – Brim Fell – Brim Fell Rake – Low Water – Below Beck Fells – Walna Scar car park [4.1 miles, 630m ascent]
  • From: Walna Scar Car Park
    Walna Scar car park – Boo Tarn – The Old Man of Coniston – Brim Fell – Brim Fell Rake – Boulder Valley – Walna Scar car park [4 miles, 647m ascent]
  • From: Walna Scar Car Park
    Walna Scar car park – Boo Tarn – The Old Man of Coniston – Brim Fell – Levers Hawse – Great How – Swirl Band – Swirl How – Prison Band – Swirl Hawse – Levers Water – Boulder Valley – Walna Scar road
  • From: Walna Scar Car Park
    Walna Scar car park – Boo Tarn – The Old Man of Coniston – Brim Fell – Levers Hawse – Great How – Swirl Band – Swirl How – Prison Band – Swirl Hawse – Levers Water – Boulder Valley – Walna Scar road
  • From: Walna Scar Car Park
    Walna Scar car park – Boo Tarn – The Old Man of Coniston – Brim Fell – Brim Fell Rake – Boulder Valley – Walna Scar car park
  • Today’s walk involved an early start to take in a round of the Coniston fells. It was a solitary walk today and there was no-one around and that wind was oh-so cold, I think I have forgotten what it can be like given all the recent warm weather we have had – brrr!
  • The Coniston fells were shrouded in mist when I set off and they were in and out of the clouds all morning as the sun tried its best to shine through. It is a great ridge walk from The Old Man to Swirl How and a fair while since I have done it – I’m glad I did today as I enjoyed it and saw no one this Monday morning.
  • Today’s walk was done with a little sadness as I went with Dougal to scatter Casper’s ashes up on The Old Man with Angus – now they can both look down on us and we, of course, can look up to them and remember the good times. If you remember, spare our two boys a little thought next time you are up there…
  • It was predicted to be a clear day today so I set off early to catch the sunrise from The Old Man – I wasn’t disappointed and the early start was well worth the effort. Nice to bump into a group of StridingEdge fans on the way down – the only people I saw all morning.
  • After all the wonderful weather over the fells that I have been jealously eyeing from afar, today was…dull! Not to worry, I didn’t let the weather and lack of views spoil the feeling of the freedom of the fells. It was fantastic to be back up there (Dougal thinks so too!) and we followed the old favourite ‘McMahon Route’ to The Old Man, returning via Brim Fell Rake.
  • The weather turned out much better than I thought it would today – it was a proper winter’s day up on The Old Man, all blue sky and snow, just lovely. That was a good choice Casper lad!
  • It has been really cold and clear for the last couple of days so I wanted to get high on a fell to catch a glorious sunrise this morning and I wasn’t disappointed with the one I got – the view from the Old Man was fabulous this morning, one to remember for a while.
  • I saw Scafell through a parting in the clouds earlier this morning and could see that there was snow on the tops. It was a good bet that others would have snow on too and on the way to Coniston I could see that those tops were also dusted with snow. It only seems like 5 minutes ago since summer but there you go – full blown winter conditions on the fells once more.
  • After a month of solid work, work, work it was nice to get out again today. I was determined to do it whatever the weather – today was not about sunshine and views, it was about fresh air and being alive.
  • I was glad to get out anywhere this morning having been deliberately staying away from the rough stuff after sustaining a bit of an injury. I took it easy on this one and made it more of a recuperative stroll. I think I should be in my shorts by now but no, it was back to the winter gear again with quite a heavy snow shower when I was on the summit.
  • The cold winter days continue and ‘down below’ the freezing fog hangs in the valleys for most of the day at the moment. Up on high it is a different story with more blue skies and clear views making these excellent walking days.
  • It was beautiful and sunny today so I headed up to The Old Man for a quick walk. I expected it to be cold up on the top as there was snow on Fairfield the previous day and I was right – once on the climb there was areal cold blast and my hands and face were numb by the time I made it to the top. Great to see lots of people enjoying the clear views up there though including lots of family groups.
  • Once more the weather completely changed from the last time I was out – today was a proper summer’s day again and it was just lovely (and quiet!) up on The Old Man. We ascended using the now well trodden McMahon route but descended using the direct and steep route. I did take a little time to hang around up there today and sit with Angus for a while.
  • The weather seemed much better than predicted early on this morning and the views along Coniston Water as I drove past were stunning enough to stop me in my tracks and make me turn around to grab a few photos at Lake Bank and Brown Howe. From there I could see The Old Man was clearing whilst further north in the Lakes looked a bit murkier. It did eventually cloud over but I think I caught the best of the weather today following the McMahon route to the summit.
  • It was a beautiful day in the Lake District today but when a blanket of freezing fog descended over our house in the afternoon, I knew that conditions would be good higher up and that there would be a good sunset too. It was thanks to Louise that I went on this one as she persuaded me to make the effort and I am thankful that she did – the sunset across the inversion was simply stunning. This was totally a ‘no frills’ walk so there is no route map – I ascended and descended using the route 1 method!
  • Everywhere looked to be covered in cloud when I set off from home this morning, especially further to the east. When I was driving towards the Coniston fells they had a big cloud cap on them too, but I thought it would clear when the sun rose a little and thankfully this turned out to be right. It was really clear up there today and it was superb walking the ridge to Brim Fell in those conditions, beautiful and crisp with virtually no one around.
  • I was up early this morning for a walk to The Old Man – it was quite novel that there were no cars in the car park when I set off and none there when I returned! It was beautiful up there this morning with the sun shining and only the sound of silence and that, thinking of yesterday’s events at Whitehaven, is the way it should be.
  • It was a beautiful morning once more after a cold and frosty start; at low level there was a haze layer but I managed to get above this on the climb to The Old Man. There was a reason for climbing up there today other than it being a great walk…
  • I actually came to Coniston yesterday (Wednesday 6th January) to walk theses fells but decided against it due to the heavy snow when I arrived there – I knew the fells would still be there another day and surely enough, this morning turned out lovely and clear. This would be fantastic and memorable day for a walk on the fells. According to Radio Cumbria, last night was the coldest ever recorded in Cumbria with a temperature of -14.5C recorded at Carlisle. When I got to Coniston it was -9C, so I knew it would be pretty cold today. As it turned out, it was quite warm in the sunshine but when in the wind or shade, then it was particularly noticeable how cold it really was.
  • It was so clear and sunny today you would hardly think it was the same time of year as the rest of the previous week when it has been raining almost incessantly. I found time for a late afternoon walk and with those blue skies I was confident of seeing a decent sunset so tried to time my walk accordingly. I must admit I thought I had left it too late when I was walking beneath Dow Crag, it was so dark and cold there. Dougal joined us today for his first ‘bigger’ walk at 7 months old and of course we were recognised (along with Casper, the two of them together are unmistakable!) and then he was fussed over at every opportunity by passing walkers. He took the whole thing in his stride of course and he is turning out to be a great pretender to the fell masters throne.
  • Today was the third StridingEdge group walk which was up to The Old Man of Coniston via the now officially named (well, it is in our house!) McMahon Route, a brilliantly graded walk across Little Arrow Moor and then up the south ridge of the Old Man. Joining me on the walk were StridingEdge viewers who expressed an interest in coming for a walk with me and Casper and it was great to meet everyone – some new faces and some old stalwarts of our walks. It was a good walk in great company, pity the weather wasn’t kinder to us today…maybe next time.
  • Although it was sunny and warm this morning, I set out with a heavy heart for The Old Man for it was to be Angus’ final journey onto the fells and the place he will rest forever. I know he loved this walk as we have done it often enough and this is the final chapter in the Angus story.
  • The freezing mist was all around at low level today for my first walk up to Coniston Old Man this year. Yesterday and last night saw fresh snow falls in the area and everywhere around quiet Coniston was covered this morning. This was winter walking in different conditions to last week with no views and the eerie silence that walking in heavy mist brings and an overwhelming feeling of solitude.
  • It was bitterly cold again last night and there was a decent fall of snow on all the high fells that I could see. I had a walk up to the Old Man of Coniston after lunch today and the snow on the southern slopes of the fells had melted somewhat but on the northern sides there was still plenty and there were some angry looking snow clouds about. The wind at the top was biting, which is no less than you would expect I guess but I think Casper was wishing his hair was about a foot longer!
  • The conditions were a little strange up on Coniston today, oddly cold – yet warm and clear – yet hazy! I never quite got above the haze layer today but the sun did manage to break through at times. The temperature was below freezing when I set off and when I returned yet in the sunshine it was really warm with the temperature only seemingly plummeting in the breeze at the top.
  • It was really cold this morning and it was -4oC in Coniston when I arrived. This made the air higher up really clear as down below in the valleys it was quite hazy and misty. Once up to the wind tunnel of Goat’s Water it got really bracing and cold but the views were fabulous today. There weren’t many braving the elements today though, there were only a couple more cars at the car park when I got back – normally it is full!
  • I didn’t know what the weather would do today; it looked clear enough but the forecasts predicted otherwise so I opted for a circuit of the Coniston fells which seemed to be enjoying a decent amount of sunshine. Coniston Water was covered with a blanket of cloud as happens on this type of freezing morning but higher up it was a mix of wispy clouds and clear blue skies. The highlight was the fabulous stillness and reflections on Levers Water.
  • It was amazingly warm today – so warm that I completed the walk in only a t-shirt, but unfortunately the walk was largely done in the mist. That means there were no views and few photos with the clouds only parting occasionally. At least we were dry though…
  • It was another bright day today and we managed to beat the majority of the hoards up to Coniston Old Man, which was timely as it happened as the clouds rolled in when we were at the summit. I hate to say it but there was just the feeling of a slight nip in the air and the bracken is starting to look slightly brown. I wonder if there will be any hot days to come? I haven’t even managed a swim anywhere yet this summer!
  • This was another of those walks that just ‘happened’ – I had intended visiting Black Fell and Tarn Hows today but on the way there The Old Man looked too inviting to miss as it was nice and clear and it had the makings of a good day. I’m glad I did too; we were all alone on the summit which I guess is the reward for getting out early. By the time I returned to the car park, it was full so it looks like it will be a busy afternoon up there today.
  • Boots – a result! I have had a credit for a pair from the shop, now all I have to do is choose some more. The same ones? or different…we shall see. Angus and Casper have now officially acquired cult status according to Lake District Life magazine. Check out the latest issue of it where they manage to get a four page spread! Finally, the walk. What a gorgeous day with only the strong breeze spoiling it a little as it was quite cool. This was a ‘no frills’ walk today, just straight up the nose and back down the tourist path. We didn’t see a soul until way down today.
  • The brilliant weather continued for this morning’s walk to the deserted Coniston fells. Blue skies and sunshine all the way today with it being really warm despite what the temperature gauge said! It is a real joy to be out on the fells in these conditions and there is supposedly even more to come – can’t wait!
  • Walna Scar road – Brown Pike – Buck Pike – Dow Crag – Goat’s Hawse – Coniston Old Man – Brim Fell– Levers Hawse – Great How – Grey Friar – Great Carrs – Swirl How – Prison Band – Swirl Hawse –Wetherlam – Red Dell – Boulder Valley – Walna Scar Road [11.8 miles, 1320m ascent]
  • It was a dull day today, I had hopes that the mist might disappear and bring out the sun but no such luck. This is a quick and easy round of The Old Man with the ascent being gentle and the descent being direct with only the misty conditions to spoil it.
  • No blue skies today, it was back to grey and it all looked a bit ominous at the start of the walk up to The Old Man of Coniston. Things magically cleared up in the space of a few minutes on the climb though and whilst the sun didn’t shine, it was still clearer than we could have expected at the start.
  • Overnight storms have freshened things up a little giving a cool breeze at times and bringing a mixed bag of cloud and sunshine. Surprisingly, there weren’t many people around today – even The Old Man summit was quiet which makes a change (when Angus got there, the peaceful atmosphere disappeared!).
  • Today’s weather was the most severe I can remember. There was deep snow all along the Walna Scar road with even deeper snow and gale force winds along the Dow Crag ridge. When I eventually reached The Old Man, I bailed out of the intended route along to Swirl How early – conditions were that bad. (Apologies for the quality of some of the photos, conditions weren’t conducive to great ones!).
  • Believe it or not, it’s not always good weather in the Lake District! Today was one of those days where the mist and murk hung low on the fells and this short walk started and finished in those conditions, so no views today. There was, however, a little celebration at the top of The Old Man today…
  • Another temperature inversion was predicted for today, so Connie and I set off for the summit of Coniston Old Man in the mist to try and get some sunshine above the grey, murky conditions below. This was also a milestone for 5 year old Connie – her highest fell yet – by far, and a great achievement for her. Alas, the conditions were not as good as yesterday as the temperature in the valleys had warmed up, so although we got above the hazy, mist layer into the sunshine, there wasn’t the great waves of thick cloud that I witnessed yesterday. Eskdale looked the place to be – there was plenty of inversion going on over there.
  • It didn’t look too promising when I set off along the Walna Scar Road and sure enough when I reached Brown Pike the wind was gale force and the hailstones were shotblasting my face. Magically, when I reached Dow Crag, the clouds cleared (blown away presumably!) and there were lovely blue skies. The wind was ever present and made the walking difficult at times; full winter gear was required today. Today was the first time I have ever been recognised on the fells from this website (okay, Angus was recognised to be technically correct). He’s famous that dog!
  • Connie had better things to do today so it was up to Coniston for me and Angus. The weather was variable with the odd spot of rain but there were generally good views, especially when we got to Swirl How. It was really busy up there today so we went the quietest way we could – straight up the nose of the Old Man and returning via Boulder Valley. Both are much quieter than the popular routes.
  • This morning’s walk was an ascent of The Old Man of Coniston using a less popular route via Boo Tarn up the south face which I can highly recommend; similarly the descent from Brim Fell was using a less popular route from Brim Fell down to Low Water. It was quite warm this morning and the sun shone on occasions – it was nice to get onto the tops early enough to be on my own.
  • The sun was shining on the Coniston fells this morning so I couldn’t resist another snowy walk up to The Old Man. We were the first up that way this morning and blazed a trail through the newly fallen snow; a great feeling.
  • Today’s walk was a round of the Coniston fells. The weather has taken a turn for the worse again and the clear views and picture postcard snowy scenes have all blown away – the wind was gale force at times and the rain relentless.
  • Coniston – Walna Scar road – Brown Pike (48) – Buck Pike on Seathwaite Fell (49) – Dow Crag (50) – Goat’s Hawse – Coniston Old Man (51) – Brim Fell (52) – Levers Hawse – Great How (53) – Grey Friar (54) – Little Carrs (55) – Hell Gill Pike (56) – Great Carrs (57) – Swirl How (58) – Prison Band – Swirl Hawse – Black Sails (59) – Wetherlam (60) – Coniston
  • Coniston – Walna Scar road – Brown Pike (48) – Buck Pike on Seathwaite Fell (49) – Dow Crag (50) – Goat’s Hawse – Coniston Old Man (51) – Brim Fell (52) – Levers Hawse – Great How (53) – Grey Friar (54) – Little Carrs (55) – Hell Gill Pike (56) – Great Carrs (57) – Swirl How (58) – Prison Band – Swirl Hawse – Black Sails (59) – Wetherlam (60) – Coniston
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