Height: 682 metres / 2237 feet Grid reference: SD 26078 96600

Brown Pike from the climb to Goats Water

The view from Brown Pike looking back to Walna Scar, White Maiden and White Pike with a non-showy Caw and Black Combe beyond
Height: 682 metres / 2237 feet Grid reference: SD 26078 96600
Brown Pike from the climb to Goats Water
The view from Brown Pike looking back to Walna Scar, White Maiden and White Pike with a non-showy Caw and Black Combe beyond
Walked on
Start point: Walna Scar road (SD 289 970)
Walna Scar road – The Cove – Goat’s Water – South Rake – Dow Crag – Buck Pike – Brown Pike – Cove Bridge – Walna Scar road
Distance: 5.1 miles Total Ascent: 593 metres Time Taken: 2 hours 50 minutes Start Time: 09:15
Weather: Showers, cloudy on the tops. 5ºC
It was bright around the periphery of the Lakes today but most of the fells I could see were shrouded in mist. I still fancied a bit of winter walking so headed for Dow Crag in search of some snow and have a hunt around for something else today as well.
Firstly, a bit of a story about a fell dog – this extract is from Wainwright’s ‘The Southern Fells’, Coniston Old Man 6…
It seems nothing has changed much and the same thing that happened to Charmer's Grave also happened to the Angus plaque. Details of Charmer's demise from the Lakes Herald, 31st March 1911 ... Another Promising Hound Dashed To Death CONISTON FOXHOUNDS - As was recorded in last week’s issue, the above hounds had a thrilling experience on Dow Crags at Coniston, seven of them being crag fast and not rescued for about 24 hours. Unfortunately one of the hounds, the promising young bitch Charmer, appeared to have stolen back on a fresh hunt, and got crag fast in the same place. But this was not discovered till later. On Sunday she was heard howling, and a rescue party tried to reach her, but before they could get there Charmer had fallen down the crag and was dashed to death.
Charmer's Grave with the inscription 'Charmer 1911' on the stone, 100 years on and the letters are faded but still visible.
Kindred spirits - Charmer is not alone today but has two other fell dogs to visit him. RIP lad. Note: I have put these Charmer's Grave photos out of sequence to protect its location. Back to the walk from the beginning...
...and on The Bell. Beyond, Wetherlam is in cloud too. As soon as I started walking though, the heaven's opened and soaked me with a sleety shower.
At the foot of the South Rake and it is time to don crampons. Casper and Dougal don't seem too bothered by the steep slope or the snow. Note: Don't try a winter climb like this if you are inexperienced. Don't take a dog this way in these conditions.
Walked on
Start point: The Sun Inn, Coniston (SD 300 975)
Coniston – Walna Scar road – Brown Pike – Buck Pike – Dow Crag – Goat’s Hawse – Coniston Old Man – Brim Fell – Levers Hawse – Great How – Swirl How – Prison Band – Swirl Hawse – Levers Water – Boulder Valley – Coppermines Valley – Coniston
Distance: 10.2 miles Total Ascent: 1085 metres Time Taken: 5 hours 30 minutes
Weather: Cold and clear. -4°C
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.
When I found the owner, it was an old friend of mine Nathan Pike. Now that's what I call travelling in style!
Heading for Brim Fell as Nathan realises it is harder to ski uphill than down! I caught him up again before he disappeared down Brim Fell Rake.
Brim Fell across Levers Hawse from the climb to Great How Crags, Dow Crag and Black Combe to the left.
Descending Prison Band, Wetherlam ahead. The snow was often knee deep down here making the going hard.
Walked on
Start point: Long House at the foot of the Walna Scar Road near Seathwaite, Duddon Valley (SD 239 968)
Long House – Walna Scar road – White Pike – White Maiden – Walna Scar – Brown Pike – Buck Pike – Dow Crag – Seathwaite Tarn – Long House
Distance: 7 miles Total Ascent: 700 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 15 minutes
Weather: Snowy and cold wind with sunny spells. 4°C
It was sunny, snowy and cold up on the Coniston fells this morning and it was nice to get above the snow line and tread the crisp, new snow in sunshine for a while. The wind was constantly blowing in snow showers up on the Dow Crag ridge and it looks like there is more to come. I had intended to walk round to Grey Friar and descend that way but the ominous clouds and heavy snow showers put paid to that idea!
Above the snow line and above the ruins of Walna Scar Quarries looking to Harter Fell, the Scafell range covered by cloud. The wind was really strong and very cold from here - an icy blast.
A contrast in colours on the aptly named White Pike looking across to Caw with Black Combe beyond. I think Angus and Casper are trying to shelter from the oh-so cold wind!
On the summit of White Maiden. Angus is trying to remove the snow that has balled under his paws, an occupational hazard for a fell walking dog.
The view from Brown Pike looking back to Walna Scar, White Maiden and White Pike with a non-showy Caw and Black Combe beyond.
Walked on
Start point: Walna Scar road (SD 289 970)
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
Distance: 11.8 miles Total Ascent: 1320 metres Time Taken: 5 hours
Weather: Cold and windy. 4oC.
That wasn’t supposed to happen! The weather was predicted to be the same as yesterday, blue skies and general loveliness above the clouds – however, rule #1 is there is no accounting for the weather. There was a strong wind and grey skies above the low lying fog with the upper clouds only clearing at the very end of the walk. This was a good long walk on the shortest day of the year and the fells were surprisingly busy today.
Walking along the Walna Scar road, we were quickly above the low lying cloud, here looking to Torver High Common.
At Cove Bridge, it was fairly obvious that this wasn't going to be a still blue sky temperature inversion day. Brown Pike is in the cloud beyond the bridge.
Once onto the Brown Pike - Buck Pike ridge the icy wind was really blowing up a gale. A fleeting gap in the clouds reveals Harter Fell.
The easterly view to the Furness Fells over Low Water shortly before being engulfed in cloud again. It was a cold, strong wind that blew walking along to Brim Fell and beyond.
Levers Water from Little How Crags after walking through the worst of the storm - but it was back into the mist for the climb to Grey Friar then Great Carrs and Swirl How.
Walked on
Start point: At the bottom of the Walna Scar road (SD 239 968)
Walna Scar road – Seathwaite Tarn – Raven Nest How – Far Hill Crag – Near Hill Crag – Dow Crag –Buck Pike – Brown Pike – Walna Scar road
Distance: 5.5 miles Total Ascent: 650 metres Time Taken: 3 hours
Weather: Warm and sunny, sometimes overcast. 23oC.
This afternoon’s objective started out as Grey Friar, that outpost of the Coniston fells. As I made my way up to Seathwaite Tarn, I could see it was looking decidedly gloomy up there whilst everywhere else seemed to have blue skies. Instead, I opted to climb up to Dow Crag using a pathless route of ascent from Seathwaite Tarn – a good decision I think!
Looking across to Grey Friar from the climb up to Dow Crag. Oddly enough, Grey Friar stayed like that all afternoon, even though other fells put in an appearance from their cloud cover.
...and a close up of Scafell Pike. Mickledore can be seen to the left whilst the prominent Esk Buttress with Pen atop is to the right, overlooking Upper Eskdale.
Green Crag and Crook Crag over Dunnerdale Forest. Notice the thick band of cloud hanging over the Irish Sea beyond.
It was like a different day to the south and east with fluffy clouds and blue skies. This is The Old Man of Coniston from Dow Crag, it looked like there were lots of people on the summit today.
Walked on
Start point: Coniston (SD 303 976)
Coniston – Walna Scar road – Brown Pike – Buck Pike – Dow Crag – Goat’s Hawse – Coniston Old Man– Coppermines Valley – Coniston
Distance: 9 miles Total Ascent: 1000 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes
Weather: Snow and gale force winds, 3oC
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!).
Angus leads the way over Cove Bridge. The snow was knee deep in places up the Walna Scar road with a fresh covering of snow hiding previous tracks.
My favourite shelter says Angus. This is where I stopped to put crampons on - I knew that the wind would pick up as we reached the top of the Walna Scar pass and I didn't fancy trying to get my gear on in the wind and snow.
The wind really did pick up as we made our way to Brown Pike - it was gale force. Carrying the snow with it, it really began to sting my face and eyes and it was extremely cold.
The top of easy gully on Dow Crag. It was one step forwards, two sideways and two backwards here - extremely severe conditions with a freezing, biting wind.
The wind carried on unabated - on Goats Hawse it was ferocious, blowing up the wind tunnel formed by Dow Crag and The Old Man over Goat's Water.
Ascending the ridge to the Old Man it was a complete white out and I knew the game was up. I had intended to carry on to Swirl How but it would be crazy to do so in these conditions. I didn't stop here apart from a quick photo; let's get down.
Low Water - I passed a chap here who was descending after giving up on reaching the summit, despite being less than 100m from the top. A wise move I think.
Looking back up the Coppermines Valley. Just before I took this photo, I bumped into a chap wearing a leather jacket and open necked shirt with trainers on. I told him how bad it was, but he carried on regardless - not a wise move. I hope he made it back okay. Footnote: Someone died up there that afternoon, fortunately not the inappropriately attired guy I bumped into.
Walked on
Start point: Walna Scar road (SD 289 970)
Walna Scar road – Brown Pike – Buck Pike on Seathwaite Fell – Dow Crag – Goat’s Hawse –Coniston Old Man – Brim Fell – Levers Hawse – Great How – Swirl Band – Top of Broad Slack –Great Carrs – Swirl How – Prison Band – Swirl Hawse – Levers Water – Boulder Valley – Walna Scar road
Distance: 10.5 miles Total Ascent: 2670 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes
Weather: Very cold with gale force winds. 3oC, but much colder with the wind chill.
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!
Gale force wind and hailstones (they hurt!) on Brown Pike, Buck Pike ahead. I thought Angus was a goner walking across here, it was that bad.
The view from The Old Man of Coniston - Low Water below and a glimpse of Levers Water with the Black Sails ridge and Wetherlam beyond.
Walked on
Start point: Torver (SD 285 945)
Torver – Bleaberry Haws – High Pike Haw – White Maiden – White Pike – Walna Scar (OF) – Walna Scar Road – Brown Pike – Buck Pike on Seathwaite Fell – Dow Crag – Goat’s Haws – Tranearth – Torver
Distance: 8.9 miles Total Ascent: 992 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 20 minutes
Weather: Sunny and hazy. 17°C.
The sun was shining again today, with temperatures up to a pleasant 17°C at valley level, although at times it was quite chilly in the cold breeze on the tops. I had a walk up to the Coniston fells from Torver, using the gradual ascent up to Walna Scar via the ‘ignored by Wainwright’ south western fells. The view becomes increasingly better using this route with unrivalled views of the southern Coniston fells and great views along the Duddon Valley to Harter Fell and the Sca Fells beyond.
Walked on
Start point: Coniston (SD 304 976)
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
Weather: Overcast with sunny spells. Very windy.
A long Coniston round today taking in all the highest tops and some of the less well known ones. It was a drizzly start but this soon cleared and there were lots of sunny intervals with some cloud coming in. There was a strong breeze all day growing to gale force by the end of the walk.
You may have noticed a distinct lack of Tarns on this walk. This is because there were so many to be seen, I have given them their own page and they can be viewed here.
The initial ascent was via the Walna Scar road which is a good hours trek from Coniston before the highest point is reached. The picture is of Cove Bridge across Torver Beck
A sharp ascent from the Walna Scar road to the summit of Brown Pike. The furthest fell is Black Combe with Caw visible behind Walna Scar.
An easy traverse to Buck Pike. Dow Crag is the next fell along the path, in the distance Great Carrs, Swirl How and Great How Crags coming round to Brim Fell on the right.
From Dow Crag, it's a descent to Goat's Hawse and then a steep ascent back up to the Old Man of Coniston.
Off the beaten track now to a fairly long trek contouring round to Grey Friar, Looking out towards Eskdale and the Scafell range and then another contour round to Hell Gill Pike and Little Carrs.
The summit of Hell Gill Pike. Harter Fell is on the left and Hard Knott on the right. The Hardknott - Wrynose road can be seen on the bottom right of the picture.
Then a steep descent of Prison Band before ascending Black Sails. The picture is from Black Sails summit showing Coniston Water and Levers Water.
The sun shines over Langdale from Black Sails. Right of centre, Pavey Ark can be seen overlooking Stickle Tarn with the distinctive shape of Pike O' Stickle to the left.
Walked on
Start point: Coniston (SD 304 976)
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
It was amazing how many tarns and stretches of water could be seen on this Coniston Round; they are shown on this page.