The Coniston Fells

Walked on 08/01/2025

Walking Diary 2025

Start Point: Torver

Torver – Scarr Head – Walna Scar Road – Brown Pike – Buck Pike – Dow Crag – Goat’s Hawse – Coniston Old Man – Scarr Head – Torver

Distance: 12.9 km Total Ascent: 1272 metres Time Taken: 4 hours Start Time: 10:00

After a big snow dump over most of the country at the weekend, today looked a good bet for a walk now things have calmed down a little. It did not disappoint, what a day for a proper winter walk- there wasn’t a breath of wind and it was quite warm in the sunshine of the south facing slopes. Creeping cloud from the south did catch us up in the end but I love these sort of days where the sun is setting almost as soon as it has risen.

The Coniston fells looking magnificent in their winter coat from the Scarr Head climb.

The King of the Hill. It's obviously the place to be!

There is a low cloud layer to the south, something that would creep up on us through the day.

Banishead Quarry.

Brown Pike beyond Cove Bridge.

Buck Pike and Dow Crag.

Climbing the Walna Scar Road, the snow gradually became deeper and the going more arduous.

Almost at the top of the Walna Scar Road with the 'honeymoon couple' shelter (AW Dow Crag 4 - AKA the Angus Shelter for those that remember!)(.

At the top of the Walna Scar Road.

Starting the climb towards Brown Pike.

The Scafells.

Looking across Walna Scar, White Maiden and Caw to Black Combe.

Looking across the Duddon Vally towards Harter Fell.

Buck Pike and The Old Man from Brown Pike.

Looking across Walna Scar to Black Combe.

Looking south to a wintry looking sky. Three photos from the same place, the weather on each one looks completely different.

Couldn't resist a look back to Brown Pike with the winter sun above.

Fletcher the trail blazer on his way to Buck Pike.

Blind Tarn and Brown Pike.

Dow Crag from Buck Pike.

Llooking down the South Rake on Dow Crag, Goat's Water below.

Just one little biscuit Dad...

Oh go on then!

Brew time on Dow Crag, It was here the weather started to catch us up and the blue sky was being overtaken by the creeping cloud.

The Old Man from Dow Crag across Goat's Water.

Icy Dow Crag.

The view back to Buck Pike.

Heading for Goat's Hawse.

Goat's Water.

It's starting to look like the bleak mid-winter on the climb to The Old Man.

On the summit of The Old Man. There were plenty of people on the summit, all behind me here.

Low Water.

Saying hello to Angus, Casper and Dougal.

Heading for home. Which way is it Fletcher?

This final photo is from the same place as the first one in this set, compare the weather now!

Coniston Old Man and Dow Crag

Walked on 26/02/2024

Walking Diary 2024

Start Point: Walna Scar road (SD 289 970)

Walna Scar car park – Coniston Old Man – Goat’s Hawse – Dow Crag – Buck Pike – Brown Pike – Walna Scar car park

Distance: 10.4 km Total Ascent: 700 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 50 minutes Start Time: 06:40

It was a case of getting a walk in on a decent weather day again between not so decent weather day! The days are drawing longer with sunrise now at 07:10 so at least I managed to get halfway up The Old Man before that time and even then the low cloud blocked it out for a short while. There was a reminder that we are still in winter with snow on the tops and a bitingly cold wind.

Note: Route map is for indication purposes of general direction only.

The setting moon.

There was lots of low cloud around blocking the light from the sunrise.

Fletcher watches as the light hits Walna Scar.

Gradually the sun started to break through during the climb up The Old Man.

Crepuscular rays...

...light up Coniston.

A sky of two halves.

Blue sky on the approach to The Old Man summit.

Fletcher. We sat with Angus, Casper and Dougal for a short while (they were our older fell walking Bearded Collie companions, their ashes were scattered here) before moving on. The wind was strong and icy now brrr.

Looking across Levers Water, there is a lot of cloud over the eastern fells and it looked as though there were snow showers fleeting through too.

It looked very similar to the north too and the Scafells were nowhere to be seen. Perhaps I struck lucky with this little south western corner of sunshine.

I was all allone on the frozen summit of Coniston Old Man.

The view over Brown Pike, Walna Scar and Black Combe.

Brim Fell and beyond.

Dow Crag.

Barrow Offshore Windfarm visible today beyond Brown Pike.

Buck Pike and Black Combe.

Dow Crag above Goat's Water.

Goat's Water from Goat's Hawse.

Swirl How and Great Carrs, looking back from the path to Dow Crag from Goat's Hawse.

A rare burst of sunlight;ight on Grey Friar.

Dow Crag's rocky summit.

The south rake.

Looking back along the summit ridge.

...and again, further along.

Buck Pike summit cairn.

Brown Pike above Blind Tarn.

Patiently waiting (for a biscuit I expect!).

A view right through to the west Cumbrian coast, but I think Fletcher is sheep spotting.

Brown Pike summit.

'A shelter alongside the Walna Scar road, east of the pass , just big enough for one person or a honeymoon couple' A. Wainwright 'The Southern Fells' Dow Crag 4

Cove Bridge across Torver Beck.

Boo Tarn.

The animals went across one by one. There were lots of shepherd calls and whistles today with the sheep obediently obeying their masters commands.

Dow Crag via the South Rake

Walked on 14/04/2016

Start point: Walna Scar road (SD 289 970)

Walna Scar road – The Cove – Goat’s Water – South Rake – Dow Crag – Buck Pike – Blind Tarn – Cove Bridge – Walna Scar road

Distance: 5 miles Total Ascent: 577 metres Time Taken: 2 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 09:00

Weather: Sunny, 11C

It was a lovely morning this morning, perfect for a walk onto the fells. Any fells are a good day out for me at the moment; as you may have noticed the walks are a little less frequent these days but it is a case of fitting them in wherever I can – sometimes other things have to be done as well! This is a particular favourite and a good scramble if you like that kind of thing – I think The Old Man must have been busy today as I didn’t see too many people but the car park was completely full when I got back.

Firstly, a few photos from a walk around Ennerdale taken last Saturday (9th April) which turned into a rather warm afternoon…

Herdus and Bowness Knott, the gorse glowing in the sunshine.

Looking to Pillar along Ennerdale Water.

Warm enough for a swim today.

Close up on Pillar and Steeple.

It is a fine view along Ennerdale. On with today's walk...

Fletcher leads the way along the Walna Scar road.

Boo Tarn.

The path to Goats Water...

...into The Cove.

Posing on the way to Dow Crag.

Fletcher and Dougal.

Goat's Water.

At the foot of the climb up to the South Rake.

Fletcher has found the path.

Coniston Water from the climb up the scree slope.

Goat's Water and The Old Man.

The south rake.

Easy Gully (despite the name, it's not!).

The view down the south rake...

...and from the top of the rake.

Looking to the west across the Duddon Valley.

Buck Pike to Black Combe and the Duddon Estuary.

The Scafells with their heads in the cloud.

Great Carrs and Swirl How.

The view from the summit of Dow Crag.

Dow Crag from Buck Pike.

Brown Pike and Blind Tarn.

Fletcher surveys the valley below.

Heading steeply down to Blind Tarn.

Coniston Old Man across The Cove.

Down at Cove Bridge.

During this walk we stopped by to say hello to Charmer, his gravestone is still visible if you know where to look.

Fletcher and Dougal said hello to this kindred spirit too.

Buck Pike (Seathwaite Fell)

Height: 744 metres / 2441 feet Grid reference: SD 26232 97219

Buck Pike and Dow Crag

Heading for Buck Pike with The Old Man of Coniston to the right

Coniston

Walked on 17/03/2006

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!).

The Bell from the Walna Scar car park - no chance of getting a car up here today.

Boo Tarn.

Locals not impressed with the weather.

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.

An icy Walna Scar pass.

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.

Frozen nose.

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.

Horrendous!

Goat's Water.

Dow Crag.

Not happy - too cold.

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.

Coppermines Valley.

The Wetherlam Ridge.

Coniston Water.

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.