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.

Coniston Sunrise

Walked on 30/11/2012

Start point: Walna Scar road (SD 289 970)

Walna Scar car park – Coniston Old Man – Brim Fell – Goat’s Hawse – Dow Crag – Buck Pike – Blind Tarn – Walna Scar car park

Distance: 5.3 miles Total Ascent: 780 metres Time Taken: 3 hours Start Time: 07:20

Weather: Freezing, some cloud. 0oC

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.

Pre-dawn on the climb to The Old Man and the sun is still below the horizon.

Getting lighter as I climb higher, the valleys below are covered in mist.

Sunrise, first sight of the sun over the horizon.

The view down from the climb.

Mono Coniston Water, partially frozen, and Windermere beyond covered in a thick blanket of cloud.

Black Combe and Brown Pike glowing in the early sunshine.

Morecambe Bay with Heysham Power Station visible looking along cloud covered Coniston Water and the Crake Valley.

The full moon over Dow Crag.

Martian mountains?

Winter Hill on the horizon floating above a sea of orange cloud.

A panoramic view from the summit.

The view over Low Water and Levers Water.

The sun has risen into cloud now looking across layers of valleys.

The Old Man summit view.

Silhouetted cairn.

No one was around this early (of course!).

The face of Dow Crag - at this point I wasn't sure where I was heading next and seemed to do quite a bit of aimless wandering, watching the conditions unfold to work out the best way to go.

The Old Man in mono.

The Scafells.

There was a fabulous winter sky this morning.

Brim Fell summit cairn and The Old Man.

Casper surveys his kingdom.

Skiddaw, Great Carrs, Swirl How and Blencathra.

Scafell and Scafell Pike.

Skiddaw.

Frozen Brim Fell.

Brr, it was cold up here today.

Brim Fell summit.

Finding a way down.

Goat's Water.

Dougal and Casper, raring to go!

Harter Fell.

The view from Dow Crag.

Looking back over Goat's Hawse.

The frozen Duddon Valley.

Dow Crag from Buck Pike.

Me and Casperoonals.

Blind Tarn.

Coniston Old Man across The Cove.

That fiery sky was ever-present today.

Sun Dog to the left.

Cove Bridge.

Dow Crag

Walked on 20/04/2012

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: Some clear spells. 9oC

Once again the weather was bright until I actually got to the fells; once there the clouds proceeded to overtake them. I had no definite idea of where today’s walk would take me when I set off but I decided upon the enjoyable scramble of the South rake on Dow Crag.

A bit of blue sky over The Old Man - but that was just about the last I saw of that for the morning.

Dougal and Casper take a dip in Boo Tarn. I expect they will be lovely and clean when they come out of that boggy pool.

On the Walna Scar Road.

Buck Pike and Dow Crag from The Cove.

Below Dow Crag.

Goat's Water.

Casper cools off on a cool day - I think he is trying to tell me it is haircut time.

Looking up to Dow Crag from the edge of Goat's Water.

Lord of the Rock.

The climb to the base of the crags.

Looking towards the South Rake from the stretcher box.

The Old Man across Goat's Water.

At the foot of the South Rake.

Casper takes a look at Easy Gully.

Looking down South Rake.

Nearly at the top.

At the exit of the rake.

We were overtaken by the swirling mist on Dow Crag.

Brown Pike and Blind Tarn.

Casper and Dougal down at Blind Tarn.

Buck Pike.

Coniston Old Man across The Cove.

Crossing The Cove.

Cove Bridge.

Dow Crag via the South Rake

Walked on 12/12/2011

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…

Dow Crag route map.

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...

Sunshine and clouds on The Old Man...

...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.

Sunlit clouds to the south.

Blue skies to the south but the higher Coniston fells are all in cloud this morning.

A rainbow along the path to The Cove.

The Cove.

Goat's Water outfall.

Goat's Water.

The crags of Dow Crag.

Climbing into the mist.

Goat's Water from up on high.

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.

Looking down the Rake. The snow was thigh deep for much of the way making the going pretty tough - it certainly got my heart rate up - but it was a really satisfying climb nevertheless.

It looks steep when it is filled with snow and a long, long way down.

The South Rake from the top.

The two intrepid mountaineers are pleased to have made it.

Heading for Buck Pike.

Buck Pike in mono.

Descending through the old quarry, Coniston Water in view.

The Old Man across The Cove.

Brown Pike and Buck Pike are under there somewhere.

Heading back along the newly smoothed Walna Scar Road.

Cove Bridge.

Sunshine heading back along the Walna Scar Road with a view all the way to the Ill Bell ridge.

Dow Crag

Walked on 20/07/2010

Start point: Torver (SD 285 945)

Torver – Tranearth – The Cove – Goat’s Water – South Rake – Dow Crag – Buck Pike – Blind Tarn – Cove Bridge – Tranearth – Torver

Distance: 6.2 miles Total Ascent: 700 metres Time Taken: 3 hours Start Time: 08:55

Weather: Dull and damp. 18C

I didn’t really know where I was going to end up when I set off in the car as it was pretty damp and miserable. By the time I got to Torver, it was dry-ish so I headed from there up towards Dow Crag and decided to scramble up the South Rake. Miraculously the weather brightened for a spell as I climbed the Rake and the views from the top were quite good. The rain returned by the end though so I think I caught the best of the weather this morning.

Dow Crag route map.

Before I got to the walk, a bit of déjà vu at Lowick Bridge - the River Crake is flooded and it was still raining.

By the time I got to Torver, the rain had stopped but it was still a bit murky at Tranearth looking towards The Old Man under cloud.

Crossing a raging Torver Beck - Casper, get out of there!

Torver Beck further upstream.

The Big Hole, Banishead Quarry.

Dow Crag from The Cove.

In and out of the mist it was today.

Old Man (look at me now, I'm a lot like you were...song anyone?)

Brown Pike.

Twin peaks...and the way we are heading.

Yes Casper and Dougal, up there.

The mist was still shrouding round on the approach but it did seem to be getting brighter.

Having a dip at Goat's Water (them, not me).

Dougal the fell dog finds the path. Go on son!

Goat's Water.

At the start of the South Rake.

Sunshine! Looking down on Goat's Water.

Onwards and upwards boys. I did find out today that Dougal is not an elegant climber with rocks raining down on me from above, whilst fleet of foot Casper lightly strode the lot with no bother. There's time yet I suppose.

The view from the top of the South Rake.

Popping out onto the Dow Crag ridge, Dougal checks out the Duddon Valley below.

The Old Man from the Dow Crag ridge.

...and again from the summit.

Heading for Buck Pike.

The cloud is lifting from Coniston Water.

Looking back to Dow Crag summit.

Dow Crag, Swirl How, Brim Fell and the Coniston fells from Buck Pike.

Brown Pike, Blind Tarn below and we are heading straight down to it.

We found the outlet of Blind Tarn today (supposedly there is none, hence the name). Just where Dougal is standing, the tarn was overflowing.

Buck Pike across Blind Tarn.

The Old Man across The Cove.

Looking back to Brown Pike, Buck Pike and Dow Crag on the way back to Torver.

This photo is at the head of the waterfall in the 'Big Hole' photo near the start of the walk. From here on it was rain, rain, rain once more.

Later, the view along Windermere from the ferry to Bowness. The Bowness to Newby Bridge Road was pretty well flooded on the way home and The River Leven was swollen adjacent to The Swan Hotel.

I stopped at Backbarrow to see how high the river was there and it was pretty high! Will they repair the parapet damaged last time in time for winter?

The Coniston Fells

Walked on 07/01/2010

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.

The Coniston fells route map.

Sunrise on The Old Man.

This snow filled lane is the approach to the Walna Scar Road, the gate is directly ahead.

Looking back along the Walna Scar Road.

Brown Pike above Cove Bridge.

The Old Man across The Cove.

Sunshine on Morecambe Bay to the south.

Casper at the Angus Shelter, Walna Scar beyond.

Snow cornice on Walna Scar.

Buck Pike from Brown Pike. Time to get the crampons on now for virtually the rest of the walk.

Looking back across Walna Scar and Caw to Black Combe.

The approach to Buck Pike.

Brown Pike from Buck Pike.

Dow Crag ahead from Buck Pike.

Easy Gully, Dow Crag.

The Scafell range from Dow Crag.

Close up on Scafell and Scafell Pike.

A frozen Goat's Water and Dow Crag from Goat's Hawse.

Looking across to Dow Crag from the slog up to The Old Man.

I found these skis conveniently placed on the trig. column on The Old Man summit.

When I found the owner, it was an old friend of mine Nathan Pike. Now that's what I call travelling in style!

Setting off for Brim Fell.

The view from the summit, clear as clear can be.

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.

Looking back to The Old Man summit from the Brim Fell ridge.

A clear view of all the fells today.

Looking back once more from Brim Fell.

The eastern fells across Levers Water.

Swirl How and Great How Crags from the descent to Levers Hawse, to the left is Great Carrs.

Part frozen Seathwaite Tarn and Harter fell from Levers Hawse.

Grey Friar.

A clear view to the Howgills across Levers Water.

Brim Fell across Levers Hawse from the climb to Great How Crags, Dow Crag and Black Combe to the left.

The Howgills from Swirl How, to the right is Ingleborough.

Swirl How.

The Scafells to Bowfell across Great Carrs.

Skiddaw and Blencathra across the Langdales.

Prison Band.

Descending Prison Band, Wetherlam ahead. The snow was often knee deep down here making the going hard.

The view from Swirl Hawse.

Blazing a trail from Swirl Hawse following Swirl Hawse Beck. The more usual path is further up to the right but this seemed as good a way as any today...but watch out for the big holes like the one at the bottom left of the photo! At least I only went waist deep and didn't disappear altogether.

In the shade at Levers Water and the sun is already setting, Great How Crags in the sunshine.

Pink tinged Wetherlam from Boulder Valley.

Looking to the YHA across Coppermines Valley.

The walking huts with the Yewdale Fells tinged with the sunset.

Coppermines Valley. On the way home...

The fells recently walked from Torver.

Lake District sunset.

Frozen Coniston Water at Brown How.

Bethecar Moor from Brown How.

Dow Crag via the South Rake

Walked on 22/09/2008

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 15 minutes

Weather: Some sunny spells. 16ºC.

The Coniston fells cut the weather in half today; to the north-east all was overcast and to the south-west was much sunnier and brighter – guess which way I opted for! I climbed up to Dow Crag by the South Rake, a scree filled gully which is a scramble, not a walk (so be warned!). I made a pathless and steep descent to Blind tarn beneath Brown Pike to have a closer look at this often walked above, but not around, tarn.

It looks a bit overcast to the north-east from the Walna Scar looking over The Bell to Wetherlam.

To the west beyond The Old Man, blue sky.

Following the Walna Scar Road with Brown Pike and Buck Pike ahead.

Heading towards Goat's Water with Buck Pike ahead and the top of Dow Crag in and out of the mist.

It looks a lot clearer over that way.

Coniston Old Man from Little Arrow Moor.

It's hard to work out what the weather will do. One minute it is clear, the next the mist comes across to obliterate everything. Goat's Water, as usual, is a wind tunnel.

Sunshine on Blind Tarn nestling below Brown Pike. This will be the route of descent later.

Casper gives the mighty crags of Dow Crag some scale from The Cove.

Goat's Hawse over Goat's Water.

Casper mirrors the shape of the crags above.

Goat's Water.

Looking south across the rocky outflow from Goat's Water.

Goat's Water from the start of the climb to the crags.

The steep climb up the scree.

Blue sky above Dow Crag now.

The moon over sunny Dow Crag.

A couple of rock climbers ready to climb Great Gully.

The South Rake from the bottom.

Casper leads the way up the scramble.

The steep and rough climb.

The entrance to Easy Gully.

The mountain lion roars!

Looking down the South Rake to Goat's Water and the path to Goat's Hawse.

Walna Scar, Black Combe and the Duddon Valley from the top of South Rake.

I'm not coming up there! The misty view looking southwards from Dow Crag summit.

A misty view to Goat's Water and Coniston Water from the summit.

A clearing of the clouds looking across Goat's Hawse to Brim Fell.

Suddenly the clouds are all gone again and now there is a fine view across the Buck Pike, Brown Pike, Walna Scar ridge to the Duddon Estuary.

Misty Old Man.

Harter Fell across the Duddon Valley.

Dow Crag from Buck Pike.

Brown Pike and Blind Tarn from Buck Pike.

Blind Tarn - no outlet, hence the name.

Casper in Blind Tarn, Buck Pike beyond.

The Old Man of Coniston across The Cove.

Cove Bridge.

Seathwaite Fells

Walked on 24/01/2007

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!

Long House Gill beside the Walna Scar Road.

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!

Angus on White Pike, the Duddon Estuary beyond.

Next stop White Maiden, the summit is at the top of the wall.

Angus has beaten me there.

Casper on the sunny but cold White Maiden, Coniston Water behind.

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.

Angus caught in a windy snow shower on Walna Scar.

Looking back from Walna Scar to White Maiden and White Pike.

Dow Crag, Buck Pike and Brown Pike from Walna Scar summit.

The view from Brown Pike looking back to Walna Scar, White Maiden and White Pike with a non-showy Caw and Black Combe beyond.

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

Blind Tarn and Brown Pike with Coniston Water and the Leven Estuary dazzling in the sunshine.

Casper with snowy chops! For some reason he likes to eat snow and doesn't get bothered with snow balling under his paws like Angus!

Dow Crag ahead.

Easy Gully on Dow Crag.

The route from Buck Pike to Dow Crag.

Harter Fell from Dow Crag.

The frozen summit of Dow Crag.

Coniston Old Man with a snow shower blowing in.

Swirl How under cloud cover, Levers Hawse and Brim Fell on the descent to Goat's Hawse.

Goat's Water and Dow Crag.

A monochromatic looking Dow Crag from Goat's Hawse.

A frozen Far Gill on the descent to Seathwaite Tarn.

Grey Friar.

Seathwaite Tarn.

Harter Fell.

Seathwaite Tarn from the dam wall.

A Coniston Round

Walked on 10/06/2004

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

and a shelter on the roadside 'just big enough for one person or a honeymoon couple' - AW.

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.

Another short walk to Dow Crag summit. Looking down easy gully to the pinnacle.

Looking through Swirl Hawse to Dunmail Raise in the distance.

From Dow Crag, it's a descent to Goat's Hawse and then a steep ascent back up to the Old Man of Coniston.

Dow Crag from the Old Man.

An easy, grassy ramble to Brim Fell

and then another descent/ascent of Levers Hawse to the summit of Great How

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.

Little Carrs summit looking towards Little Langdale Tarn.

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.

An easy ascent again to Great Carrs summit...

and the memorial to the World War 2 Canadian Air Force bomber that crashed there.

Into the mist and gale force wind now up to the summit of Swirl How

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.

Another easy traverse to Wetherlam. Pike o' Blisco and The Langdale fells are seen here from Wetherlam summit.

Mine workings on The old Man seen from the sharp descent of Wetherlam

Miners Bridge on the way back to Coniston.