Start Point: Walna Scar road (SD 289 970) 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 […]
There was an arctic blast again today with snow and hail falling on the higher ground and the wind was biting to say the least.
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!
It was completely miserable this morning when I set off in full waterproofs and the rain was like stair rods. Still, how could I disappoint Dougal and Casper who were raring to go for this one? Once up at Seathwaite Tarn I could see it was clearing from the west, the rain clouds were blown away by the strong wind…as was I by the fact the day turned out so well after a wet start! The downside of the day was the Salomon ‘wonder boots’ let in after a prolonged walk through very boggy sections, especially on the return section. It’s back to the drawing board in search of the ultimate pair of boots I’m afraid!
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.
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]
The sun continued to shine for this morning’s ascent to the north-west cornerstone of the Coniston fells, Grey Friar. There was a strong, icy breeze blasting down from the fells across Seathwaite Tarn and it felt a lot colder than yesterday.
Grey Friar, standing apart from the main Coniston fells, gives magnificent, uninterrupted views of the Sca Fells and a great view of Harter Fell and westwards out to the coast and the Irish Sea.
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
