Start point: Walna Scar road (SD 289 970)
Walna Scar car park – Boo Tarn – The Old Man of Coniston – Boo Tarn – Walna Scar car park
Distance: 2.9 miles Total Ascent: 572 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 30 minutes Start Time: 14:00
Weather: Sunny. 8ºC
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.
Coniston Old Man route map.
The Old Man of Coniston.
What a gorgeous day heading out in the sunshine, it felt quite warm walking along the Walna Scar Road to The Old Man.
At the foot of the Bursting Stone road and the climb to The Old Man.
There is a clear view across to The Howgills today.
Traversing Little Arrow Moor.
Dougal checks out the view across the climbing hut in The Cove to Buck Pike and Dow Crag.
Brown Pike and Buck Pike.
Casper and Dougal in the sunshine.
Crag o' Stile.
Dow Crag.
Fix the Fells or ruin them? You, the jury, decide. This is the new 'improved' version of the Walna Scar Road looking down from the climb to The Old Man, it looks like you could drive down there at 70mph with no problem now. What do you think? My view is that it is a complete mess and a waste of time, effort and money.
Coniston and Coniston Water across Bursting Stone Quarry.
The Duddon Estuary, lit up by the sun today.
Sitting with Angus.
The climb to the summit.
The summit of Coniston Old Man looking across to The Scafells.
The view across Low Water and Wetherlam.
Looking south east over Coniston.
Harter Fell and the western fells.
Light and shade on Brim Fell and beyond.
The Scafells.
There were plenty of people around on The Old Man today.
The autumn colours were looking fabulous in the sunshine - I decided to avoid the main path and follow 'route 1' back down past the quarry.
Dougal says: 'I can see for miles and miles...' to Windermere (that is the Low Wood Hotel visible across the water), The Howgills and beyond.
Wetherlam.
Coniston Water.
Above the quarry.
Nearly down now, it's a little warmer than it was up top.