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!
Harter Fell looking a bit gloomy across the Duddon Valley on the way to Seathwaite Tarn.
Looking back along the Duddon Valley to Whitfell and Hesk Fell.
Grey Friar living up to its name, left, with Great How directly ahead.
Seathwaite Tarn.
Its certainly looking a bit dull now, Casper manages to catch a ray of sunshine on the dam wall.
Looking back along the dam wall.
Further along the dam wall.
Seathwaite Tarn from the opposite end to the dam.
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.
Harter Fell across a small tarn on the slopes of Dow Crag.
Casper has a lie in the grass near the tarn, the Scafell range behind.
Approaching the rocky turret of Dow Crag.
Harter Fell from Dow Crag.
...and a close up of the summit.
The clouds are starting to lift from the moody Scafells.
...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.
A regal looking Casper on the slopes of Dow Crag.
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.
The ridge from Brim Fell to Swirl How. The prominent path is rising from Goat's Water from the right to Goat's Hawse and then bears right again to The Old Man.
Looking down on Goat's Water from Dow Crag.
Goat's Water and The Old Man.
The Scafells and Dow Crag from Buck Pike.
Blind Tarn and Brown Pike from Buck Pike.
Coniston Water.
Buck Pike and The Old Man from Brown Pike.
Looking east over the top end of Coniston Water - nice and clear over that way!
Sky over Coniston.
Casper on the summit of Brown Pike.
Looking over Walna Scar and White Pike to Black Combe.
Harter Fell and the Scafells from the Walna Scar Road.
The clouds have turned fluffy and white and nearly lifted from the Scafells now. Grey Friar was still grey, however!