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: 3 miles Total Ascent: 573 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 50 minutes Start Time: 09:30
Weather: Mainly sunny. 8°C
The weather seemed much better than predicted early on this morning and the views along Coniston Water as I drove past were stunning enough to stop me in my tracks and make me turn around to grab a few photos at Lake Bank and Brown Howe. From there I could see The Old Man was clearing whilst further north in the Lakes looked a bit murkier. It did eventually cloud over but I think I caught the best of the weather today following the McMahon route to the summit.
At Lake Bank…
Coniston Old Man route map.
Misty Fairfield at the head of the lake.
Flat calm at Lake Bank.
Lake Bank jetty.
The cloud is lifting from The Old Man - that looks like a good place to go.
Nibthwaite reflected.
Jetty view to Oak Isle. Driving further I was stopped in my tracks once more by the calm waters at Brown Howe.
Selside reflections.
Brock Barrow in mono.
Peel Island and High Peel Near.
A glorious view along Coniston Water. Onwards and upwards...
Seems clear on the west side of The Old Man.
Looks clear across The Bell to Swirl How and Wetherlam too.
The Walna Scar Road.
The boys enjoy a paddle in Boo Tarn - a rare sight as you can actually see some water in it!
The Old Man from Limestone Haws.
The cloud is starting to drift in now across Walna Scar and Brown Pike.
Dougal enjoys the view from Little Arrow Moor.
Brown Pike and Buck Pike across The Cove, Cove Hut below.
Dougal and Casper - how on earth do they always end up so mucky?
Looking from Crag O' Stile to The Old Man, now with cloud on the summit.
Casper, the lone wolf, on the climb.
We are up in the cloud now and it is fleeting in and out.
Brown Pike and Blind Tarn.
As above, so below - looking at a dual cloud layer from The Old Man. I visited Angus whilst I was here but alas the plaque has disappeared. No doubt someone feels good about removing a hidden piece of Coniston slate from - well - another piece of Coniston slate! It obviously didn't fit the surroundings, at least I know where he is, plaque or no plaque.
It's a different world up on the summit; cold and cloudy with the final vestiges of winter snow remaining.
Caw, Buck Pike and Dow Crag revealed. Dougal has a quick look around for the plaque!
I made a direct and mainly pathless descent through the clouds. Here the boys head for a quick drink at this pool above Bursting Stone Quarry.
The Fell Dogs in silhouette.