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
Distance: 14.4 km Total Ascent: 876 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 06:45
Weather: Beautiful and clear. 2°C
Time to dust off the hiking boots now that summer has gone and the crowds have largely receded. It was great to get out again on such a day, there was absolute clarity and views for miles. There was no one around at all today until I got to Boulder Valley, so I had the fells to myself for a while. I know these fells well and have walked them many times but they are still great walk; it felt a bit like coming home.
There was a bank of low lying cloud on the horizon this morning so it took 10 minutes or so for the sun to actually appear - it was shaping up to be a beautiful day.
Golden Hour looking to the west.
Climbing higher now, there was no one around only me, Fletcher and the sheep.
Made it! It was clear everywhere looking to the Scafells.
Coniston Old Man. Fletcher is there somewhere.
looking down to Coniston - village and water.
Fletcher basking in the early morning sun.
What a beautiful morning.
Looking to the south-west across Brown Pike, Walna Scar, Caw and Black Combe.
...and in the opposite direction to the north-east across Low Water.
The Old Man (men?!) and the Scafells.
We visited Angus, Casper and Dougal whilst at the top.
Dow Crag.
Looking back to The Old Man from the path to Brim Fell.
On the way to Brim Fell.
The pool is frozen this morning.
The Old man from Brim Fell summit.
Great How Crags and Swirl How ahead. Distant Skiddaw and Blencathra are visible.
The next target is Grey Friar, the central lump in this photo with the Scafells beyond.
Following Fletcher.
Seathwaite Tarn and Harter Fell. Sellafield is in view up to the right.
Brim Fell and Dow Crag.
A lovely view over Levers Water from Little How Crags.
Climbing to Grey Friar from Fairfield col.
Dow Crag looks magnificent from this angle.
Matterhorn Rock.
The summit of Grey Friar looking to the north-west cairn and the magnificent Scafells beyond.
It\'s a fine view Fletcher.
A peep into the Langdale Valley with Skiddaw and blencathra beyond.
Which path? We came across on the right hand path in this photo and climbed to Great Carrs on the second left.
Looking back to Grey Friar from the climb to Great Carrs.
Greenburn and little Langdale from Great Carrs.
The Halifax Bomber crash memorial on Great Carrs. The Halifax bomber crashed on 22 October 1944 and all 8 crew members (7 Canadian and 1 British) were killed in the crash. In 2005 2005-new slate plaque was installed, dedicated 11/11/2005 by Rev Mark East.
Serial Number: LL505 \"S for Sugar\"
Swirl How.
Looking down Prison Band to Black Sails and Wetherlam.
Prison Band from below Swirl Hawse.
Levers Water - a place for a drink and a paddle Fletcher?
There has been some fin cairn building going oil since last time I came along here - brilliant effort whoever is building them! This should make the way clearer in poor weather.
At Levers Water dam.
Coniston Coppermines Valley.