Coniston Round

Start point: Walna Scar road (SD 289 970)

Walna Scar road – Brown Pike – B uck Pike on Seathwaite Fell – Dow Crag – Goat’s Hawse –Coniston Old Man – Brim Fell – Levers Hawse – Great How – Swirl Band – Top of Broad Slack –Great Carrs – Swirl How – Prison Band – Swirl Hawse – Levers Water – Boulder Valley – Walna Scar road

Distance: 10.5 miles Total Ascent: 2670 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes

Weather: Very cold with gale force winds. 3oC, but much colder with the wind chill.

It didn’t look too promising when I set off along the Walna Scar Road and sure enough when I reached Brown Pike the wind was gale force and the hailstones were shotblasting my face. Magically, when I reached Dow Crag, the clouds cleared (blown away presumably!) and there were lovely blue skies. The wind was ever present and made the walking difficult at times; full winter gear was required today. Today was the first time I have ever been recognised on the fells from this website (okay, Angus was recognised to be technically correct). He’s famous that dog!

So that's what that little shelter on the Walna Scar road is for!

Gale force wind and hailstones (they hurt!) on Brown Pike, Buck Pike ahead. I thought Angus was a goner walking across here, it was that bad.

Looking back to Brown Pike and Blind Tarn from Buck Pike.

The path to Dow Crag.

Now it's blue skies - the Coniston fells from Dow Crag.

The view from The Old Man of Coniston - Low Water below and a glimpse of Levers Water with the Black Sails ridge and Wetherlam beyond.

The route from The Old Man with Brim Fell in the centre and Swirl How and Great Carrs visible to the right. The Scafell massif is in the left distance.