Start point: Long House at the foot of the Walna Scar Road near Seathwaite, Duddon Valley (SD 239 968)
Long House – Walna Scar road – White Pike – White Maiden – Walna Scar – Brown Pike – Buck Pike – Dow Crag – Seathwaite Tarn – Long House
Distance: 7 miles Total Ascent: 700 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 15 minutes
Weather: Snowy and cold wind with sunny spells. 4°C
It was sunny, snowy and cold up on the Coniston fells this morning and it was nice to get above the snow line and tread the crisp, new snow in sunshine for a while. The wind was constantly blowing in snow showers up on the Dow Crag ridge and it looks like there is more to come. I had intended to walk round to Grey Friar and descend that way but the ominous clouds and heavy snow showers put paid to that idea!
Long House Gill beside the Walna Scar Road.
Above the snow line and above the ruins of Walna Scar Quarries looking to Harter Fell, the Scafell range covered by cloud. The wind was really strong and very cold from here - an icy blast.
A contrast in colours on the aptly named White Pike looking across to Caw with Black Combe beyond. I think Angus and Casper are trying to shelter from the oh-so cold wind!
Angus on White Pike, the Duddon Estuary beyond.
Next stop White Maiden, the summit is at the top of the wall.
Angus has beaten me there.
Casper on the sunny but cold White Maiden, Coniston Water behind.
On the summit of White Maiden. Angus is trying to remove the snow that has balled under his paws, an occupational hazard for a fell walking dog.
Angus caught in a windy snow shower on Walna Scar.
Looking back from Walna Scar to White Maiden and White Pike.
Dow Crag, Buck Pike and Brown Pike from Walna Scar summit.
The view from Brown Pike looking back to Walna Scar, White Maiden and White Pike with a non-showy Caw and Black Combe beyond.
Heading for Buck Pike with The Old Man of Coniston to the right.
Blind Tarn and Brown Pike with Coniston Water and the Leven Estuary dazzling in the sunshine.
Casper with snowy chops! For some reason he likes to eat snow and doesn't get bothered with snow balling under his paws like Angus!
Dow Crag ahead.
Easy Gully on Dow Crag.
The route from Buck Pike to Dow Crag.
Harter Fell from Dow Crag.
The frozen summit of Dow Crag.
Coniston Old Man with a snow shower blowing in.
Swirl How under cloud cover, Levers Hawse and Brim Fell on the descent to Goat's Hawse.
Goat's Water and Dow Crag.
A monochromatic looking Dow Crag from Goat's Hawse.
A frozen Far Gill on the descent to Seathwaite Tarn.
Grey Friar.
Seathwaite Tarn.
Harter Fell.
Seathwaite Tarn from the dam wall.