Eskdale to Coniston
1
NY195011 Exit to the valley road and turn right for 500m. Turn left over the River Esk and keep ahead on a gravel track. A permissive path diverts up right above Penny Hill Farm, to rejoin the track beyond it.
2
NY195006 In 150m, bear right up a grass track, south then south-east up to two gates. Take the righthand gate, to go up a path to the right of a wall, then above it for 500m, to cross an incised stream. The path continues across a boggy patch then uphill to right of a fence, through the col behind a small knoll. The path fades in bracken, but keep ahead across a stream to a gate onto a wide bridleway path.
3
SD207998 Turn right, up the wide path across the col below Harter Fell, to a gate into plantations.
After 500m keep ahead along a forest track.
After 800m it bends round to the right and wiggles downhill. In another 400m take a track back down to the right, towards Grassguards house. At the next junction turn down left, and in 100m turn right, to reach a bridge.
4
SD223981 Take a small path down to the left of Grassguards Gill stream to the River Duddon. Turn right on a
small path downstream, first by the river then rising slightly, to run below a fence along the steep side of Wallowbarrow Gorge. After 1km the path slants down to rejoin the stream, to the fine stone bridge over River Duddon.
5
SD224963 Across the bridge (or the stepping stones 100m downstream, more fun) turn right on a path that bends left with the river, then keeps ahead through woods to a footbridge over Tarn Beck and the valley road. Turn left to Newfields Inn. Continue along the road for 500m, then turn right up the access track for Turner Hall campsite.
6
SD232964 In 100m take the track to the left, through fields. Pass to the left of a house on a damp path
north, to join the tarmac Walna Scar Road. Turn right, up to a gate where the tarmac ends. Here take the stony track ahead. It runs straight uphill, then bends left, to slant up to the ridgeline. A built path turns up left to the cairn on Brown Pike. The ridge path runs north, over the minor summit Buck Pike, to the rocky top of Dow Crag.
7
SD262977 A path continues north, with steep drops to the right, bending down north-east to cross Goats Hause. The path ahead goes through small outcrops, then slants up right (south-east). Keep ahead (leaving the path) to the ridgeline, and follow it to the right, to Coniston Old Man summit.
8
SD272978 Return north-west, with big drops on the right, then turn north along the wide stony ridge. After the well built cairn of Brim Fell the ridge drops and narrows along Levers Hawse. At the low point of the ridge, look out for a cairn 10m down to right. It marks the top of a well built path. Above Levers Water, the path turns right, round to its outflow.
9
SD281992 Cross the outflow, and turn downhill on a very rough track. Where this bends sharply right, take the well-built old path ahead, slanting down to old mine buildings (now holiday cottages). Pass to the left of the stone building to YHA Coppermines. To continue to Coniston, follow the track on for 800m, then cross Levers Water Beck for a woodland path down to the right of the stream.