Coniston
This superb, high-level horseshoe in the Coniston Fells begins with one of Britain’s best Grade 1 scrambles and ticks off four fantastic Wainwrights.
Getting straight into the steep stuff, this high-level traverse of the summits and ridgelines around Coniston is a grand day out, particularly on a clear day when the far-reaching views seem to change with every turn.
From the start in Coniston village, the rambling buttress of Long Crag offers an engaging, hands-on ascent for the first 300-or-so metres. A rare three-star Grade 1 scramble, this easy-angled gabbro slab is gloriously grippy, with plenty of airy exposure along the way. Where the scramble ends, the walk begins, gaining the ridge and following it to the summit of Wetherlam. From here it stays on the high ground, ascending the Prison Band to Swirl How and then taking on the long, undulating traverse of Swirl Band to reach the Old Man himself, the highest point of the walk at 803m.
The final miles descend back into the Coppermines Valley, whose fells bear the deep scars of a long history of mining and quarrying. The Coniston Copper Mines are now a protected landscape for their unique geology, archaeology and ecology.
1
SD300975 Facing the Sun Inn, turn right and follow the lane downhill to the A593. Turn left, crossing Church Beck and taking the next left, signed to YHA Coniston Coppermines. Follow the lane to its end, go through a gate and onto a gravel track with the open mountainside and Long Crag on your right. Continue along the track for a short distance, carrying straight on at the bridleway sign that heads off right, then turn right onto a small path heading up towards the rocks.
2
SD298979 Trend right to begin the scramble, choosing your line up the buttress. The more continuous, technical and exposed lines are towards the left where the ridge is steepest and least broken, whereas, in general, traversing right gains easier ground. Continue up until the scrambling runs out at the grassy top of Yew Pike.
3
SD299984 Continue walking uphill, trending left on small mountain paths to reach the obvious Hole Rake Path in a dip. Cross this and pick up the Mountain Path, heading north-west initially and then north uphill to the cairned summit of Wetherlam. If visibility is poor be aware of steeper ground to your right.
4
NY288011 Turn left and follow the rocky path to the north of Black Sails down to the col at Swirl Hawse at NY278007. Continue up the Prison Band, a narrowing ridge that leads you up a rocky spur to the summit of Swirl How.
5
NY272005 Turn left and follow the ridge south along what is known as Swirl Band. The steep ground to the left is first Great and then Little How Crag. Continue down to Levers Hawse, the low point on the ridge. From here, follow the ridge up over Brim Fell to the trig point and large summit cairn of the Old Man of Coniston at 803m.
6
SD272978 Continue over the summit and join the rocky path trending left and zigzagging down towards Low Water. Continue on the path as it trends east through the old copper mine workings to the track junction at Crowberry Haws. Follow the smaller path east into Coppermines Valley to reach the edge of Church Beck near a waterfall.
7
SD293981 Stay on the smaller path on the south-west bank, keeping the beck to the left, passing Miners Bridge and continuing onto a larger track. Follow the track downhill past some workshop buildings – the track becomes a road at the edge of Coniston. Continue straight on to reach the Sun Inn.