Walk Leader; Peter Hitchcock
Walk Distance: 10 Miles app
Total ascent/descent: 3250 ft app
The “Old Man
of Coniston” beckons! You cannot shy
away from its grandeur and we shall be climbing up to the summit on a route
closely linked to a ‘Wainright Route 3’.
As you will read later though, you will need to wear good, solid-sole,
comfortable boots today! We head south
from the village car park alongside the main road to turn off near Spoon Hall
and climb gradually westwards around the flank of Nettle Crag and the towering
target itself. After an hour, the climb
steepens a little before levelling off alongside Goat’s Water in the cradle of
Dow Crag. This is an absolutely
awe-inspiring cul-de-sac which you will love.
A hard 40-min stepped climb now starts from
the northern tip of the lake to the summit of the Old Man itself.
Ideally, the
aim is to have lunch at the top with some of the best views in the country
before returning north along the ridge passing Little and Great How crags to
the Swirl How cairn. We then scramble
down another stepped path to the crag’s base. This part of the descent is
tricky and sure-footing is required.
Later on, the path near the mines is on loose stones for about 10 mins
which is a bit uncomfortable; hence the need for solid boot soles. With the
difficult bit complete, it is a 1:15 jaunt downhill back to Coniston via Levers
Water reservoir, the fascinating copper mines of old, Coniston Fells and the
Miners’ Bridge. Ten hard miles in all with
a climb to about 2650 ft amsl. As a
grading, this walk is right up there in the top category but the reward for
such a hard graft is a magical experience and a truly satisfying sense of
achievement as you sup your first 2 pints of ‘Bluebird Ale’!
P.S. Once we arrive at Coniston this morning,
please be ready quickly (loo stop [30p]/boots on) as we need a smart getaway on
this one; time will be of the essence throughout the whole walk.
