The Coniston Ridge North to South from Seathwaite


Home	The 214 Fells Map	My Diary

13th September 2024

Overview

Ascent:	3,426 Feet - 1,044 Metres
Wainwrights:	6, Grey Friar - Great Carrs - Swirl How - Brim Fell - Coniston Old Man - Dow Crag
Visiting:	6, Great How Crags - Buck Pike - Brown Pike - Walna Scar - White Maiden - White Pike
Weather:	Predominantly Bright, Turning Overcast With Light Rain Around Midday. Sunshine Returning PM Highs of 18°C Lows of 5°C Feels Like 3°C
Parking:	Parking Spaces, Bottom of Walna Scar Road, Duddon Valley
Area:	Southern
Miles:	10.1
Walking With:	On My Own
Ordnance Survey:	OL6
Time Taken:	6 Hours 10 Minutes
Route:	Walna Scar Road - Tongue House - Seathwaite Tarn - Grey Friar - Fairfield - Great Carrs - Top of Broad Slack - Swirl How - Great How Crags - Levers Hawse - Brim Fell - Coniston Old Man - Goat's Hawse - Dow Crag - Buck Pike - Brown Pike - White Maiden - White Pike - Walna Scar Road

Parking Details and Map

Nearest Post Code:	LA20 6EE
Grid Reference:	SD 239 696
Notes:	There is room for around three to four cars at the end of the Duddon Valley side of Walna Scar Road. Despite limited parking the Duddon Valley side of Walna Scar Road isn't as popular as the Coniston side meaning if early enough you shouldn't have any trouble parking here. Parking is free.

Map and Photo Gallery

Sunsrise over South Lakeland 06:37am

It's been a while since I last stopped at Gawthwaite to take a sunrise photos today was hopefully the first of many for the Autumn and Winter season seen here with pockets of localised mist in the area of Haverthwaite.

Harter Fell (Eskdale) and Slight Side from Tongue House 07:15am 3°C

It had been an uneventful drive north, with the exception of the beautiful sunrise I'd seen earlier and it was just 3°C when I arrived on the Dunnerdale side of the Walna Scar Road; the sun hadn't climbed high enough to breach the valley just yet but the skies overhead were clear blue. Of the farms I had passed, I could see that a coating of frost had formed on the car windows and in the adjoining fields layers of mist hanging a couple of feet above the grass. What a stunner of a morning.

With the sound of Long House Gill cascading nearby, I could faintly hear the noise of a car engine fading in and out of earshot but getting louder all the time. I had my back to the gate when I heard it open causing me to spin around sighting the driver of a United Utilities pickup returning to his vehicle, and minutes later we shared a wave as he passed no doubt he's heading for Seathwaite tarn/Reservoir, out here on a beautiful morning - thats what you call a dream job. After locking my car and a quick pat down I passed over the slabbed footbridge, through the gate while watching the pickup inch its way towards Seathwaite Tarn.

Views of Slight Side, Sca Fell, Scafell Pike and III Crag.

Across the Dunnerdale valley the sunrise was beginning to leave its mark on nearby summits, inparticular Harter Fell, which features so much in today's walk. I suspect that the access track hasn't always been this good underfoot, which at some point would have been restored for modern vehicle access for the tarn.

Troutal Fell on Grey Friar from Seathwaite Tarn.

I soon arrived at Seathwaite Tarn and spotted the United Utilities worker below the dam wall but quickly lost sight of him as I crossed the dam. I pondered at the thought could the worker hear me crossing the dam and its many manholes which would have been kinda creepy if he could. I quickly spotted the path that leads up onto Troutal Fell just to the right of Tarn Brow, the crags seen on the left. From here it doesn't appear nowhere near as steep as it actually is.

Sunrising over the slopes of Dow Crag.

Views towards Goat Crag and Swirl Band beyond.

The path is prominent from the start which splits ascending steeply to the left or to the right, a more lenient, but longer approach. I head left and soon my walking poles were at shoulder height. Should have gone right I cursed!

Views over the Mosedale Valley towards Slight Side, Sca Fell, Scafell Pike, Broad Crag, III Crag and Little Stand.

Given the cold start I was triple layered this morning and after the steep ascent I was pumping the sweet out so I lost the middle layer and found my happy medium.

Looking back on Troutal Fell.

With Harter Fell, Green Crag, Hesk Fell, Whitfell and Buck Barrow seen beyond.

Grey Friar summit comes into view.

With the Troutal Fell ridge gained I was still way off from Gray Friar summit which was out of view beyond the false summit of Wether How. With this gained I ascended steadily safe in the knowledge that most of the hard work was now behind me. Just in case you were wondering the summit cairn is the one to the left on the north face despite the cairn on the right appearing the higher summit.

The Helvellyn Range from the Matterhorn Rock on Grey Friar.

With Great Carrs seen to the right which is where I'm heading next.

Great Carrs seen beyond Fairfield (col)

It was whilst crossing Fairfield did I hear the distinctive sound of a farmer calling his dog which was rounding up sheep, trouble was I couldn't spot them until I heard what sounded like a quad but was in actual fact a a four wheel ATV on the steep slopes around Tarn Head Beck. The thing that impressed me most was how was the machine keeping upright on such steep ground but the farmer handled it like a boss and proved me wrong!

Looking back on Grey Friar from Fairfield (col)

With Black Combe seen in the distance.

Little Stand, The Scafells, Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell from the Halifax Bomber Memorial.

This route stems from the Remberance Day Memorial Walk that myself, Rod, and Karl Holden did back in 2018 when it rained nonstop from start to finish. After the memorial service was over we had intended to go on as far as Brown Pike, but the weather was so bad we turned around and headed back to Seathwaite. The following year we had much better weather with frost underfoot and blue skies above, and after the service we completed the full route. I liked the walk so much I always told myself I'd repeat the route again, which is why I'm here today.

Views into Greenburn with Little Langdale with the Langdale Pikes, and Eastern Fells beyond.

From the Memorial I ascended towards the Top of Broad Slack then north to Great Carrs summit.

Swirl How, Brim Fell, Coniston Old Man and Dow Crag seen beyond The Top of Broad Slack.

Some of the wreckage from the downed Bomber was pushed into Broad Slack with parts of the fuselage still visible in the scree below.

Great Carrs from The Top of Broad Slack.

With the Scafells seen to the left, Pike O'Blisco, the Langdale Pikes and Skiddaw seen beyond.

Swirl How summit.

I eased myself on to Swirl How loving the slight ascent from Broad Slack, where I arrived much the same time as a solo walker wearing a flat cap. He'd come from the direction of Brim Fell, and after a'morning' he disappeared down Prison Band towards Swirl Hawse.

Views over Levers Water Bottom towards Prison Band, Swirl Hawse and Black Sails.

Instead of heading straight towards Brim Fell I make the slight diversion towards Great How Crags summit.

Views over Levers Hawse towards Brim Fell, Coniston Old Man and Dow Crag.

Where you get this grand view of the Coniston ridge north to south.

Brim Fell, Coniston Old Man, Goat's Hawse, Dow Crag and Seathwaite Tarn from Levers Hawse.

Not a soul in sight.

Seathwaite Tarn, Green Crag and Harter Fell (Eskdale) from Levers Hawse.

With Troutal Fell on Grey Friar seen right.

Looking back over Levers Hawse towards Great How Crags, Swirl How, Great Carrs, Black Sails and Wetherlam.

For such a beautiful day the lady in the foreground is only the second person I'd seen on the fell all morning (which would later change as I approach the Old Man) who seemed to appear from nowhere.

Coniston Old Man from Brim Fell.

It was no good, the lady soon caught up with me reaching Brim Fell summit minutes after I had arrived. As it turned out the lady was probably in her mid-sixties who was amazingly fit. Brim Fell wouldn't be the only time she'd pass me today.

Views over Low Water towards Raven Tor, Levers Water, Black Sails, The Red Dell Valley, Wetherlam, Brim Fell, Swirl How and Great Carrs.

The woman who had passed me was settling down pouring a hot drink from her flask when I arrived along with half a dozen others three of whom hogged the Trig Point for selfie photos.

Brim Fell, Swirl How, Great Carrs, Grey Friar and The Scafells from Coniston Old Man.

I managed to steel a quick photo inbetween the selfies then left leaving the lady still drinking from her flask.

Dow Crag, Buck Pike and Goat's Water seen from Goat's Hawse.

With more people arriving I left Coniston Old Man behind and began my descent towards Goat's Hawse. The last time I had climbed Dow Crag was one day before the country went into Lockdown back in March 2020 and I was looking forward to reuniting myself with one of my favourite Lakeland fells.

Passed by an electric mountain biker.

I had passed two walkers in descent and never expected to find a mountain biker up here who was making the very rough descent towards Goat's Hawse.

Dow Crag summit.

It was only when I looked back at the mountain biker did I realise the lady was back on my tail. I was about half the way up Dow Crag when I spotted her and incredibly she arrived at the summit within minutes of my own arrival. I scrambled up onto the summit crags followed by the lady only to find a young couple just yards from the summit rock. Feeling slightly deflated that I couldn't spend a few moments getting reacquainted I dropped off the back and left the lady talking to the young couple.

Dow Crag from the head of Great Gully.

After descending the summit I made my way towards the head of Great Gully where I felt my heart drop, not because of the magnificence of the gully but because of the memories I've created here.

Buck Pike, Blind Tarn, White Maiden and White Pike from Brown Pike.

The sun had well and truly gone behind a build up of cloud that I'd been keeping my eye on since leaving Dow Crag. From Great Gully I passed the head of the South Rake just in time to spot a guy in his late fifties emerge hands on hips clearly tired from the steep, loose ascent. We sparked up conversation about how eroded the rake has become but equally agreed, it was the best way up Dow Crag, In between conversation I spotted the new Stretcher Box at the base of the rake which was replaced in 2018 by members of Coniston Mountain Rescue. The latter Stretcher Box was donated by journalist and fell walking legend Harry Griffin in memory of his son.

Looking back on Buck Pike from the ascent of Brown Pike.

I'd been really looking forward to taking in this view which was sadly marred by the low light. Cloud cover had been forecast for the afternoon but right now I can feel specks of rain in the air too.

Rain advancing on the Scafells.

With the rain came an increase in wind but I was lucky enough not to get too wet as the cloud swept eastwards towards Borrowdale.

Brown Pike, Buck Pike, Dow Crag, Coniston Old Man and Grey Friar from White Maiden.

The speckles continued where at one point during the descent of Brown Pike I stopped to put my camera away. The top of Walna Scar was busy with walkers approaching from both the Coniston and Seathwaite sides all of whom advanced on Brown Pike. I was getting hungry and with energy depleating I made my way over Walna Scar summit marked by a couple of stones before making my way towards White Maiden. Whatever the weather, I love this view.

Lunch with a view from White Pike.

From White Maiden I made my way towards todays twelfth and final summit, White Pike. The two bananas I'd had for breakfast had kept me going the whole walk but I was feeling like a car spluttering on fumes as I reached White Pike's summit. Shielded from the wind I sat on the south side of the summit cairn and let my thoughts drift away into the dreamy views over a distant Morecambe Bay.

Views over The Cove towards the Dow Crag ridge.

Seen here as I make a pathless descent towards the Seathwaite side of Walna Scar Road.

Harter Fell (Eskdale) and the Scafells fill my vista.

With patchworks of sunlight now drifting across the Dunnerdale Valley.

Green Crag and Harter Fell (Eskdale) across the Dunnerdale Valley.

I spotted another mountain biker descending Walna Scar who thanked a walker for opening the gate as the biker approached; I don't think he even touched his brake lever. My descent continued towards the spoil heaps I'd been aiming for, and with Walna Scar just to the side, I had a mile of rough ground until I was back at the car. Even though Walna Scar was busy, I could see that there were only three other cars parked in the parking spaces, rendering it full. My views consisted of marvellous sunshine speading across Dunnerdale valley until it felt like summer again. It hadn't been forecast to rain nor to cloud over for as much as it did, but this is lakeland, and the weather doesn't follow rules.

Baked in warm sunshine, I wiped the goo from my lips despite keeping hydrated. 'Gooey lips' are the tell tale signs of a great day on the hill. I joined the track, passed through the gate, and descended towards the base of Walna Scar in sunlight and a slight breeze. With Long House Gill to my right, I was accompanied by the sound of cascading water in full flow, deep white water pools, and ground so rough my feet cried out as if I'd walked double the mileage, but it was all forgotten the moment I reached my car, where I eased my aching feet from my boots to feel my stomach drop for the final time today. The walk was over, committed to memory more than most as the four-year gap on Dow has been finally closed.