Coniston Old Man to Swirl How plus
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 4:26 pm
Walna Scar Car Park - Old Man - Brim Fell - Swirl How - Great Carrs - Grey Friar - Swirl How - Prison Band - Levers Water - Walna Scar Car Park
Pillar was the aim of the weekend along with a full circular walk taking in another 4 or 5 Wainwrights that myself and Damson hadn't completed yet. Planned all week with my working and walking mate John, we had it worked out and just needed to execute. With a great weather forecast predicted all systems were go until returning home from work on Friday when my car decided it wasn't going to play.
All was now dependant on whether John could get his car off his missus (as Damson doesn't drive) and we agreed that if a 14:00 return could be sorted then all would be well. So we were either going to set off at 02:00 to achieve Pillar or go somewhere closer to home. John has been saying for weeks now that he hadn't climbed the Old Man so we plotted our route up via the ever popular Low Water and across the ridge to Swirl How before returning via the Prison Band and Levers Water.
It was a great walk in great conditions, warm with slight breeze, sun breaking through and good visibility (above the low lying mist which spoilt some of the views). From the Walna Scar Car Park we headed up to the path crossroads beneath The Bell. From here we headed left and up the steep slate paths and past the old mining buildings up to a serene Low Water which was the calmest I've seen on over 10 trips up this fell.
The navigation is easy and the walk takes care of itself as there really is only a single path up the Old Man from this route and continues over the ridge and Brim Fell until you reach Swirl How.
As expected, as soon as I pointed out that Great Carrs was also a Wainwright, John insisted on making the quick trek round the cliff face to bag another of his fells. On reaching Great Carrs however, he made the decision that maybe being a few minutes late wouldn't matter too much and we'd have time to reach Grey Friar too.
At this point we hadn't really bumped into too many people up there. On reaching Grey Friar we were then surrounded by about 20 hounds, 2 quads and an extremely loud Hunt leader (possibly dog training) who blew his b****** horn and shouted at the dogs at the top of his voice for the next 40 minutes. So much for a nice peaceful wander. (no pictures of anything to do with hunting on my blog)
We returned to Swirl How and straight over and down the Prison Band. I remember this from a previous walk as being steep and tricky but fortunately today we were only doing the downhill section (last times uphill was a killer). From the hause at the bottom of the Prison Band we hooked right and down the long descending path to Levers Water. I cannot recall being there before but it was beautiful, in the shadow of Brim Fell with a few people dotted around sunbathing or waiting to go pot holing in the nearby caves.
At the dam at the far end of the tarn we crossed over the dry beck and continued over the hill to below Beck Falls and a footbridge that lead back up to the crossroads below the Bell and the path back to the car.
No new fells to bag for Damson & I then, but a great walk in good company and good weather. What more could you ask for ??
Pillar was the aim of the weekend along with a full circular walk taking in another 4 or 5 Wainwrights that myself and Damson hadn't completed yet. Planned all week with my working and walking mate John, we had it worked out and just needed to execute. With a great weather forecast predicted all systems were go until returning home from work on Friday when my car decided it wasn't going to play.
All was now dependant on whether John could get his car off his missus (as Damson doesn't drive) and we agreed that if a 14:00 return could be sorted then all would be well. So we were either going to set off at 02:00 to achieve Pillar or go somewhere closer to home. John has been saying for weeks now that he hadn't climbed the Old Man so we plotted our route up via the ever popular Low Water and across the ridge to Swirl How before returning via the Prison Band and Levers Water.
It was a great walk in great conditions, warm with slight breeze, sun breaking through and good visibility (above the low lying mist which spoilt some of the views). From the Walna Scar Car Park we headed up to the path crossroads beneath The Bell. From here we headed left and up the steep slate paths and past the old mining buildings up to a serene Low Water which was the calmest I've seen on over 10 trips up this fell.
The navigation is easy and the walk takes care of itself as there really is only a single path up the Old Man from this route and continues over the ridge and Brim Fell until you reach Swirl How.
As expected, as soon as I pointed out that Great Carrs was also a Wainwright, John insisted on making the quick trek round the cliff face to bag another of his fells. On reaching Great Carrs however, he made the decision that maybe being a few minutes late wouldn't matter too much and we'd have time to reach Grey Friar too.
At this point we hadn't really bumped into too many people up there. On reaching Grey Friar we were then surrounded by about 20 hounds, 2 quads and an extremely loud Hunt leader (possibly dog training) who blew his b****** horn and shouted at the dogs at the top of his voice for the next 40 minutes. So much for a nice peaceful wander. (no pictures of anything to do with hunting on my blog)
We returned to Swirl How and straight over and down the Prison Band. I remember this from a previous walk as being steep and tricky but fortunately today we were only doing the downhill section (last times uphill was a killer). From the hause at the bottom of the Prison Band we hooked right and down the long descending path to Levers Water. I cannot recall being there before but it was beautiful, in the shadow of Brim Fell with a few people dotted around sunbathing or waiting to go pot holing in the nearby caves.
At the dam at the far end of the tarn we crossed over the dry beck and continued over the hill to below Beck Falls and a footbridge that lead back up to the crossroads below the Bell and the path back to the car.
No new fells to bag for Damson & I then, but a great walk in good company and good weather. What more could you ask for ??