A Spectacular Coniston round

[johnkaysleftleg]

Coniston Round 10.5km 850m ascent 27th July 2012

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We arrived at the Walna Scar car park to be confronted by low cloud and rain. The forecast however was predicting it would lift and duly enough by the time we were ready to walk the sun was breaking through in the foothills.

Tops in cloud

We followed the main route up Coniston Old Man past the old mine workings. It wasn’t to busy so we were able to enjoy the developing views and industrial archaeology without feeling we were on a treadmill.

Weatherlam

Old mine workings

Small Water

I’m not sure why I ignored Wasdale today but any regrets were quickly evaporating. The Old Man may be scarred by industry more than any other fell but its natural scenic beauty still shines through.

Looking down on Coniston

Small Water from close to the Old Man summit

The well made path up to the summit makes for quick progress and we chased the cloud up the hill before it broke up completely. We reached the Old Mans imposing summit edifice to be greeted by a truly fantastic panorama. I’ve got to admit that we’ve never had a better view from a Lakeland top with Furness stretching away to the south and fell after fell to the North.

Grace on the top of Coniston Old Man

Small and Levers Water from the Old Man summit

Dow Crag

We had lunch in glorious sunshine, so welcome after the rain of early in the week, before what must be one of the simplest walks in the district to Brim Fell for Wainwright number two. Another fine cairn and more great views were admired before we cut across the open fell to link up to the path to the imposing Dow Crag.

Grace and Hughie on Brim Fell

Dow Crag above Goats Water

Harter Fell

The walking on this route is so easy it’s a real pleasure to just amble along and enjoy the views before another top is reached. Next was Dow crag, no cairn on this fine rock top, more of a summit bowl.

View down Dow Crag

The Old Man of Coniston from Dow Crag

Looking back towards Dow Crag

That was the Wainwrights done for the day but the remainder of the ridge to link up with the Walna Scar road is as delightful as what had gone previously. comprising of the minor, but still fine tops, of Buck and Brown Pikes.

A very green Brown Pike

The Scafells

Buck Pike

It’s perhaps summits like these the show up the eccentricity of AW’s list. Compare these with the flat boggy pudding of Mungrisedale Common only included as filler in the sparse Northern fells volume. All part of the fun and diversity of a round of the 214 fells I suppose.

Walna Scar road

A simple walk along the Walna Scar road was all that remained of a sublime day.

Loughrigg Fell 4.5km 285m of ascent 28th July 2012

This walk wasn’t the end of our week in the Lakes as we decided to squeeze a little’un in on the way home.

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Loughrigg is probably a fine little fell with brilliant views but we didn’t see it at its best as we managed to catch a heavy shower timed perfectly to coincide with our walk.
Not a lot of photos taken just a bit of regret that we didn’t get more of a chance to enjoy this fine little fell more. Perhaps we’ll return another day.

Loughrigg terrace

View over Grasmere towards Helm Crag

[SusieThePensioner]

Really liked your report, especially for the Coniston round, John. Great photos as usual with some beautiful views

Lost count of the number of times I've done various routes up the Old Man

[malky_c]

This is almost the reverse of one of my first Lake District routes. Except it was hammering down with rain the whole time, so we skipped Dow Crag and got straight onto Brim Fell. Pretty miserable - would love to see Dow Crag close up. I still remember my mum refusing to wade through a river at the end as a shortcut back to the Coppermines YHA, despite the fact that we were all soaked through!

I went over Loughrigg at the weekend - it has great views and lovely meandery walking. Shame you missed the best of it.

[johnkaysleftleg]

Really liked your report, especially for the Coniston round, John. Great photos as usual with some beautiful views

Lost count of the number of times I've done various routes up the Old Man

The number of routes possible is quite staggering. Don't think I've ever been up a fell with so many footpaths heading off hear and there.

This is almost the reverse of one of my first Lake District routes. Except it was hammering down with rain the whole time, so we skipped Dow Crag and got straight onto Brim Fell. Pretty miserable - would love to see Dow Crag close up. I still remember my mum refusing to wade through a river at the end as a shortcut back to the Coppermines YHA, despite the fact that we were all soaked through!

I went over Loughrigg at the weekend - it has great views and lovely meandery walking. Shame you missed the best of it.

It's well worth a return visit. It wasn't as busy as I'd feared either.

[ChrisW]

A perfectly descriptive title JK, what a beauty of a day, great timing to see the rain off on arrival and beautiful views all around, there is little to beat the lakes on a day like this

[L-Hiking]

Nice report JK, nice to see the sun shining, I did a similar round last Saturday (report to come) but had the claggy stuff for company

[johnkaysleftleg]

A perfectly descriptive title JK, what a beauty of a day, great timing to see the rain off on arrival and beautiful views all around, there is little to beat the lakes on a day like this

I wouldn't argue with that.

Nice report JK, nice to see the sun shining, I did a similar round last Saturday (report to come) but had the claggy stuff for company

Cheers LH, I'm sure the clag added atmosphere to the abandoned mine workings if nothing else.

[highman]

Nice walk report brilliant photos will do This tomorrow

[johnkaysleftleg]

Nice walk report brilliant photos will do This tomorrow

Thank you, hope you had a good day.