Dow Crag and Walna Scar

[andy63]

When I first climbed Dow Crag a few years ago I wasn't sure if I'd actually got to the summit, which meant I now had an excuse to do it again.

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NB theroute shown here was input manually and may not be accurate as a GPS guide.

I started from the car park near Torver village hall (£3 donation) and followed a minor road which becomes a track and then a path leading up to the Walna Scar pass.

Dow Crag (left) and Coniston Old Man (right).

I briefly joined the Walna Scar Road before turning left onto the path up to Goat's Water.

Walna Scar Road

Path to Goat's Water

Goat's Water

From here the easy way up would be continuing up the main path to Goat's Hawse and then along the ridge, but I decided on a more 'interesting' direct route up through the crags.This turned out to be harder than I was expecting.The scree path up to the base of the rocks was uncomfortably steep, and the South Rake - the only way up that isn't a technical rock climb - was an awkward steep scramble over loose rocks.

Not the way up.

South Rake, faintly visible on the left

Ascending the South Rake

So I was quite relieved to emerge onto the grassy ridge, where I turned right to follow a good path up to the rocky summit, with a short easy scramble to the top.
The MWIS weather forecast had predicted a 90% chance of cloud free summits. Unfortunately, Dow Crag was in the 10%. However, the cloud momentarily lifted while I was on the summit, long enough to confirm that I was definitely at the highest point, although not long enough to get a good photo of the view.

Dow Crag summit

Old Man appearing through the clouds

I then headed south along the ridge, visiting various minor summits including two Nuttalls, Walna Scar and White Maiden.

Goat's Water and Coniston Water

Harter Fell

Brown Pike summit

Walna Scar summit, looking back towards Dow Crag

White Maiden

The final top, White Pike, marks the end of the ridge, beyond which there's a steep drop down to the valley.

White Pike summit with Caw and Black Combe in the background

I returned back along the ridge and then down the Walna Scar Road to where I rejoined the ascent route.It was just starting to go dark as I got back to the car.